Latest Happenings - Spring 2024

Welcome to Happy 2 be Home's online update, where we bring you the latest news and events happening in our community. We are thrilled to share our ongoing projects, upcoming fundraisers, and heartwarming success stories. Read on to stay connected with our mission of creating suitable home environments for families with chronically ill children.

A site visit was completed on March 15th with Sophie Berta’s family. H2bH Board Members Scott Hamrick, Melisa Snyder, Carol Savio, and JT Clark visited the home, where the family wants to move her living quarters by renovating a 1st floor bedroom, which requires a lot of work to the floor and walls, as well creating an adjoining handicap bathroom. Sophie's medical needs require these modifications. At 3 years old, she still only crawls. 

A site visit by Scott and Melisa to the Goering home in Perkiomenville happened on March 21st. Kyelynn is a 16-year-old girl who bravely faces life with Dravet syndrome. DS is a severe form of epilepsy marked by frequent and prolonged seizures. Due to the nature of her condition, she requires constant supervision for her safety. 

Her family is seeking to adapt the first-floor living space to accommodate her specific needs, including the installation of a handicap-accessible shower and bedroom. This modification will greatly enhance Kyelynn's comfort and safety. 

We're thrilled to share an exciting update regarding Kevin Nguyen's family bathroom renovation project. Thanks to the incredible support and generosity within our community, this project of transforming the Nguyen family's bathroom into a more accessible and comfortable space is completed. The $30,000 grant from H2bH has created a better, safer, and more functional bathroom for the Nguyen family.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who has contributed to making this project a reality. Your kindness and generosity are creating a lasting impact on the Nguyen family's home and lives.

In Boyertown, a young man named Ethan, a 10-year-old, is currently confined to a wheelchair and a hospital bed. Ethan’s family received $22,000 for a wheelchair ramp for his home. Given the severity of his injuries, it was crucial to install a ramp to facilitate his return home from the hospital.

The Jared Pishock Foundation committed $5,000 in financial support for Ethan's wheelchair ramp as well. The foundation's pledge ensures that financial barriers will not impede Ethan's path to a more accessible home. Another huge thank you for helping make this happen!

When families request a project, the Board makes the decision to have the child join the H2bH family, based on this criteria:

The family owns their own home. They have a chronically ill child that is school age (21st birthday at the end of the school year) or younger. They live in a 25 mile radius of Gilbertsville, PA. 
 
Once voted in to our family, The Board of Happy 2 be Home asks that the family get at least three proposals from bonded and insured contractors, and then the Board votes on which proposal to approve based on the needs of the child. When completed, the grant is given directly to the family. 

If you are a contractor, or know of a contractor who wants to submit bids on projects for our families, please contact us.

Registration is now open! Come join the fun on August 10, 2024! Run or walk along the scenic and mostly shaded route through the beautiful countryside of New Hanover Township at the annual "H2bH 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk!" Dogs are welcome too! Awards will be presented to top female and male plus top runners in each age group! Check-in is open at 7:30 AM with the run and walk starting at 8:30 AM on race day.

Your participation is key to ensuring the success of this event! If you're not running or walking and able to lend a hand, please don't hesitate to reach out to us to volunteer at the race. Your support will make a significant difference. Contact us today to get involved!

Something is new this year that we are really excited about! We are asking for sponsors of a participant in the 2024 H2bH 5k Run/Walk. Many employers encourage their employees to be active and lead happy lives. Many of these employers have programs to financially support their employees when they want to contribute to charities on behalf of their people.

We have 4 levels of sponsorship available, the $35 Sunshine Supporter Entry Fee, the $50 Shining Star Sponsorship, $100 Silver Lining Runner Patronage, and the $500 Golden Trailblazer Champion.

These sponsorship opportunities extend beyond just businesses. If you're participating in the 5K or 1 Mile event, why not invite friends, family members, or even grandma and grandpa to sponsor you for this year's event?

Want to sponsor someone but don't know who is in the event? In place of their name, type in, anyone, youngest girl, oldest man, runner with a dog, you get it! We'll let them know!

Becoming a walker/runner sponsor is simple. Just click the button to get started!

This year’s show will be held on Saturday, August 31st with a rain date scheduled on September 2nd. Last year’s show attracted over 350 classic vehicles. H2bH Board Members and volunteers help organize and run the food tent.

Additionally, we're reaching out to individuals and businesses who can contribute gift baskets for our raffle during the show. If you're able to lend a hand or support us with gift donations, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Your involvement will help make this event a resounding success! If you can help with this, please contact us.

In partnership with New Ridge Fellowship, Happy 2 be Home is asking individuals, businesses, and other organizations for their support of the 2024 H2bH 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, August 10th and the 14th Annual New Ridge Fellowship Car and Bike Show on Saturday, August 31st.

The sponsorship is not only for these two events, but for every event for one year. The sponsorship details can be found by clicking the Sponsorship Details button below. 

For further information, please contact our Sponsorship Chair, Carol Savino, by emailing her at carolsavinore@gmail.com or call her at 610-761-9083.

That’s where The MARKETPLACE comes in. Simply place one of their meals into your slow cooker in the morning and come home to a gourmet home-cooked meal that evening. No prep, no mess, just great food! Be sure to check back frequently and see what's new!

Happy 2 be Home gets a tiny portion of your sale, only when you order through our unique link. Click Here to Check it Out!

Our Designer Purse Bingo event was held on February 10th at the Keystone Fire Company of Boyertown and was buzzing with excitement. The successful event, held on a Saturday night, attracted a lively crowd of over 100 players eager for a chance to win the coveted designer handbags and totes.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this incredible event. Happy 2 be Home is grateful for the support and looks forward to continuing their mission of making a difference in the lives of others. After expenses, the event raised $4,536.58 for our projects.

Thank you to Nick Savino, founder and creative director of NGS Productions in Phoenixville, for helping to create a video story about H2bH.

Board members Susan, Scott and JT recently sat in for a video shoot with Nick.

We spoke with the H2bH families of Kevin, Candace, and Katrina, and all three are excited and thrilled to help with the video project, so we just need to schedule the videotaping. We look forward to seeing the finished video on our YouTube page.

The Boyertown United Way 2024 Grant application was submitted by Board President, Scott Hamrick, and he reports that they will continue to partner with us. The Boyertown United Way will help H2bH when we have Boyertown families in need of assistance.

We fondly remember Doug Mentzer, whose warm presence and unwavering support enriched our community. Doug was the friendly face who greeted many people on Sunday mornings at church, and who was a smiling presence and contributor at our meetings, the Car and Bike Shows, and our 5K events. He passed away on April 3, 2024.  

Doug was passionate about drag racing and won four National Titles. He traveled around the country for racing, including New Jersey, Maryland and Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a faith member of the New Hanover United Methodist Church, which is now New Ridge Fellowship.