Who We Support
The mission of the Julianna Hike Fund is to raise and donate money for the benefit of children who are struggling in life - physically, emotionally or financially. Since 2003, we have distributed more than $1,300,000 in this effort thanks to generous supporters.
Our successful fundraising has given us the opportunity to make a difference and provide needed financial support to many families and individuals that we have gotten to know and respect over the last few years. Below is a partial list of the organizations supported by The Julianna Hike Fund:
Center for Grieving Children, Teens and Families
(www.grievingchildren.org)
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For the 16th year, The Center for Grieving Children is the main beneficiary of our hike. The Center is a place where children can go to find peace, comfort and support when everything around them seems lost.
I currently serve as chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Center for Grieving Children is located at 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia in the East Falls section of the city.
Proceeds from this hike have been critical to the Center’s impact on the community since 2003.
The Breathing Room Foundation. (www.breathingroomfoundation.org)
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This is our 14th year supporting this foundation, which provides comfort to families suffering with cancer. BRF recognizes that a cancer diagnosis affects every aspect of a family’s life; emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial.
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We strive to provide a family with whatever it is that will allow them a bit of “breathing room” from their daily struggle against cancer. The comfort this organization provides suffering families is truly inspiring and so appreciated by all the recipients.
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Each year we are expanding our services to more areas. The Breathing Room will assist 1,000 families afflicted with Cancer in 2017. In addition to holiday programs and other services provided, The Breathing Room awards each of the thousand families $200, which can be used to buy food or pay bills. Consequently, we are currently attempting to raise $200,000 for this campaign. Money raised from this hike will support this endeavor.
Take a Breather Foundation
(www.takeabreather.net)
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Our 5th year of support. The Take a Breather Foundation makes the dreams of children living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) come true by providing a respite from the daily realities of their disease.
Founded in 2012, by Matt McCloskey who lives with CF, the foundation has been an outgrowth of the Narberth CF Run which has been fulfilling the dreams of children since 1996, when they granted their first wish and sent a child to Disney World.
Today, their partners in this mission include the care teams from three Cystic Fibrosis Centers: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.
Community Outreach Program
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This is our 12th year of support. Several years ago I was introduced to Sister Pat Denny, who had an outreach program at this Northern Philadelphia Church. Although Sister Pat died several years ago, we are continuing her good works.
With Sister Pat's guidance, we have once again paid Catholic School tuition for a family, whose father is legally blind and whose four young daughters (they have 5 children) have severe vision problems as well. Public school will never be an option for this family. This family continues to be in financial crisis and unable to afford private education.
Through the Julianna Hike fund, we are able to pay tuition for all of the kids which has allowed them to be educated in a Christian school where they have learned and prospered.