Story & Mission
We Are The Purple Shirts Not Your Average First Responders Changemakers Community-Driven Resilience Builders Global Neighbors Here to Help
From Survival to Mission
In 2004, supermodel and activist Petra Nemcova was swept away by the Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand. With a shattered pelvis and internal injuries, she clung to a palm tree for eight hours, entangled in debris and unable to move. As the hours passed, she heard the haunting cries of children calling for help—voices she could not reach. One by one, those cries faded into silence. That moment left an indelible mark.
Out of that life-altering experience, a new purpose was born. Petra founded the Happy Hearts Fund to help rebuild safe, resilient schools in areas impacted by natural disasters—believing that education can be a powerful catalyst for overall, long-term community recovery.
That same year, entrepreneur David Campbell also responded to the devastation of the tsunami. He later expanded his efforts to the U.S. following Hurricane Katrina and went on to found All Hands Volunteers, mobilizing thousands of volunteers to support immediate and long-term recovery efforts, grounded in the belief that everyone can help in times of crisis.
In 2017, their missions became one: All Hands & Hearts, a global nonprofit that helps communities recover after disasters and gets children back in school.
Our Mission
All Hands & Hearts
helps communities recover after disasters
and gets children back in school
Vision
All Hands & Hearts works around the world to lessen the physical and emotional impact caused by climate disasters and humanitarian crises.
Through direct action, accessible volunteer engagement and strong partnerships, we support communities to respond to, recover from, and build resilience against disasters.
Values
We respond quickly to meet the urgent needs of impacted communities,
ensuring that our actions are guided by the priorities and leadership of those we serve.
We lead with compassion, empathy, and respect for every individual.
Our work is rooted in human dignity, recognizing that meaningful change happens when we listen deeply, act collaboratively, and build genuine relationships with the communities we support.
Every disaster, every community, and every recovery journey is different.
We honor this uniqueness by tailoring our approach to reflect the specific needs, cultures, and strengths of each community, creating solutions that are as diverse and dynamic as the people we serve.
We are a team with grit.
We show up every single day, roll up our sleeves, and get our hands dirty!
The physical and emotional demands of disaster response are big, but we push forward—driven by determination, resilience, and an unshakable belief in doing what’s right.
When challenges arise, we don’t back down; we dig deeper, stay the course, and give our all to make the greatest impact possible.
We act with honesty, transparency, and integrity in everything we do.
We stay true to our mission, communicating openly and making decisions that reflect our values, even when faced with challenges.
By being genuine in our relationships and accountable in our actions, we build trust with the communities we serve, our partners, and each other.
Step inside the story
In the News
What It Was Like On the Ground Following Katrina When relief volunteers arrived in neighborhoods hit by Katrina, the scenes were staggering. Entire streets were engulfed in the stench of mold. Homes were ripped off their foundations and had floated several blocks from their original foundations. Cars and boats were scattered where the floodwaters had […]
We’re excited to share the launch of our new program on Catanduanes in the Philippines, where we’ll be rebuilding five safe and sustainable classrooms at Obi Integrated School. Alongside these new learning spaces, we’ll also restore toilets to provide students with clean, private facilities that safeguard their health and dignity, helping them focus on what […]
Our team has been working with focus and dedication to keep construction moving forward, bringing the children of Santa Ana Necoxtla closer to a safe and welcoming place to learn. Within just a few days, we successfully poured both the floor slab and the top beam, a milestone that highlights not only the physical progress […]
20 Years After Katrina: How Our First U.S. Response Shaped All Hands & Hearts
What It Was Like On the Ground Following Katrina When relief volunteers arrived in neighborhoods hit by Katrina, the scenes were staggering. Entire streets were engulfed in the stench of mold. Homes were ripped off their foundations and had floated several blocks from their original foundations. Cars and boats were scattered where the floodwaters had […]
Safe, Sustainable Classrooms for the Children of Catanduanes
We’re excited to share the launch of our new program on Catanduanes in the Philippines, where we’ll be rebuilding five safe and sustainable classrooms at Obi Integrated School. Alongside these new learning spaces, we’ll also restore toilets to provide students with clean, private facilities that safeguard their health and dignity, helping them focus on what […]
Building with Rainwater: A Major Milestone in Santa Ana Necoxtla
Our team has been working with focus and dedication to keep construction moving forward, bringing the children of Santa Ana Necoxtla closer to a safe and welcoming place to learn. Within just a few days, we successfully poured both the floor slab and the top beam, a milestone that highlights not only the physical progress […]