The Hope From Harper Hero Fund

One of the primary missions of Hope From Harper is to bring hope to kids with cancer by funding childhood cancer research.  It is probably not hard to imagine that finding, vetting, selecting and ultimately funding quality and impactful research projects is not an easy task.  The idea of establishing and operationalizing an entire grant making process is something that is extremely daunting, especially for a young organization like ourselves.

In order to clear this hurdle we have partnered with a much larger and established organization that Hope From Harper supporters likely recognize - The St. Baldrick's Foundation.

In March of this year, shortly before officially founding the Hope From Harper charity, friends and family of Harper came together as a team participating in the Louisville St. Baldrick's Community Event. Through this head-shaving event the Hope From Harper team shaved countless heads and raised almost $75,000 as part of the more than $155,000 raised at the event.  The St. Baldrick's Foundation is one of the premier organizations funding childhood cancer research. Since 2005 the foundation has awarded more than $154 million to researchers for childhood cancer research.

We have now officially expanded our relationship with The St. Baldrick's Foundation. While we will continue to help drive head-shaving events (as well as other, non-head-shaving events - stay tuned for more there...) we have also established The Hope From Harper Hero Fund.  In establishing this fund, we have committed to raise and provide funds to St. Baldrick's in an amount no less than $10,000 a year (though we expect our efforts to raise a lot more).  In exchange for this commitment, we have the opportunity to designate the area of research we would like our funds to benefit, which will initially be funding research in the area of stem cell transplantation survivability.

We are currently working with St. Baldrick's to get a dedicated Hope From Harper Hero Fund website established, and we will share the link once it is available.

This is an extremely exciting time for us as we work to lay the foundation of our organization and start to accomplish our work.  The expanded relationship with St. Baldrick's will help jump start our efficient support and impact in the area of childhood cancer research.  We can't wait to share more information about other programs in development as they become formalized.

We want to thank all those who continue to support Hope From Harper, helping us to establish and spread the word about Harper's legacy of love and hope.  Your invaluable support is allowing us help find ways to ultimately improve treatments, resulting in more kids beating childhood cancer.

The Hope From Harper Store Grand Opening

We're excited to announce the "Grand Opening" of the Hope From Harper online store!

Visit http://www.hopefromharper.org/p/hope-from-harper-store.html (or click the STORE button at the top of any page at hopefromharper.org) to find available items like t-shirts, polos, hats, decals and bracelets.  As new items become available, we'll also add them to our online store and send out alerts so you can shop new goodies!

All proceeds from the sale of these items will directly benefit Hope From Harper, allowing us to expand our mission of funding lifesaving childhood cancer research and improving the care received by pediatric cancer patients and their families.

Initial orders may take up to 4-6 weeks to process as we get the first shipments of these items in and begin to have some on-hand inventory.  Orders may take less time depending on items ordered and the timing of having them produced.

Our continued thanks to those who support Hope From Harper.  We look forward to seeing you in your new Hope From Harper swag!

GoodSearch and GoodShop

For those looking for another quick and easy way to support Hope From Harper and our mission of funding lifesaving childhood cancer research and improving the care received by pediatric cancer patients and their families - we have more exciting news.

Introducing GoodSearch and GoodShop.

GoodSearch - GoodSearch is a yahoo-powered search engine that allows you to select a charity to benefit (hint - Hope From Harper).  In summary, GoodSearch shares search-related advertising revenue with the charity you choose.  The more you use GoodSearch, the more your selected charity benefits.

GoodShop - GoodShop is a shopping portal where online retailers provide rebates (shared with your selected charity) for purchases made through the GoodShop portal.  There are more than 3,000 affiliated online retailers.

All you have to do is create an account (or use your Facebook credentials) and select your charity (second shameless hint - Hope From Harper) and you're on your way.

So, the next time you're looking for that new viral cat video

or your next commemorative Elvis Presley plate

remember to visit GoodSearch and GoodShop to see if you can also benefit Hope From Harper and kids with cancer as well.

Hope, Smiles and Amazon

Hope From Harper has some exciting news for all those supporters who, like many online shoppers, have varying degrees of a relatively new malady - Amazon Addiction. If you haven't heard of this new condition, simply sign up for the free month of Amazon Prime - which provides you free 2-day shipping, free streaming movies and music, etc. - you'll soon understand.  In all seriousness, shopping addiction IS a problem for some people (just look at THIS book, coincidentally offered by Amazon), but this post is not really about addiction to shopping...

Amazon does good business, and if you do any shopping online, it's likely you've ordered from Amazon at one time or another, and you likely will again.  For those who shop with Amazon, there's a new way for you to get your Amazon fix and help kids and families affected by childhood cancer all at the same time. For those unfamiliar, please meet Amazon Smile.

Amazon Smile is a program where Amazon gives your selected charity 0.5% of your eligible purchases when you purchase through smile.amazon.com - and the donation does not increase the overall cost of your purchase.  You can shop to your heart's content, and funds get donated to your selected charity every time you shop.

Recently, Hope From Harper became an eligible Amazon Smile charity.  It's easy to get started.

1. Navigate your browser to smile.amazon.com
2. Log in using your amazon.com credentials (Amazon Smile uses your standard Amazon account) - if you're like me, you will already be logged into Amazon, so you may get to skip this step
3. Search for and select "Hope From Harper Inc" as your selected charity
4. SHOP - remember to always use smile.amazon.com - if you simply go to amazon.com, your purchase will not benefit your selected charity

See, easy!

Feed your shopping addiction and help kids with cancer - all without leaving your computer screen. 

Choose Joy - and Choose Hope From Harper on Amazon Smile! 

Harper, Firemen and Crusade

The Georgetown Township Fire District (GTFD) and Harper had a short but incredibly special relationship.  After Harper's relapse diagnosis, the GTFD did a lot to raise Harper's spirits, inviting her to the fire house, letting her ride in the fire trucks, ringing the bell, and even naming her an honorary member of their department, with a uniform, real helmet and true leather shield.

Immediately before Harper was admitted to the hospital for her stem cell transplants, the department decided to alter their normal name selection process for their new ladder truck they had purchased and were expecting.  Instead of a naming contest held at one of the local schools, they allowed Harper to choose the name all on her own - which she decided to name it, "The Little Chief."

The GTFD seemed to be very taken with Harper, as many were, and went so far as to invite Harper and our family to participate with them in parades and in the annual fundraising drive for WHAS Crusade for Children, which funds services and assistance for kids with special needs.  Though Harper is no longer able to participate, we have asked several Hope From Harper supporters to participate instead.

If you live in the Louisville area, you've likely seen roadblocks setup annually where local fire departments are collecting funds for Crusade.  In Georgetown Indiana, they go as far as to drive through the local neighborhoods in the evenings going door to door looking for donations.  Some Hope From Harper supporting families are joining the door-to-door activities this year in the evening and this coming Saturday all day.

In addition, the GTFD will be presenting the funds raised on TV during the WHAS Crusade Telethon on Sunday June 7th.  They will be presenting the funds in memory of Harper with representatives of Hope From Harper there for the presentation as well.

We ask that you consider supporting the Crusade for Children, through donating at the roadblocks or, if you live in the Georgetown area, donating when the department comes through your neighborhood door-to-door.  The GTFD has been a great supporter of Harper, and we are looking to continue that partnership with Hope From Harper.  We ask that you continue to support the GTFD in their efforts to support the Crusade for Children as well.