Hopecam's Latest News
Thanks to our partnership with Logitech Video Collaboration and Zoom Video Communications, Hopecam is able to help kids like 9th grader Elyssia connect to her school while homebound for treatment of Leukemia. Watch Elyssia’s story below and find out how you can help.
Logitech Video Conferencing Helps Hopecam Connect Children with Cancer to their Support Systems
Read the Logitech Hopecam Case Study here: Logitech Hopecam Case Study
REGISTER NOW - HOPECAM 2019 5K
Sunday, May 5, 2019
8:00 AM 10:00 AM
1890 Preston White DriveReston, VAUSA (map)
Register for our 19th Annual Hopecam 5K, Sunday May 5th, 2019. Read more and register here: Hopecam 2019 5K Event
On Friday October 19th, we celebrated Hopecam's 15th Anniversary at our Give Hope, Get Connected Gala Celebration. The event was held at the Silverline Center in Tysons Corner. $145,000 was raised at the Gala, to connect more children fighting cancer!
We started the evening off with our founder Len Forkas speaking and presenting a special Hopecam 15th Anniversary video, and then Len presented a special award for ‘Outstanding Service’ to Robert Carr. Mr. Carr helped make the very first Hopecam connection with Matt Forkas at his school!
Sam Rosko, Hopecam’s Volunteer Coordinator, presented Volunteer Awards to Kristine Milch and Terry Noziglia. Thank you Kristine and Terry for all your volunteering and all of your efforts, and to all of our amazing Hopecam volunteers!
Our Hopecam Development Director, Lauren Priestas, presented an award to our top Referral Hospital of the Year:
UK Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
A representative from the Hospital was not able to attend the gala, therefore Hopecam will be sending the award to them.
Frank Fumich, whom participated and successfully completed the Race Across America in June this year, raised over $85K for Hopecam! He dedicated each of the 12 days he cycled to a different Hopecam child. He could not attend the gala that evening but he did create this special video in his absence:
We had 2 Hopecam families that attended the gala. Fletcher who is from Centreville, VA, and he is treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Hopecam has helped him connect with his family, friends and school while he is in Tennessee receiving his treatment.
Left to Right: Lily’ parents Ryan & Jennifer and Lily’s Kindergarten teach Amanda
Also the parents of Lily (Jennifer and Ryan) attended with Lily’s Kindergarten teacher Amanda Hutchings. Amanda spoke at the event on how Hopecam helped Lily connect with all of her classmates while she was in treatment for childhood cancer. As Lily attended only 1 day of Kindergarten before she was diagnosed. Amanda’s speech was nothing short of amazing, and there were many tears in the room.
Brandon Snow of Catered Solutions, catered the event with an amazing dinner.
Brandon was on Len’s Race Across America (RAAM) crew last year, and he also was on Frank Fumich’s RAAM crew this year.
Thank you to our Gala Celebrations Sponsors!
Amazon AWS, Alliance Bernstein, Cooley, Milestone Communications, Baker Tilly, The McLean Group, Donohue & Stearns, Maryland DC Wireless Association, Lindsey Joelle Miller Memorial Fund, Capital Seniors Housing, Jeff and Jacky Copeland, Carol and Will Kaffenberger, MC Partners, Scott Plein, Marty and Ann Tarr, James and Sharon Todd, Warring & Company, and Mike Wheeler.
Thank you to Tara Kennedy from Tara Kennedy Photography, for capturing all the wonderful photos at the gala.
You can view and download any of the photos here: Hopecam’s Gala Celebration 2018 Photos
Thank you to Justin Swisher from Swisher Auctions. Justin was the auctioneer for our live auctions. A quote from his website: "It is not about confusing the audience with the chant to try to get the amount you think you need for the items, but rather, it is about selling the item with a connection to the cause that ignites an energy amongst the audience to bid to a new level of generosity."
Thank you to our Board Members Ozzie Reyes-Chica and Nic Tempestini and Larissa Simkovich for organizing this years gala! A special thank you to our Hopecam Team Lauren Priestas, Sara Dia and Sam Rosko for working tirelessly to ensure a successful and fun evening. Our Program Director Sara Dia brought her newest 4 week old family member to the event!
Hopecam’s Founder Len Forkas with the Hopecam Team: Sara Dia, Lauren Priestas and Sam Rosko
Congratulations to the Dia family on your newest family member!
To close, Hopecam raised $145,000 because of the amazing heart and generosity of everyone that attended the event, donated to Hopecam, all of the vendors that provided silent and live auction items, the amazing volunteers, sponsors, Hopecam Team and Hopecam Board Members.
THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US AT HOPECAM!
Hopecam's founder, Len Forkas, talks about how you can use AWS DeepLens to boost mental or physical health and support children overcome challenges with cancer.
What is the AWS DeepLens Health Challenge?
*For the Health Challenge, you can use your DeepLens to develop a project about boosting your mental or physical health. Think of something in your life you want to improve, and figure out how DeepLens and AI might help get you there. We’re hoping to see projects that range from helping patients with chronic diseases through to yoga pose recognitions and exercise counting.
*excerpt from AWS DeepLens Challenge
Giving back
For each project that meets the AWS DeepLens Health Challenge entry criteria, AWS will give you $50 in AWS credits, and Hopecam will receive $249 from AWS!
Learn more about the Health Challenge at - AWS DeepLens Health Challenge.
Gala Celebration
Friday, October 19, 2018
The Silverline Center
7900 Westpark Drive, Tysons Corner, VA
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Our founder Len Forkas was recently interviewed by Rich Conte about Hopecam. Listen to the podcast here: The Tech Life Podcast
Hopecam Honored Child 'Fletcher'
Fletcher with Hopecam founder Len Forkas
Thank you to our Title Sponsor Vibrent Health, the founder & CEO of Vibrent Health Praduman Jain is holding the check with our Honored Hopecam child Fletcher.
Len Forkas's son Matt Forkas with our Honored Hopecam child Fletcher and Fletcher's amazing mom.
Thank you to all of our Hopecam 5K Sponsors! Our Title Sponsor was Vibrent Health. Our Gold Sponsors - Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cooley, Dulles Greenway, Milestone Communications, and to Johnny Bolton and family 'in remembrance of Mom and Nan'. Our Bronze Sponsors - Apptium, Chick-fil-A, Creative Systems and Consulting, Crown Trophy of Ashburn, Earth Networks, FVC Bank, Giant, GoMix, The McLean Group, Miller, Miller & Canby, Reston Shirt, Mark and Rozanne Silverwood, Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital, Nina and John Toups, Wax & Oils, Wegmans, and Wheat's.
Thank you to all the vendors that participated: Face painting by Sandra Fox at Pixie Dust Creations, Balloon artist Sam Chawla, Hop on Pop's Moonbounce, Capstone Chiropratic care, Golly Waffles food truck, Potomac River Running – race company, and to TK Photo for capturing all of the amazing photos at our 5K!
Also thank you to the members of the 501st Garrison Tyranus for attending. The Star Wars Storm Trooper even ran the entire course with his family and in full costume!
Members of the 501st Garrison Tyranus and our Honored Hopecam child Fletcher with our first place winner in the childrens division.
The Revature Team
Thank you to the following corporate teams: Accenture, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apptium Technologies, Baker Tilly, Blue Node Solutions, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cooley, Creative Systems and Consulting, The McLean Group, Revature, and Vibrent Health. Our top corporate team for this years event was: Revature for raising the most money!
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers, Hopecam staff and Board Members for helping. This event would not have been so successful without all of your generous time and help!
Hopecam Staff: Lauren Priestas, Sam Rosko and Sara Dia
Hopecam Board Members
Race Across America (RAAM) starts on June 12th, 2018. This year, Frank Fumich will be competing in RAAM for Hopecam! RAAM is a 3,089 mile solo cross country bike race from Oceanside CA to Annapolis MD.
Frank's goal is to raise money for Hopecam so we can connect more children to their classroom, friends, and support system while they are in cancer treatment.
Who is Frank Fumich? He is a husband, a father to two girls, a business owner, and ultra-endurance athlete/adventurer. Read more about Frank here: FrankFumich.com
Thank you Frank Fumich for racing across America to help Hopecam defeat social isolation and put more smiles on the faces of children fighting cancer!
We are honored to be a 2017 recipient of the Blackboard Inc. Charitable Giving Grant. Thank you to Blackboard for this amazing opportunity to help more children with cancer stay connected to their friends and classrooms! Read more about the Charitable Giving Grant here: Charitable Giving Grant
Your donation helps connect children in treatment for cancer to their friends and classrooms and decreases the loneliness and anxiety they experience during this time. Did you know that the average Hopecam child misses over 80 days of school? Consider a gift to Hopecam to help a child with cancer Stay Connected to their classmates, friends and family during this frightening time.
This year, Facebook is matching the first $2 Million Dollars in donations to nonprofits on #GivingTuesday. Donate through Hopecam's site on Facebook starting at 8am on Tuesday, November 28th and your donation will be matched. Or start your own personal Facebook fundraiser for Hopecam. It’s easy to create and share your post with friends. Contact info@hopecam.org for questions or assistance.
