Story & Mission
We Are The Purple Shirts Not Your Average First Responders Change Makers 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
On the night of September 30, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines off the coast of Cebu Island, the deadliest to hit the country in over a decade. Days later, the number of lives lost is still unknown, and hospitals are overwhelmed as people have come together to sift through mud and rubble, […]
Last month’s earthquake has left many families in Afghanistan still living in tents. Our All Hands & Hearts local team has distributed another round of essential survival items as families camp out in the open with increasingly cold mountain temperatures. Entire communities have been displaced, with hundreds of families now living in tents at makeshift […]
“It’s raining today, and I’m anxious every time it rains,” Marya, a Hurricane Helene survivor, told us. “I don’t trust the mountains to stay where they are. I don’t trust the trees to stay where they are. Rain isn’t just a pretty noise. It’s a threat.” One year ago, Hurricane Helene’s heavy rains and fierce […]
Aid Delivered in the Philippines After Deadly Earthquake
On the night of September 30, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines off the coast of Cebu Island, the deadliest to hit the country in over a decade. Days later, the number of lives lost is still unknown, and hospitals are overwhelmed as people have come together to sift through mud and rubble, […]
Our Response in Afghanistan Continues
Last month’s earthquake has left many families in Afghanistan still living in tents. Our All Hands & Hearts local team has distributed another round of essential survival items as families camp out in the open with increasingly cold mountain temperatures. Entire communities have been displaced, with hundreds of families now living in tents at makeshift […]
One Year Since Hurricane Helene
“It’s raining today, and I’m anxious every time it rains,” Marya, a Hurricane Helene survivor, told us. “I don’t trust the mountains to stay where they are. I don’t trust the trees to stay where they are. Rain isn’t just a pretty noise. It’s a threat.” One year ago, Hurricane Helene’s heavy rains and fierce […]