Great Falls Optimist Club

Great Falls Optimist Club Supports HopeCam

with donation of $10,000 from 2009 Spring Festival

The featured charitable recipient of this year's Spring Festival is HopeCam.  Founded in 2003 by a Great Falls parent whose child was diagnosed with leukemia, Hopecam helps connect homebound children undergoing treatment for cancer with their friends at school, and with family living far away. Using laptops, high speed internet connections and web cameras, at no cost to the individuals or the schools, Hopecam has already helped over 75 children stay connected.  

Hopecam recognizes the critical need for socialization and the importance of maintaining connections with friends and family while undergoing treatment that requires children to miss school for long periods of time. To achieve its mission, this local nonprofit has established partnerships with Children’s National Medical Center, Inova Hospital and the National Institutes of Health.

Staying connected to school via Hopecam significantly reduces the stress of re-entry when treatment is completed, eases loneliness during the time children are at home and gives them hope until they can get back to normal life. 

Visit their website for more information, www.hopecam.org/about_hopecam.html

Left to right: Hopecam President Len Forkas, Elizabeth Forkas, Hopecam Director Jennifer Bond, Optimist Club Treasurer Eve Chapman, 2009 Festival Chair Candace Campbell, Optimist Club Past President Lisa Jackson.

The Optimist Club donated $10,000 in 2009 festival proceeds to Hopecam. “This was the largest single community contribution we have ever received,” said Hopecam President Len Forkas, “and it will go a long way to allowing us to assist more children this coming year.  Since January alone we have over 30 new families that need Hopecam, and more are on the way.”

  “We are delighted to be able to help such a fantastic local organization that is really making a difference in children’s lives,” said Optimist Club President Calvert Thompson.