AWARENESS & FAMILY SUPPORT
Every beat carries his name.
#5 Beats for Nicko funds scholarships, youth sports camps, and family support for kids living with congenital heart disease — keeping Nicko's courage and joy in motion.
Youth Sports Camps
Family Support
Research Grants
Events
Volunteer
Monthly Giving
Youth Sports Camps Family Support Research Grants Events Volunteer Monthly Giving
120+
Families supported since founding
$85k
Raised for scholarships & research grants
6
Youth sports camps hosted each year
1 in 100
Babies born with a congenital heart defect
NICKO'S LEGACY
A short life, built entirely of heart.
Diagnosed before birth with a serious heart condition, Nicko spent his childhood in and out of hospitals — and never let it dim his laugh. He loved being part of the game, cheering loudest from the sideline, and making everyone around him feel like the most important person in the room.
"He didn't measure his days in odds. He measured them in joy."
Today, #5 Beats for Nicko carries that spirit forward — funding the camps, care, and community that gave Nicko his best days, for the next family walking this road.
Four programs, one purpose — carrying Nicko's courage into the lives of kids and families facing congenital heart disease.
Scholarships
Annual awards for heart warriors and their siblings pursuing school, sport, or the arts.
WHAT WE DO
Support that meets families where they are.
Youth Sports Camps
Free, medically supported camps where kids play at their own pace, cleared or not.
Family Support
Hospital-stay grants, meal trains, and a peer network of parents who've been there.
Research Grants
Funding pediatric CHD research so more kids get the outcomes Nicko fought for.
THE REALITY FAMILIES FACE
Some journeys start in the NICKO.
For many families, congenital heart disease isn't a diagnosis that comes with warning. It arrives in the first hours of a child's life, surrounded by monitors, wires, and a team working to give that baby a chance — long before anyone knows how the story will unfold.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1 in every 100 babies born.
About 1 in 4 babies born with CHD has a critical congenital heart defect (CCHD) and will require surgery or another intervention during their first year of life.
Approximately 2.4 million people in the United States are living with congenital heart disease, including both children and adults.
Congenital heart disease is the leading cause of birth defect-related infant deaths in the United States.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Come play, cheer, or give — every seat helps.
Aug 15, 2026
Summer Sports Camp
A free day of basketball, music, and games for heart kids and their siblings.
Register free
Sep 21, 2026
#5 Beats 5K Fun Run
A community run/walk through downtown, proceeds fund scholarship awards.
Get your race number
Nov 2, 2026
Hearts & Hoops Gala
An evening dinner, auction, and stories from families we've supported.
Buy tickets
"Real superheroes live in the hearts of small kids fighting big battles — and in the community that shows up for them."
— A #5 Beats for Nicko camp parent
Give a beat. Change a story.
Every donation goes straight to scholarships, camp costs, and family grants — no beat wasted.
