Mark Twain said “It’s never wrong to do the right thing,” and those are words that Cindy and Jim Evans live by. The couple, married for 31 years, has been on both the receiving end and the giving end of true acts of kindness. It’s why they believe so strongly in giving back.

Both from the North Country, the pair met as students at Clinton Community College, where Jim was tutoring Cindy in math. They married in 1995 and soon after, had their first daughter, Kaitlin at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) where Jim and Cindy both worked. While the pregnancy and initial delivery were routine, the care team realized that Kaitlin was not doing well and they were sent to what is now University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. Within 24 hours, newborn Kaitlin was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and was immediately flown to Boston. A counselor at UVM looked at the young, new parents and pulled $50 from his pocket insisting that they take it to help with expenses that would be coming their way. That was the first act of kindness on their journey and remains meaningful to them to this day.

In Boston, Cindy and Jim learned that Kaitlin’s best chance for survival was going to be a heart transplant. Miraculously, within two weeks of their arrival, there was a match and Kaitlin had a new heart. At that time, she was the youngest-ever recipient of a heart transplant. During the long recovery that followed, Cindy stayed in Boston with their baby while Jim traveled back and forth between work and days off from CVPH.

Less than two months later, the new family of three was back home and touched to learn that their CVPH family was finding ways to support them. The Kaitlin Evans Fund was established with the Foundation of CVPH with the idea originating from Kaitlin’s grandfather, Jim Evans Sr., Hospital President Kevin Carroll and Director of Public Relations Michael Hildebran. The fund would be a repository for all donations to the family and would support their travel expenses to access to the specialty care their daughter needed.

Fundraisers happened with support of Jim and Cindy’s CVPH colleagues, the new Walmart & Sam’s Club stores, Jim’s fellow fire fighters, Plattsburgh Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and many generous individuals. The Evans recall feeling supported by so many people locally and across the region from specialists and therapists to neighbors, coworkers and friends.

As Kaitlin grew into her toddler and elementary years, she did well. The Evans even welcomed two more girls, Kimberly and Lauren. The family of five was active and frequent medical trips to Burlington and Boston for checkups were part of their normal routines. Kaitlin’s Fund continued to be an important piece of financial support to help with the expensive cost of travel as did the Children’s Miracle Network. The family also prioritized time to work with Hannah Hanford, then Director of the Foundation of CVPH, to promote the importance of organ donation which was not as widely known at the time.

The Evans learned that with each growth spurt, the chance of rejection of Kaitlin’s heart grew. While doctors praised the parents for how much Kaitlin was thriving, she was always under a watchful eye. Second grade brought on a big growth spurt and Cindy noticed that things had changed with Kaitlin. Despite medical interventions, the fair-haired big sister passed away at 8 years old due to a seizure, leaving an immeasurable hole in her family’s hearts.

After some time to reflect on the impact that Kaitlin’s journey had on their family, Cindy and Jim realized that just as they were helped by so many people, they, too, wanted to help others — to pay it forward. In conversation with Hannah at the Foundation of CVPH, the family turned Kaitlin’s Fund into Families Helping Families.

That initial act of being given $50 when their journey started, inspired the concept of a beautiful program that has touched parents throughout Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties. The Families Helping Families fund supports parents of children who need to be transferred for specialty care. Families receive a bag with cash, toiletries, note paper and pens and Foundation travel fund information. Situations are often emergent and parents/guardians find themselves without these little items that can make a difference in getting through the next several hours to days.

Over the years, Cindy and Jim have raised awareness and support of the fund, continue to personally contribute and have assembled thousands of packets for families. They also promote the Foundation travel funds which are an important part of helping families when they need to travel for care.  It’s an act of kindness that lets a family know that they are cared for.

On June 13, 2026, Cindy and Jim Evans will be awarded the Larry W. Jeffords Legacy Award. This is an annual recognition of community members who partner with the Foundation of CVPH to support the health of our region. It is named after Larry Jeffords, a founding Foundation of CVPH board member whose legacy of giving continues to inspire others. 2026 also marks the 100th anniversary of William Miner building Physicians Hospital. It seems fitting to also have the opportunity to honor the people who make what is now Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital a special place.