HAND in HAND strongly believes in having a positive impact on the communities where we live and work. This commitment includes providing financial support, material donations, volunteering our time and encouraging others to also give back to their communities. By dazzling our community as much as we dazzle our clients, we will ensure every year is a successful one.

The American Heart Association:

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke through research, public education and community service programs. As the signature fund-raising event for the American Heart Association, the Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment. This year over 1,000,000 walkers will participate in more than 600 events across the country, raising funds to save lives from this country’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, heart disease and stroke. Heart disease and stroke claim the lives of more Americans than any other disease - almost 960,000 lives each year. Help fight cardiovascular disease and stroke by joining your employer, family and friends in a Heart Walk or other community events and programs near you. The rewards of your participation will last a lifetime.

To learn more and participate, please check out the American Heart Association website at www.americanheart.org.

The American Red Cross-Tsunami Disaster Relief:

On December 26, 2004 a tidal wave created by the largest earthquake in four decades ripped apart the lives of millions of people and families living along the coasts of the Indian Ocean. To help meet the unprecedented humanitarian needs in the wake of this catastrophic disaster, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched the largest emergency relief operation in its history. As a partner in the relief efforts, the American Red Cross worked to rush life-saving relief supplies, specialized disaster relief experts and financial assistance to tsunami victims who lost their families, homes and livelihoods in all the countries suffering devastation from this horrific tragedy.

Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and keeps U.S. military families connected worldwide. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.

To learn more and participate, please check out the American Red Cross website at www.redcross.org.

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (BGCSF):

Founded in 1891, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco (BGCSF) serves over 12,000 youth and teens in eight neighborhood Clubhouses and a summer camp in Mendocino. Dedicated to helping kids from disadvantaged circumstances, BGCSF provides a broad range of programs to inspire young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. As state financial support dwindles in the schools, the Clubs provide opportunities for at-risk youth to gain access to positive experiences that set the stage for success throughout their lifetime. Kids can choose from a wide variety of programs and activities, from technology and leadership skills to gang-prevention and intervention to fine arts and athletics. BGCSF also offers access to health services, daily homework assistance and tutoring, as well as specialized programs for young girls and teens.

To learn more and participate, please check out the BGCSF website at www.bgcsf.org.

The Glide Foundation:

For over forty years, Glide Foundation has worked to realize their mission of justice, compassion, diversity and empowerment through tackling the issues of poverty, homelessness, oppression and addiction by touching the lives of thousands of individuals and families struggling to overcome these multi-generational cycles. Glide’s comprehensive Health, Housing, Family Services, Training & Employment Services and Global Ministries programs seek to meet the basic human needs - providing prevention, intervention and educational services in a culturally, economically and experientially diverse setting.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Glide Foundation website at www.glide.org.

Jewielers for Children:

As the industry’s charity, Jewelers for Children (JFC) is generously supported by those who create and sell fine jewelry and watches. Manufacturers, retail jewelers, trade associations, watch companies and those who provide professional services to the jewelry industry unite on behalf of children. Since 1999, nearly $30 million has been invested in special programs to reach children whose lives have been devastated by catastrophic illness or life-threatening abuse and neglect.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Jewelers for Children website www.jewelersforchildren.org.

Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JFCS):

For more than 150 years, Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties has offered a helping hand that people can rely on in times of need - cradle to rocking chair.

Founded in 1850 by Gold Rush pioneers, JFCS is the oldest social service agency west of the Mississippi. Today, with more than 40 programs serving more than 50,000 people annually in the Greater West Bay Area of Northern California, JFCS reaches out with comprehensive, integrated, nonsectarian social services, helping people in the most effective, compassionate way possible, and providing people of all ages, faiths and ethnic backgrounds with the encouragement and tools they need to be productive and self-reliant.

To learn more go to www.jfcs.org.

Junior League of San Francisco:

The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc. is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Junior League of
San Francisco website at www.jlsf.org.

Locks of Love:

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss. The organization meets a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure, as well as other diseases including cancer. The prostheses help restore self-esteem & confidence, enabling these children to face the world and their peers.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Locks of Love website at www.locksoflove.org.

Make A Wish Foundation :

Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world. With 69 chapters in the U.S. and its territories, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 12,000 wishes a year and 144,000 wishes in the United States since its inception.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Make A Wish Foundation website at www.makeawish.org.

Oakland A's Community Fund:

The Oakland A's Community Fund supports charitable organizations in improving the quality of life for people throughout the Bay Area. Specifically, the fund endeavors to improve educational programs, aid the underprivileged, assist in crime and drug prevention, promote health awareness, and champion children and senior welfare. The Community Fund believes in the need to invest in the community's future.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Oakland Athletics website at mlb.mlb.com/oak.

Project Open Hand's Fifth Annual Gourmet East Bay (event) :

Project Open Hand provides meals, groceries and nutrition services for people with HIV/AIDS, the homebound critically ill, and seniors. Gourmet East Bay was an evening of restaurant tastings, beverages, a silent auction, and dancing to live music.   Proceeds benefited the Alameda County Community Food Bank, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Project Open Hand.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Project Open Hand's website at www.openhand.org.

San Francisco Giants Community Fund:

The Giants' work in the community translates into a variety of unique and progressive programs dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing needs of Northern California children and their families, including health, anti-violence, youth fitness, recreation, education and literacy.

To learn more and participate, please check out the San Francisco Giants website at sanfranciscogiants.mlb.com.

Universal Share Strike Out Breast Cancer :

In 1998, Universal Share was founded in an effort to launch a personal attack on the most common form of cancer in American women. Since World War II, breast cancer has become the number one killer in women ages 25-55. Universal is to raise money for breast cancer organizations that provide support and treatment for underserved women, as well as those organizations that develop grassroots advocacy and awareness programs, early detection programs and increased research dollars. Universal Share is committed to aiding others to end breast cancer and to supporting those living with it.

To learn more and participate, please check out the Strike Out Breast Cancer website at www.strikeoutbreastcancer.org.

WENDI GORDON SHELIST NF FOUNDATION, INC.
910 WEST VAN BUREN STREET
PMB 238
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607
312-226-9659

HAND in HAND is pleased to support the Wendi Gordon Shelist NF Foundation, Inc. and their ongoing fundraising efforts. The foundation was established to educate the public and emergency room personnel about the disease Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF), otherwise know as “flesh eating virus.” This ruthless disease, resulting from a strep infection, is often misdiagnosed given its similar symptoms to the common flu. Given the difficulty of accurate diagnosis and its ultra-aggressive nature, NF leads to death in 50% of those infected within 24 hours, or in the case of survival, can lead to devastating and crippling disfigurement or loss of limbs.

The foundation was formed after my cousin Wendi Gordon Shelist was diagnosed with NF during the summer of 2004. The disease moved very quickly through Wendi’s body and required her to spend 42 days in the hospital where she endured countless surgeries. Wendi beat the odds and survived the disease, albeit with permanent physical limitations and disfigurement to her right leg. She is still facing additional surgeries going forward.

You are welcome to send donations at any time to the above mailing address. If you have any questions, please contact Robert Shelist at (312) 226-9659 or e-mail him at rjsattorny@aol.com.

We encourage you to attend future events and provide ongoing support to the Wendi Gordon Shelist NF Foundation.

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