Ava Kaufman

Nonprofit Founder / Inspirational Speaker

Ava has entertained audiences around the world, including on the Gloria Gainer World Tour, as a classically trained dancer. Born in Yonkers, Ava achieved her BS in Dance Therapy and a BA in Theater Arts from New York University. Ava revolutionized the dance industry as an executive at Capizio by integrating a new fabric that soon became the standard. She went on to build a successful business in Los Angeles, providing Hollywood's grandest venues with flawless service. Ava's world turned upside down when her heart was destroyed by a rare disease. Her dedication to her daughter forced her out of a coma and into life with a new heart and new purpose. Ava learned to walk again and rose from the ashes of divorce and betrayal. Her book "Shark Heart" inspiries readers with her personal journey along with stories of others overcoming adversity.
 
In 2011, Ava founded the non-profit Ava's Heart to put her purpose to work. The organization achieves true healthcare equity by removing financial barriers to transplant. Her vision is that no one is denied a transplant because they have to live near their hospital, a requirement to be listed but not covered by insurance. Ava has helped hundreds of patients receive their life-saving gift by providing housing near the best transplant centers in the world, in an incredibly expensive city. Ava has received dozens of awards for her life-saving work including, CNN Hero, Transplant Patient Advocate of the Year by the National Association of Transplant, Best New Nonprofit by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Community Recognition by Lions Club International, Outstanding Partner by the Change of LifeFoundation, and more.
 
Ava both lives and works with Purpose, and now, along with her co-creator Tenaya Wallace, she hosts powerful workshops to help people connect to Purpose. Designed for both employee engagement and individual personal development, the workshops guide participants to create their personalized Purpose Pathway. Tenaya and Ava ignite the audience with their own inspirational stories and participants emerge with renewed passion, joy and clarity, ready to Live with Purpose.