Patient Privacy

Brighten A Heart™ takes patient privacy very seriously. We do not request or require medical records, diagnosis documentation, or other private medical information in order to consider a request for comfort items.

Please do not submit medical records, diagnosis documentation, or other private medical information through this website, by email, through contact forms, or through other Brighten A Heart communication channels.

When appropriate, Brighten A Heart coordinates with hospitals, hospice programs, Child Life or social work teams, event organizers, and other organizations or professionals involved in supporting an individual. This helps us understand applicable guidelines and determine what support may be appropriate while respecting patient privacy.

Website Hosting and Donation Processing

This website is hosted on Squarespace. Donations are processed through Givebutter.
For transparency, the policies for these providers are linked here:
Squarespace: Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
Givebutter: Privacy Policy and Online Terms of Use

Squarespace may collect certain information from visitors to websites hosted on its services according to Squarespace policies.
Givebutter uses secure processors to handle payment transactions. Payment data is handled by PCI-compliant third parties, not stored on Givebutter servers. Brighten A Heart does not store full payment card details on this website.

Information Collected

Depending on how the website is used, the following information may be collected:
Information provided by visitors
Name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and any message submitted through forms
Volunteer or event information submitted through forms
Donation receipt details such as donation amount and dedication details, if provided

Website Usage Information

Information may be collected automatically, such as IP address, device type, browser type, pages visited, and general site activity.

How Information Is Used

Information may be used to:
Process donations and send donation confirmations or receipts
Respond to messages and requests
Send updates to individuals who opt in, with the option to unsubscribe at any time
Plan and manage events, volunteer activities, and outreach
Improve website content, functionality, and user experience
Maintain safety, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations

Donations and Sensitive Information

Please do not include medical records, diagnosis documentation, or other private medical information in donation notes, contact forms, or messages submitted through this website.

What Brighten A Heart Does Not Do

Brighten A Heart does not sell personal information.
Brighten A Heart does not share donor contact information with other organizations for their marketing.

How Information Is Shared

Information may be shared with trusted service providers that support operations, including Squarespace for website hosting and Givebutter for donation processing. Service providers are expected to protect information and use it only for the services provided.

Information may also be shared if required by law, to protect rights and safety, or to prevent fraud.

Photos, Stories, and Social Media

Brighten A Heart™ may share photos, videos, and stories about our community work on our website and social media channels.

Appropriate permission is obtained before publishing identifiable photos or videos of individuals. For minors, permission must be provided by a parent or legal guardian.

Requests regarding the removal of an identifiable photo or video will be reviewed and addressed as reasonably and promptly as possible.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

This website and service providers may use cookies and similar technologies to remember preferences, understand site traffic, and improve functionality. Cookie settings can be controlled through the visitor’s browser.

Children’s Privacy

This website is intended for a general audience. Brighten A Heart does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parent or guardian consent. If a child’s personal information is believed to have been submitted, please contact Brighten A Heart and deletion will be handled.

Security

Reasonable steps are taken to protect information. No method of transmission or storage is 100 percent secure, and absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Choices and Requests

Requests to access, correct, or delete personal information may be sent to Brighten A Heart using the contact details below. Individuals may unsubscribe from emails at any time using the unsubscribe link.