Christine's Hope for Kids gives kids a chance to be kids
| Hopewell, N.J.
In January 2010, Christine Gianacaci was visiting Haiti with a team from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., on a trip to help children and the underprivileged when she 鈥� along with five others 鈥� were killed in a massive earthquake that rocked that country.
When her parents, John and Jean Gianacaci, took on the unimaginable task of planning their daughter鈥檚 funeral, they both agreed that they had to find a way to continue their daughter鈥檚 good works. They also wanted to find a way to put the money that could be used for flowers to good use.
鈥淎t her funeral we decided, in lieu of flowers, we would start a foundation,鈥� Mrs. Gianacaci says. 鈥淲e decided to start a foundation to help underprivileged kids and kids with differences.鈥�
was born.
The mission of the organization 鈥� helping to give kids a chance to just be kids 鈥� is significant in a number of ways to the Gianacaci family.
Christine grew up with learning differences and had been diagnosed with Tourette鈥檚 syndrome, her mother says.
鈥淪he knew what the challenges were for kids like her,鈥� Mrs. Gianacaci says. 鈥淪he knew what that was like. She had a very big heart for kids that lived with adversity.鈥�
Christine was able to attend college, and her Tourette鈥檚 syndrome waned with age, her mother says.
In college聽 she became involved with Students for the Poor, a branch of the Food for the Poor organization. That鈥檚 where the other motivation behind the family鈥檚 foundation comes in.
鈥淭he kids went to Haiti to make a difference, and do some good, and they lost their lives doing it,鈥� Jean Gianacaci. She says she felt 鈥淲e have to do something to honor this.鈥�
Gianacaci recalled her daughter鈥檚 experience on a similar trip in 2009 to Jamaica, and the changed outlook Christine had when she returned home.
鈥淭he things she saw, and the poverty she saw, were overwhelming for her,鈥� Gianacaci says. 鈥淲hen you grow up here, you鈥檙e not exposed to poverty at that level.鈥�
But what impacted Christine most, her mother says, were the children she met.
鈥淲hat touched her heart the most were the kids who lived there,鈥� Gianacaci says. 鈥淭he kids were happy. They were in such poverty 鈥� but yet, they were happy.鈥�
Jean and her husband, John, with the help of a part-time assistant and a score of volunteers, have since taken up Christine鈥檚 mission. To date, the foundation has given more than $300,000 in donations and in-kind support to organizations in New Jersey and across the country that work with children.
The family has decided to focus on helping children in the United States.
鈥淜ids need help everywhere, but we wanted to stay here because there is a tremendous need right here in our very own country,鈥� Gianacaci says.
Another benefit is the ability to more easily see the results of donations and support.
鈥淚 can see where our money goes,鈥� Gianacaci says, adding that she makes sure donations are put to the right uses on behalf of supporters. 鈥淲e are very grateful that people are willing 鈥� with all the choices they have 鈥� to donate to Christine鈥檚 Hope for Kids.鈥�
From supporting community organizations such as Big Brothers-Big Sisters to partnering with schools to raise money or assembling pajama bags for disaster victims, Christine鈥檚 Hope for Kids has teamed with the wider community.
It also supports individual children, sending some to summer camps and providing equipment for others so that they can participate in athletics.
鈥淜ids are shut out of games and activities because of money issues. It is overwhelming to me,鈥� Gianacaci says. 鈥淲here will their memories be if they don鈥檛 get a chance to do anything?鈥�
The foundation also helped bring a group of New Jersey kids to the seashore 鈥� for the first time.
鈥淲e sent kids to the Jersey shore last summer who have never seen the ocean,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd they live in Jersey.鈥�
Another project supported youngsters taking a photography course in Florida 鈥� something Gianacaci hopes will be a positive memory for them whether they take up the hobby or not.
The Gianacaci family also aims to help teach kids how to help other kids. Partnering with schools can be a big part of achieving that goal.
鈥淓verybody needs a little help some time,鈥� Gianacaci says. 鈥淛ust because you don鈥檛 have a brand-new bike doesn鈥檛 mean you are less of anything. It just means you don鈥檛 have a bike.鈥�
While her formal title with Christine鈥檚 Hope for Kids is 鈥減resident,鈥� Gianacaci prefers to be called something else.
鈥淚 really like 鈥榤om鈥� the best,鈥� she says.
鈥� For more information on , to volunteer or provide support, visit .
