FAQ
You asked. We answered.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DOES THE FOUNDATION HAVE?
The Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation is operated and managed entirely by volunteers. While we have implemented a Board of Directors, no one receives any pay or compensation for their participation. We strive to ensure that every dollar we raise goes directly toward the cause.
WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY COME FROM?
The Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation operates entirely on donations received from people just like you. Our annual Go Gold Festival is our largest fundraiser of the year. It, along with various other events and individual donations, are our sole sources of revenue. If you would like to donate or sponsor an event, please contact us.
WHERE WILL MY DONATION GO?
All of the money collected by the Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation is put into a general fund and dispersed throughout the year, as it is needed, to the parents or guardians of local children battling pediatric cancer (or, in some cases, paid to a third-party on their behalf). Our policy is that 100% of the allocations remain local. Therefore, we limit our applicants to Bedford County and the surrounding communities. None of the money collected leaves middle TN. If you would prefer your donation go to a particular recipient or be used to fund a specific event, please contact us. Utilization of funds is decided on a case-by-case basis and may be used for anything ranging from fuel cards to medication to simply making sure the family is able to buy groceries.
IS MY DONATION TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
The Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization. Currently, all charitable donations are tax deductible. If you require a donation receipt for your records, please contact us.
ARE YOU HIRING?
We are not an employer. We are controlled and operated entirely by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to help with an upcoming event, please contact us.
HOW DO I KNOW YOU'RE LEGIT?
The Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation is a non profit 501(c)(3) organization and is fully registered with the Internal Revenue Service.
You can verify our status by visiting the IRS website at:
https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ (search: Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation Unionville, TN)
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE THE MONEY GOES?
Our first step is to require that each applicant submit proof of a qualifying diagnosis from a licensed medical professional. The applicant is then thoroughly vetted to determine what their needs may be. Each request is brought before the Board of Directors prior to being approved. No payments are made to any recipient without a majority vote by the board.
While we offer our complete support and prayers for any family dealing with the unimaginable diagnosis of pediatric cancer, we, unfortunately, do not have the annual revenue to help every family who applies. This is why we maintain such strict policies and self-imposed regulations in regards to allocating funds. We want to make sure that each dollar we put back into our community goes where it is most desperately needed.
MY NEIGHBOR NEEDS ASSISTANCE. HOW DO I SUBMIT THEIR INFORMATION?
If you know a family who is battling pediatric cancer and you believe they may be in need of assistance, please feel free to contact us privately and tell us their story. Ultimately, a parent or guardian of the child will need to personally apply for assistance and provide medical information that would only be accessible by them. Please have them contact us by phone, email or through FaceBook Messenger in order to start the process. Please respect their privacy and do not make public posts on our social media pages without their prior consent. Cancer is a very emotional, overwhelming battle which many people prefer to keep private. We respect this and ask that you do, as well.
CAN I DO MY OWN FUNDRAISER?
Absolutely! If you or your civic organization would like to host a fundraiser for the Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation, we welcome you to do so! Please contact us with the details in advance so that we may discus the event with you and possibly help promote it. Please note that as a registered non-profit (and law abiding citizens :) we are not allowed to participate in certain activities, such as gambling. Please do not attempt to do your own fundraiser on our behalf without contacting us first, as it could cause some unfortunate confusion if we are not aware of it.
HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU RAISED FOR MARK KELLY?
Because of Mark Kelly Olson's battle with cancer, many people mistakenly think that the Mark Kelly Have Hope Foundation was created to benefit him. This is not the case at all. Our foundation was created with Mark Kelly as its inspiration, but none of the funds raised by the foundation go to Mark Kelly Olson or his family. Our funds are allocated to various other pediatric cancer patients, found right here in our community.
HOW CAN I HELP?
The easiest way for you to help is, quite simply, to donate. We operate entirely on donations from people just like you. If you are unable to donate money, you may also consider donating your time, items, services or even just your voice. Help us spread the word that Kids Get Cancer Too by sharing our social media posts or promoting our events. Every penny and every shared post can make a real difference in our community.