Dear Friends,

Help Them to Hope embarking on its 51st campaign is a good time to reflect on the fund’s first half century of helping our less fortunate neighbors in Lake County, Illinois.

Help Them to Hope was founded by pressmen at The News-Sun newspaper in Waukegan, Illinois. In those early days, these men put spare change in a coffee tin to raise money for people around Lake County who needed a helping hand. The spirit of these Hope Fund founders reminds us years later that charity begins at home.

Year after year the people of Lake County have not forgotten those among us who are in need.  We continue to offer thanks for the bounty and blessings so many of us enjoy with our monetary gifts and memorials that are given in the names of many current and former Lake County residents.

During the 50-year existence of Help Them to Hope there has never been any door-to door solicitation, no phone calls asking for money, not even a mailing soliciting a single donation.   One hundred percent of every dollar collected goes to agencies that continue to provide the most basic needs to the less fortunate. How many other non-profits can make that claim?

As a very challenging 2009 comes to an end, we face a new year with hopeful optimism. I urge you to bring some hope into the to lives of our less fortunate neighbors this holiday season by donating whatever you can to the Help Them to Hope Fund. No donation is too small. All contributions are appreciated.

Help to continue the legacy of the pressmen’s coffee tin. Together, we can make a difference this holiday season.

Thank you.

Richard A. Ribando
President
Help Them to Hope, Inc