Her story
One Life. One Heart. A Legacy That Continues to Change Lives.
On August 26, 2019, our beloved daughter, Oluwafemi Samuel Jennifer "Femi" Tevoedjre, entered into the presence of the Lord after a courageous journey with heart failure and cardiomyopathy.
She was only 15 years old.
Although her life was far too short, Femi left behind a legacy of extraordinary faith, compassion, generosity, and servant leadership that continues to inspire thousands of people around the world.
Born on March 31, 2003, in the Republic of Benin, Femi immigrated to the United States with her family in 2007. At the age of ten, she was diagnosed with severe heart failure and underwent a life-saving heart transplant at Children's Nebraska.
Despite the many challenges she faced, Femi never allowed her illness to define her life. Instead, she focused on bringing hope to others.
While hospitalized, she regularly visited younger patients to encourage them, comforted anxious families so parents could rest, and even asked whether she could donate her own blood to help another child battling leukemia.
Her remarkable compassion and servant's heart led Children's Nebraska to recognize her as a Children's Ambassador.
Yet Femi's greatest dream reached far beyond herself.
Knowing that many children in her homeland did not have access to specialized cardiac care, she dreamed of becoming a pediatric cardiac surgeon. She wanted to build a children's heart hospital in Benin so that no child would ever lose the opportunity to receive life-saving treatment simply because of where they were born.
With determination beyond her years, Femi wrote a heartfelt letter to her parents and to her cardiology team requesting permission to return to Benin. By God's grace, and through the sacrifices of her family and the support of her medical team, her dream became reality.
In the summer of 2018, Femi returned to West Africa, visiting Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. That journey strengthened her love for Africa and deepened her vision of serving children and families across the continent.
As an organ donor, her final act of generosity brought hope and healing to others, reflecting the selfless way she had lived every day of her life.
In recognition of her extraordinary legacy, Femi was posthumously honored with the Hero in the Heartland Award by the American Red Cross in 2023 and received additional recognition from Nebraska's organ and tissue donation community for her life-saving gift of organ donation.
One year after her passing, on August 26, 2020, Femi's family established Femi's Heart Foundation to ensure that her vision would continue to live on.
Today, the Foundation carries forward Femi's dream by advancing Hope, Health, and Education through compassionate service, humanitarian outreach, youth leadership, mental health advocacy, medical missions, scholarships, blood donation initiatives, and sustainable international partnerships.
One of the Foundation's most significant initiatives is the development of the Madengbé–Zaffé Maternal, Pediatric, Neonatal & Cardiology Health Center in Glazoué, Benin—a project that reflects Femi's dream of expanding access to quality healthcare for children and families who need it most.
Is part of Femi's continuing legacy.
Her story reminds us that true greatness is not measured by the number of years we live, but by the love we share, the lives we touch, and the hope we leave behind.
Today, Femi's Heart Foundation serves as a living testimony that God can transform unimaginable loss into a mission that brings healing, restores hope, and changes lives across generations.
Her heart continues to beat through every act of compassion.
Her faith continues to inspire every child we serve.
Her dream continues to shape every life we touch.
And her legacy continues to remind us that one life—lived with extraordinary love—can change the world.
"Love gave her purpose. Compassion became her legacy. Hope continues through every life we serve."
Everyone who met Femi was captivated by her sweet and vivacious personality. Diagnosed with congenital heart disease at the age of nine, Femi faced her challenges with courage while awaiting a new heart. During her hospitalization, she received over six packs of blood. After her surgery, Femi recognized the importance of blood donation firsthand and expressed her desire to donate blood to help another patient at the children's hospital.
A year following her successful heart transplant at Omaha Children's Hospital, where Femi received exceptional care, we partnered with the Red Cross to organize the inaugural annual blood drive as a way to give back to the community. This initiative aimed to promote education about the importance of blood donation. In recognition of her inspiring journey, Femi was named Children's Ambassador by Omaha Children's Hospital in 2015-2016 and was featured in organ donation news and various platforms, further raising awareness for mental health and health issues.
Tragically, five years after her transplant, Femi’s heart failed on August 26, 2019. On the anniversary of her passing, the Olouwafemi S. J. Tevoedjre Foundation, Inc. (Femi's Heart Foundation) was established to honor and continue her legacy, spreading hope, health, and the importance of giving back.
The foundation
Our vision at Femi's Heart Foundation is to honor the life and legacy of Femi by advancing holistic health, promoting mental health awareness, and saving lives through initiatives like encouraging people to donate blood. Rooted in faith and guided by love, we believe that together we can foster hope and health, making a meaningful difference in our community.
Femi's Heart Foundation exists to honor Femi's memory by advancing holistic health and uplifting underserved communities locally and globally through compassion, healing, and empowerment. We believe that through initiatives like donating blood and promoting mental health awareness, we can create a stronger community. Rooted in Christian values, we extend love, hope, and support to all—regardless of culture, religion, nationality, race, or gender—while emphasizing the importance of education and fostering hope and health for everyone.
Founded on August 26, 2020, Femi's Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through healthcare access, mental health awareness, and educational empowerment for underserved communities locally and globally. We encourage everyone to donate blood to support our mission of Hope. Health, and education for those in need.
Founded in August 26 of 2020, Femi's Heart Foundation has been working tirelessly to help families and children in the underserved communities both locally and globally. We have helped over 10,000 families so far and hope to continue making a positive impact around the globe.
At Femi's Heart Foundation, our core values guide our mission, governance, and service to the public. These values reflect our commitment to charitable purposes, ethical leadership, and inclusivity, all while promoting mental health awareness. We strive to make a significant community impact, which aligns with IRS requirements for nonprofit organizations. By supporting our initiatives, including opportunities to donate blood, you can help us spread hope and health through education and outreach.
At Femi’s Heart Foundation, our core values guide our mission, governance, and service to the public. They reflect our commitment to charitable purpose, ethical leadership, inclusivity, and community impact, in alignment with IRS requirements for nonprofit organizations.
Health. Hope. Love.
Together, We Save Lives. Together, We Give Hope.
At Femi’s Heart Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to community impact, our work is guided by compassion, integrity, and service to the public good.
We are committed to:
Rooted in Christian values, we lead with love and humility while ensuring our services at Femi's Heart Foundation remain open and accessible to everyone.
At Femi's Heart Foundation, we serve individuals and families from underserved communities through life-giving programs that promote hope and health while addressing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We also emphasize the importance of mental health awareness and encourage everyone to participate in community initiatives such as donating blood to support those in need.
Our team at Femi's Heart Foundation is made up of dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the world. From our volunteers who encourage others to donate blood, to our board members, everyone is united in purpose. We are committed to our mission, promoting education and mental health awareness in the communities we serve, as we strive to spread hope and health.
Our team is made up of dedicated individuals who are genuinely passionate about making a difference in the world. From our volunteers to our board members, everyone at Femi's Heart Foundation is committed to our mission and those we serve.
We provide culturally responsive, faith-integrated programs that create safe spaces for healing and growth, with a strong focus on mental health awareness:
Additionally, we encourage everyone to donate blood, as it contributes to community health and hope. health.
Through our global outreach, Femi's Heart Foundation brings hope, health, and dignity to vulnerable communities:
Individuals receive free health screenings and medical care, while families gain support from siblings and family-centered care. Participants benefit from our mental health awareness initiatives, which promote overall wellbeing. Lives are saved through our blood drive initiatives across two continents, encouraging everyone to donate blood to those in need. Mothers are reunited with their newborns through C-section support, and children in orphanages receive essential care and ongoing support. Vulnerable young girls receive trauma-informed healing and restoration services, and communities are strengthened through faith-centered outreach and hope initiatives.
What began as a story of loss has transformed into a mission of love and hope in action. At Femi's Heart Foundation, we believe:
Health is holistic, healing is possible, hope is powerful, and every life matters.
We are dedicated to breaking stigma around mental health awareness, expanding access to care in underserved communities, supporting families through grief and trauma, and empowering the next generation through education and leadership. Additionally, we encourage everyone to donate blood, as this act extends love across borders.
💜 Together, We Are Healing Hearts & Empowering Futures.
What we believe
Femi’s Heart is a Christian based non-profit organization, created to honor Femi’s memory with a specific mission to share the Love and bring Hope to those in need not only here in United States of America, but also in Africa.
Dear Family and Friends,
As the Chief Executive Officer of Femi's Heart Foundation, I am filled with gratitude as I reflect on the incredible journey we have embarked upon together, rooted in our Christian beliefs. It is with deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks that I extend my sincerest gratitude to each and every one of you who has supported our mission of love and hope. Your dedication and commitment have enabled us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of countless individuals and families both locally and globally.
Together, we have witnessed miracles of transformation and moments of profound joy. We have seen lives touched, hearts healed, and futures transformed. And for this, we give thanks to God, whose love knows no bounds and whose grace is beyond measure.
As we look to the future, we do so with hope and anticipation, knowing that with God’s guidance and your continued support, we will continue to make a difference in the world around us. Our faith statement drives us to serve others with unwavering commitment.
Thank you for being a part of the Femi’s Heart family. Your generosity, compassion, and faithfulness inspire us each and every day, and we are truly blessed to have you by our side as we journey together in service to others.
With deepest gratitude,
A. Sonia Anigbe, CEO
What guides us
We believe every human life has inherent worth.
We exist exclusively to serve charitable purposes.
We are committed to serving all people without discrimination.
We value the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and soul.
We steward resources responsibly and transparently.
We aim to strengthen individuals and communities for the long term.
Rooted in Christian values, we lead with love, humility, and service.
The people
A. Sonia Anigbe
President & CEO
Jerome Tevoedjre
Vice President
Videgla Sekpe
Interim Board Chair & Global Projects Chair
Emmanuel Tevoedjre
Secretary & Global Project Vice Chair, Technical Affairs
Arike R. Davies
Faith & Community Engagement Director
Kevin Waklatsi
Board Vice Chair & Legal Affairs Advisor
Robert Bailey
Treasurer
Dr. Juvet Che
Mental Health Program Director
Dr. Sharon Storch
Director of Scholarships & Siblings Support Programs
Auclair Bayemekessa
African Wellness and Support Program Director
Amour C. Dassi
Global Project Vice Chair Human Resources
Patrick Nikiema
IT Director
Naomi Kigondu
Mental Health Program Assistant Director
Oluwatobi Jeroson Tevoedjre
IT Assistant Director
Wajeeha Mariam
Global Mission Trip Director
Jayana Chatmon
Jason Rivera
Hannah Reynolds
Mckinzy Scheiding
Recognition
Recognizing individuals whose service embodies Femi's legacy.
Jayana Chatmon
Youth Ambassador Scholarship Recipient · 2026
Little Stars Foundation
Femi's HeartSpark Award · 2026
Wajeeha Mariam
Board Member Volunteer of the Year · 2026
Patrick B. Nikiema
Board Member Volunteer of the Year · 2025
Oluwafemi Samuel Jennifer "Femi" Tevoedjre
Hero in the Heartland Award (American Red Cross), posthumous · 2023
Oluwafemi Samuel Jennifer "Femi" Tevoedjre
Children's Ambassador (Omaha Children's Hospital / Children's Nebraska) · 2015
Want to learn more or get involved? Get in touch.
