Mission:  To enhance the lives of the African community by targeting better education and healthcare for its children while simultaneously teaching university students the aspects of running a nonprofit business and the importance of philanthropy.

The Hawk Children's Fund was established in January 2008 as a platform to involve University of Maryland Eastern Shore students, faculty and the broader community in the creation, planning and development of a project designed to raise awareness of global issues involving children and to generate funds to assist "at-risk" children.

Our vision is to be the regionally recognized organization for developing proactive partnerships among students, community and other concerned organizations to help children in Africa.

This small nonprofit is doing big things to help children of Africa.  Each year, a new group of UMES students manage the Hawk Children's Fund. Each student chooses an area in which they want to participate.  Some of these student join teams such as: marketing, website management, special events and grant writing.  Through the fall semester, students work toward goals determined by the previous year's student managers.  In the spring semester, after the students have grasped the concept of HCF, they develop their own goals.  Each area plays an integral part in the success of HCF as an organization, and each new group of students bring exciting, innovative fundraising ideas.

Although the "managers" of the Hawk Children's Fund are constantly changing year to year, our director, Mr. Rick Gormley remains a consistent face in the organization. He is the permanent staff member assigned to oversee the Hawk Children's Fund. Mr. Gormley helps motivate the student managers and keep them focused on the larger goal of helping children in Africa.

 

Since 2008 three major projects have been funded:

    2008-2009 The Kyamulinga Village School and Literacy Project. Total HCF donation $12,000

    2010-2011 Design and publication of 200 sets of four "Children's Picture Books" and "Summer Reading Camps". Total $10,000

Please explore our student designed and managed website, and discover what these UMES students sre doing to help children in Africa.  We hope that you will be pleasantly surprised, and decide that you want to help us grow, so we can help more children in Africa.