Much like all small/local profit or non profit businesses during this time, we are challenged in keeping our Mission moving forward and having to cancel Hope Fest 2020 hasn't made it any easier. Hope Fest has been Tomorrow's Hope Annual Main Fundraising Event since 1998.
We had much of Hope Fest 2020 logistically planned out and were looking forward to announcing some new Tomorrow's Hope programs at the event. But to hold such an event during the COVID-19 pandemic would have been to risky. We will continue to move forward, leaner and with no cost fundraisers until we get through this pandemic together.
Many people have collected their Hope Fest T-shirts over the years and we wanted to offer a little bit of HOPE FEST to our supporters and beyond while also raising funds to help weather this storm and continue our MISSION.
MISSION ESSENTIAL!
Tomorrow's Hope Mission:
To foster health-related research, education and support activities that have a direct impact on individuals in our local health care service area touched by Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other life-limiting illnesses.
In April 1998, a group of volunteers met to organize a fundraiser that would have a direct impact on people in southern Wisconsin touched by life-limiting illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and more…
Tomorrow’s Hope was created in 1998 by a handful of energetic and caring Jefferson, Wisconsin residents.
These people had been leading successful Relay for Life events, in Jefferson, for the American Cancer Society for several years.
They became disheartened, however, when they couldn’t get answers to their questions about how much of the money they (and other area Relay groups) helped raise for ACS was used to directly benefit people in Jefferson, Dodge and eastern Dane counties. About the same time, they also learned that Fort HealthCare, one of the key local healthcare providers in the area, didn’t receive any funds from the American Cancer Society (and they still don’t).
These local leaders wanted to make a big and positive difference in their communities. They were working hard for the cause and felt the money that they, and their friends, family, neighbors, businesses and others raised should stay in the local area and benefit local residents. They wanted to make sure donated dollars were used to directly help local people close to home.
Finally, although many founders of Tomorrow’s Hope had been personally affected in some way by cancer, they also knew that patients and families touched by any type of serious life-limiting illness had the same fears and needs. People affected by Alzheimer’s, heart disease, lung disease, stroke, diabetes and more needed just as much help and support as cancer patients and their caregivers.
Most recently, this past February, we raised enough funds at the Hoops for Hope event at the Jefferson High School to fund the following programs. Note that due to the COVID-19 virus the implementation of the programs are on hold due to current restrictions.
- Cooling Caps by Paxman
Technology that circulates coolant through a cap worn by patients to lower scalp temperature reducing or preventing hair loss. This is the first offering of this technology in Jefferson County.
- Look Good Feel Better Alliance
Certified beauty consultants teach workshops on beauty techniques to cope with appearance related side effects.
- Amazon Kindle Fire Tablets
Tablets allow patients to read, watch movies, or listen to music helping to distract from the treatment itself.
In addition, we recently provided a Grant to UW-Carbone Cancer to expand free access to personalized cancer testing. https://www.uwhealth.org/news/cell-free-worry-free/53240?fbclid=IwAR348jnKK_OErJYsRF2HxhePCiSSxGShvf...
This year we have also continued our support Rainbow Hospice, Fort Healthcare and the Rock River Community Clinic, formally known as the Rock River Free Clinic.
Please consider buying a shirt to help us continue our mission...
Supporters
Because HOPE cannot be quarantined.
Tomorrow's Hope is an incredible organization with a strong community focus!
Great cause!
The monies earned from Tomorrow's Hope, stay within the surrounding borders of my community. Hope Fest has made a huge impact on many, many lives in so many different ways.
They have helped my family in very dificult times with Rainbow Hospice.
I have been on a team since 1998. It's a great organization that I support as monies raised stay in the community.