Hike for Hesed fundraiser
The fifth annual Hike for Hesed will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the center, 659 S. River St., Aurora. The three-mile, family and dog-friendly hike will benefit the ministries of Hesed House that help the poor and homeless of the Fox Valley: Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry, Aurora Soup Kitchen and Public Action to Deliver Shelter. Entertainment will be provided at the end of the hike by a DJ along with activities and a picnic lunch at Hesed House. Hikers may register online and create a sponsorship page so friends and family can easily support the cause by visiting events.org/hikeforhesed.
Each individual participant or team will seek sponsors to support their walk. Sponsors may include family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, corporations and more. Anyone collecting $25 or more will receive a Hike for Hesed T-shirt. Any individual or team collecting $1,000 or more will have their name engraved on a plaque for the Donors' Wall of Honor at Hesed House's new facility located at 680 S. River St.
Corporate sponsorships are available at a variety of levels providing visibility and recognition for your company at the event and to more than 30,000 Hesed House publication readers. For sponsorship information, contact Mary Ensor, director of development, at (630) 897-2156, ext. 258 or mensor@hesedhouse.org.
The event is made possible through 2009 Hike for Hesed sponsors: Blistex, Hanson Financial Services, American Guardian Warranty and JB Architecture Group.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. at Hesed House, at which time hikers will turn in their sponsor sheets. The walk will begin at 10 a.m., leaving Hesed House's parking lot, traveling to the Transportation Center, and returning to Hesed House.
"This event symbolizes what the organization is all about; bringing members of the community together - universities, schools, churches, businesses, families, troops, civic organizations, clubs, sports teams and more - to move the organization one step closer to ending homelessness in the Fox Valley area," said Ryan Dowd, executive director of Hesed House. "Hike for Hesed gives anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of the poor and homeless the opportunity to do just that."
To receive a printed Hike for Hesed participation packet or information on sponsorship opportunities, call Tom Aguillar at Hesed House at (630) 897-2156 or visit HesedHouse.org/hike.html. Hesed House is an Aurora organization that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, social services and permanent supportive housing programs to combat homelessness. The organization also provides a food pantry and soup kitchen to aid the poor.