You’re in good company
Carrying Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit founded by foster parents and advocates that provides Hope Packs – backpacks filled with comfort items and essentials – to children entering the foster care system throughout Texas. Our adorable Hope Packs are specifically tailored to newborns through teens and filled with everything a child entering foster care would need during his/her/their first 48 hours in a new home. Since 2016, our Hope Packs and programs have impacted the lives of nearly 30,000 youth and families in the Texas foster care system. Whether it’s a 10-person packing drive in our office or a 600-employee corporate drive, there are many ways to get involved with Carrying Hope. Here are five common partnership opportunities:
Corporate Opportunities
Our nonprofit couldn’t exist without the support of companies like yours! Whether it’s a 10-person packing drive in our office or a 600-employee corporate drive, Carrying Hope is grateful for the support of the amazing businesses we work with. There are lots of ways to get involved. Here are some suggestions.
1. Corporate Team Building Hope Pack Event
No matter the size of your company, hosting a Hope Pack drive for Carrying Hope is an incredible way to build camaraderie among your employees while helping some of the children who need support the most. Carrying Hope can help you organize an incredible event that’s tailored to your exact needs. We’ll handle all of the logistics, from shopping, purchasing and transporting all Hope Pack supplies to your location to setting up, speaking about our mission and facilitating a meaningful event with your team. You simply pay a $50 per Hope Pack materials fee and any necessary event or travel fees to experience an unforgettable day that will positively impact the lives of foster children and the families caring for them. (Ideal for companies wanting to make 50 or more Hope Packs.)
2. Volunteer in Carrying Hope’s Office
Do you have a small office team who wants to give back together? Carrying Hope offers corporate events in our Austin and Houston offices that allow groups of up to 15 people to come in and create Hope Packs for children entering foster care. Corporate volunteer groups are scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Austin and on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Houston and typically last 1-2 hours. You simply pay a $50 per person supply fee which covers the cost of making Hope Packs for children entering foster care, and you get a meaningful experience with your team that will directly benefit local foster youth.
3. Host a Hope Pack Drive in your Office
Corporate donations of Hope Packs go a long way in helping Carrying Hope fulfill the needs of foster children in our community, and we encourage companies looking for a way to give back to follow our detailed supply lists to purchase items and create Hope Packs together. We will happily answer any questions and provide best practice advice along the way. Complete Hope Packs can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in our Austin office on Wednesdays and Fridays, in our San Antonio office on Mondays, and in our Houston office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
4. Employee Fundraising
Short on time but want to give back? We can help your company set a monetary fundraising goal that’s both attainable for your employees and impactful for Carrying Hope. Employees can also choose to purchase Hope Packs for babies, children, teens and sibling groups directly from our website as part of the fundraiser. When you reach your goal, Carrying Hope will celebrate your accomplishment by hosting a coffee and donut party for your employees that includes a visit from our life-size mascot, Hope the Hedgehog, and social media shoutouts. (Austin and Houston offices, only.)
5. Become A Sponsor
Carrying Hope has multiple sponsorship and underwriting opportunities for companies throughout the year that directly benefit foster youth throughout Texas, including our spring gala in Austin (March) and our fall fundraiser in Houston (October), our summer back-to-school drives in Austin and Houston (July-August) and our Hope for the Holidays campaigns in Austin and Houston (November-December). If your company would like to partner with Carrying Hope for any of these important and impactful events, email us at [email protected] for more details.
Gender-Inclusive Hope Packs
Carrying Hope strives to ensure that our Hope Packs contain a range of items that reflect the diversity and interests of the children we serve, including those who are part of the LGBTQ community. Want to make a gender-inclusive Hope Pack? Purchase items from our Inclusive Wishlist or swap gender-specific items for gender-neutral items in any age Hope Pack.
