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.

Eating For A Good Cause

We are often blown away by the generosity and support Harper and our new little charity receive.  Today we talk about yet another incredible demonstration of the goodness and generosity of people.

El Nopal in Georgetown Indiana has been a great supporter of our work, beginning with our direct fundraising efforts for the St. Baldrick's Foundation in February.  Their support has continued and on Tuesday May 19th we will expand on our fundraising efforts with El Nopal, extending the dining event from the location in Georgetown to also include the El Nopal location on State Street in New Albany Indiana.

If you dine at either location on Tuesday May 19th, 2015, 20% of your purchase will be directly donated to Hope From Harper, allowing us to continue to our mission of supporting childhood cancer research and improving the physical and emotional care that childhood cancer patients and their families receive.

Being a restaurant that we frequented often with Harper, the support of the owner of these locations has meant a lot to us, and we are incredibly grateful for his support.  We ask that you do what you can to support these locations as their success means more support for Hope From Harper and the children (and their families) battling cancer every day.

Thank you, and enjoy!

You Are Part of the Solution

Everything has been moving so quickly recently, it has been hard to keep everyone informed on all the plans and progress we've been making. We want to take a moment and share where we are and what we are planning.

As we indicated previously, we decided to take the St. Baldrick's Event Success as an indication that we need to continue to highlight and remember Harper in a meaningful way that helps kids with cancer.  To that end, we decided to pursue establishing a non-profit organization, named Hope From Harper, to fund childhood cancer research and support improvements in the care childhood cancer patients and their families receive.

After some discussion and consideration we asked David Elster to join Melissa and I as the starting 3 Board Members for Hope From Harper.  We also asked Betty Collins, mother of our good friend since high school Nicola Jackson, to join us as the organization's Treasurer.  Betty bring years of accounting experience to the table and we are so happy to welcome her as an officer of the organization.

For clarity and transparency, here is the initial make-up of the organization (as filed in all of our official documents):

• Brian Wehneman - Board Chair and Executive Director
• Melissa Wehnemen - Board Member and Secretary
• David Elster - Board Member and Director of Community Outreach
• Betty Collins - Treasurer

We wanted to start with a small and lean organization but we anticipate that we will have many others who have stood by us and supported us throughout the last 2 years who will also play major roles in the success of Hope From Harper.

As of April 7th, 2015 Hope From Harper Inc has been officially incorporated in the State of Indiana as a non-profit corporation.  We have also applied for and received an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and have submitted our application to receive tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

An interesting point about applying for tax-exemption with the IRS is, once approved, it will be retroactively applied to the date of establishment of the organization (April 7, 2015) since we applied within 27 months of the organization being created.  What that means is that we expect that any gifts made to Hope From Harper between April 7th and when we receive our tax-exempt approval letter should be considered tax-exempt and thus tax-deductible.  So, we are now able to start to accept donations with the expectation that those donations will receive tax-exempt treatment.

Of course we do not expect Hope From Harper to exist and flourish on simply direct donations alone (though ANYONE is welcome to give <wink wink>) so we have several ideas for fundraising events that you will be hearing more about in the future.  Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't provide some sort of a teaser:

• It's Midnight Somewhere
• White and Gold
• Bourbon and Baldricks

We anticipate having some Hope From Harper merchandise available as well, including a new Hope From Harper shirt, silicone bracelets, and more.

It is an exciting time, but we know we can't do it alone.  If you are moved to volunteer, in whatever capacity you can, we invite you to get in touch with us.  Please email your interest to volunteer@hopefromharper.com with your contact information and how you are interested in helping.

And of course, if you wish to donate directly (which we would so much appreciate) you can click the link below. If you do not wish to use PayPal or credit card online, you may also mail checks or money orders to:

Hope From Harper

PO Box 565

Georgetown, IN 47122

All donations will receive a receipt via email or snail-mail for tax records.

Again, a HUGE thank you to everyone who has helped support us to get us this far.  We really feel this is the beginning of something big, and want to ensure that Harper's legacy becomes a force to do good and help kids and their families affected by cancer.  We need ever-improving care and ultimately a cure.  

If you're reading this - YOU are part of the solution.

- Brian (Harper's Dad)