Looking back at 2014, it was a defining year of growth, community support, and life-changing impact for Happy 2 be Home. From securing major grants to expanding accessible living spaces for local children, here is a look back at the major milestones, home modifications, and community events that shaped our mission that year.
📰 News & Organization Milestones
- Official 501(c)(3) Status: Happy 2 be Home officially received approval from the IRS as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
- Leadership Updates: Susan Wendell accepted the position of Vice President on the Happy 2 be Home board, joining Board President Scott S. Hamrick, Vice President Stephanie Brown, Treasurer Kim Staniszewski, Melissa Distefano, and Dino Liberi.
- National & Local Media Coverage:
- The Berks-Mont paper highlighted our event photos from the NHUMC Car Show.
- Board members spoke with John Yoast on 107.5 Alive to share the story behind the creation of Happy 2 be Home.
- CNN featured a story on 3D printing technology created by duPont Children’s Hospital (the WREX exoskeleton) to aid arm movement for Hannah Mohn—a child whose family garage we helped convert into an accessible downstairs bedroom.
- Grant Funding Success: Received a $5,000 grant from St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Audubon and a generous $15,000 grant from Joyful Blessing.
- Facebook Page: Created the Facebook Page for our organization. https://www.facebook.com/happy2behome/
🛠️ 2014 Home Modification Projects
By 2014, Happy 2 be Home had served 9 children across 8 families. Key home modifications throughout the year included:
- Howard Family: Completed a full accessible bathroom renovation.
- Fritz Family: Contracted with Russ Ness Contracting for bathroom modifications and explored driveway expansion options.
- Anneliese G. (Pennsburg): Approved and completed an accessible bathroom remodel contracted with Luciano.
- Hannah M. (Lansdale): Completed a garage-to-bedroom conversion, creating a safe, accessible downstairs living space.
- Upcoming Bids: Initiated contractor bidding for room and bathroom construction projects for the Schwartz, Johnson, and St. Juste families.
🥞 Community Events & Fundraising
- Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast: Sponsored by the MOMS Club of Pottsgrove/Pottstown at Applebee’s on Rt. 100, bringing local families together to raise funds and awareness.
- 1st Annual Jared Pishock Memorial Golf Tournament: A sold-out success at Bellewood Country Club, raising $17,600 for Happy 2 be Home.
- 3rd Annual Concert Benefiting H2BH: Featured performances by Clay Crosse and Kim Hill.
- AmazonSmile Support: Launched participation in Amazon’s smile.amazon.com program, allowing supporters to donate 0.5% of eligible purchases directly to Happy 2 be Home.
