For many of us, we are celebrating today, spending time with family, receiving gifts and spreading joy and peace. What an amazing time of year this is! As we begin to wrap-up 2016, we look forward with great anticipation for what may come for the HIKE Fund in 2017. Thank you so much for your generous, loving gifts that directly help and impact children’s lives with improved communication!  Our grantees and their families often express how appreciative they are, and some even go on to champion the goals of HIKE because of the influence this gift has been in their lives.

The goal for 2016-2017 is to raise $200,000 – more than we’ve ever raised before in a single year! That’s approximately $32 per member of Job’s Daughters International. As of November 30th*, we have raised $52,428.33 – that 26% to our goal! This puts us at $11.23 per member – little by little we will get there.

*We have several state donations still to process, and our final push for year-end giving. We can’t wait to update you in January 2017!!

To inspire your hearts, here are a few stories from the past month from amazing kids receiving HIKE grants. On December 10th, the members from Bethel #1 Papillion, Bethel #15 Fremont , and Bethel #18 Omaha joined forces to present a HIKE award to the Fittje family.  Russell (RJ) was born with two different types of hearing loss.  Because one type is very rare, his mother shared the struggles and triumphs that RJ has experienced in his life; his condition prevents him from ever flying, due to the risk of permanent 100% hearing loss. It’s rewarding to be a part of RJ’s future success.

A HIKE presentation was made to Isaiah Tucker at Fenton Lodge #281 Christmas Program on December 14th in Missouri. Isaiah will be purchasing new hearing aids with the help of this grant. Meckenzie Yeager, MO Daughter HIKE Coordinator & Miss Missouri JD, and Michaela Davis, Jr. HIKE Daughter Coordinator gave the award. The Masonic family was out in full force for the program including Fenton Chapter OES #152, Bonhomme Lodge #45, Bethel #43 JDI, and Progression Chapter Order of DeMolay. Isaiah’s and his family were invited to share in a dinner and attend the program.

Sweet girl, Ema, 21 months old, was awarded a HIKE grant on December 17th in Yorktown, Virginia by Bethel #39 JDI. The award was made at the Installation of Officers, and Honored Queen, Blair Rary, made the presentation alongside Christi Tanous, Grand Guardian and Earl Philpott, Associate Grand Guardian. Ema was absolutely the highlight of the night. She would feel the chords of the piano and begin twirling around, knowing it was music and time to dance. She lit up the room! Her parents expressed their deepest gratitude and said that through their professions, they would pay this forward. The Bethel plans to keep in touch with the family and maybe one day Ema will be a Job’s Daughter.

As you reflect on the good things that you have, please consider helping kids with the gift of hearing – to ensure and promote their success in this world. Donations are always tax-deductible. Job’s Daughters, don’t forget you can earn incentive charms to accompany your Jerry HIKE pin. We wish you a joyful holiday season and a successful new year!!