HopeKids Inc

To restore hope and transform the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions, their families and the communities in which we serve. Our expected outcomes as a result of our work are:

HOPE AND ANTICIPATION: Our kids will be focused on the future, looking forward to the next fun event, rather than dwelling on what they are dealing with in the present. Studies reveal that hope and anticipation directly impact health and well-being. One study published in the Journal of the National Medical Association found that “Hope..can increase one's overall ability to cope with stress by reducing fears and anxieties..."

FAMILY FOCUS: All of our events are focused on the whole family to prevent siblings from being unintentionally overlooked. We will bring families together in supportive activities when circumstances threaten to rip them apart.

University of Michigan published an article stating, “Maintaining your commitment to your family and getting support from each other...is...even more important! Spend time together that is not focused on the illness...[S]chedule family time, including one-on-one time for parents and parent-child dates,' as well as whole family activities."

COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT: HopeKids builds programs that draw families together. We will provide them with a unique, supportive and recreational environment for connection, sharing and encouragement. Our program fosters lasting friendships and support among people who share similar challenges.

It is well documented that people need community to thrive. One example is a study published in the Health Science Journal, “Social support is a very important factor in the confrontation of chronic illness. Children who are the recipients of support by parents and peers present considerably more improved capacities to adapt and show fewer behavioral problems compared to children that have only marginal sources of support."

SAFETY AND ACCEPTANCE: Within the HopeKids program no child is the only one wearing a mask or using a wheelchair. No one is stared at because she is bald, or because he has a feeding tube, because all HopeKids face these types of challenges. At HopeKids, everyone will feel like they belong.

Studies have shown that acceptance and safety are basic needs. University of Michigan Health System cite a study that said, “Children need to feel like they belong. Their peer relationships are an important arena for them to do this. Try to help your child find interests and activities that provide opportunities to connect with other kids with similar illnesses."

ECONOMIC SUPPORT: All of our events are offered at no cost to our families. A significant percentage of our families are in the low to moderate-income range. But sadly, all families who have a child with a life-threatening illness are seriously impacted by overwhelming medical costs. That financial stress can be debilitating.

The most powerful aspect of our work is our HopeDay Program of Events. We have events on the calendar for our HopeKids and their families each and every week so they can look forward to the future with renewed hope and excitement.

HopeKids believes that by bringing joy to these inspiring children and their families through an ongoing calendar of events we can help cultivate hope, acceptance and most importantly the will to live. All of these events are fun and exciting, and promote a deepening of relationships and friendships. In some cases, they provide a return to normalcy to a family facing a fragile and uncertain future. For others, they provide a much needed relief during a stressful and often scary time. For all, they are surrounded by families who understand the journey that they are on.

Our goal is to create a constant state of anticipation, of looking forward to the future with excitement and hope. Simply put, we want to give the child another reason to fight, another reason to want to live while the medicine and treatments are given the time needed to heal what is making them sick.

We believe that hope is a powerful medicine!

Each chapter of HopeKids has staff of two or three dedicated and passionate people. They are called and committed to our mission and that shows in their work and love of the families we serve.

Our event partners are critical in enabling us to make hundreds of events available to our families in each chapter each year. They generously donate in excess of $1million in-kind value that allows every dollar of cash we spend to go out to the families in $2 of actual value. Our event partners enable us to keep our cash expenses to an absolute minimum.

With only two or three staff in each chapter we rely very heavily on volunteers to be able to provide the hundreds of events that we do each year. Volunteers are critical to our success and help us achieve our mission as efficiently and effectively manner as possible.

Our efficiencies allow us to be able to provide an unlimited calendar of free events for an entire year to one family for just $360.

Since late 2006 HopeKids has expanded from Arizona into Minnesota, North Texas, Colorado, Kansas City, Middle Tennesee and North Carolina. We have grown from serving 250 families in 2006 to now serving over 5,500 families. Our goals, strategies, capabilities and indicators show us that we are making progress to restore hope and transform the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions, their families and the communities in which we serve

We look forward to bringing HopeKids to even more communities in the future and sharing with them the message that hope is a powerful medicine.