Erik Hite Foundation Inc

Programs: The foundation opened its first childcare facility in 2011 and offers flexible hours during the week for children six weeks to five years of age and an after school program for those ages five to twelve. The center is a secured facility with safety coded doors and cameras throughout the facility with online access for parents. The center has full time, part time and drop in services. The foundation follows godly principles and strives for excellence of care for those first responders and military employees who serve and protect the community and our country. During the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the center has served over 345 children from 27 different law enforcement agencies, firefighters stations and military branches. We have kept the flexible hours that these employees need for different shift work and have kept the affordability that comes with long hours, holidays and weekend. The center was open all holidays and saturdays of the past year.

in may 2016, the erik hite foundation opened its scholarship program for summer camps. The summer camp scholarship program is intended to reimburse the first responders' families for registration fees paid for summer camp attendance for their children. Families sending two or more children to summer camp will be given priority consideration. Qualifying ages for this scholarship are children 5 to 18 years old. Our goal is to help offset the cost of expensive summer camp programs and to keep their children active during a long summer vacation while their parents concentrate at work. In fiscal year 2016-2017, we sent 35 children to summer camp.

in april 2016, the erik hite foundation re-opened its workshop program. Our goals with this program are: a) to educate b) to demonstrate and c) to prevent. In partnership with some of our donors, we bring a variety of workshops to the first responders that we serve and help them to be more educated on how to find the resources they need for their families. Also, with the help of professionals on a panel style-workshop, we demonstrate how to accomplish their family goals, weather financial stability, managing their erratic schedules, or any other need that they might have. In addition, we raise awareness within our first responders community how to take care of their family before a tragic loss occurs and how to prevent their families from making crucial decisions alone and in the midst of grief. Examples of workshops we have provided:- preparing for sudden death- financing 101: budget, documents, and passwords- importance of life insurance- living wills and trusts- where to find support for my family- updates on the housing market- women in law enforcement