Partners
Hospital and Respite Housing
84 Lumber — 84 lumber, a building materials and services supplier, exists in over 400 locations with 5,300 associates nationwide. Founded in 1956, it is a private supplier to professional contactors.
The company donated building materials needed for the Children’s House at St. Casimir and provided a large monetary donation for the construction the Children’s House on Wisp Mountain.
Advance Business Systems — Founded in 1964, Advance Business Systems sells and services complex print/copy/fax machines for homes and businesses. The Baltimore-based business has been a regular donor, providing things such as a Ravens Suite for families of Believe In Tomorrow as well as the Walter Reed support group and Parents and Children Fighting Cancer. The company has also made two large public contributions.
Bill’s Carpet Fair — Bill’s Carpet Fair has served the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore communities for over 48 years and worked to sponsor Believe In Tomorrow since 1997. Owner Mark Hellman continues to make generous donations on the organization’s behalf. The past three years, Bill’s Carpet Fair has served as a Gold Sponsor for Believe In Tomorrow’s annual Benefit and Auction. Bill’s Carpet Fair provides carpet, laminates, hardwood floors, area rugs and installation.
DeWalt — Since 1922 DeWalt has provided power tools – now totaling over 200 with 800 accessories – to some of America’s most trusted companies. DeWalt has helped power Believe In Tomorrow as well, donating gear and memorabilia from DeWalt sponsored race car driver Matt Kenseth.
The Dakes Company — Carl Dakes, Believe In Tomorrow’s 2008 Unsung Hero, spent over 360 hours painting the walls in three Believe In Tomorrow properties: The Children’s House at St. Casimir, The Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, and the House on the Bay. Dakes helped conceptualize the bright colors that mark the Children’s House at St. Casimir in addition to dreaming-up the comforting colors in the entrance of the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. Dakes spent nine weekends completing the ocean-themed paint job at the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay with the help of the Lower Shore Painters and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA.) Dakes also works to get painting material donated in all of his Believe In Tomorrow projects from companies like McCormick Paints, Sherwin Williams and Duron. If material is not available, Dakes’ company will make the donation.
Erickson — Erickson offers large-scale retirement communities, promoting a “small town” atmosphere from Colorado to Massachusetts. One community is situated just outside of Baltimore. Erickson has helped Believe in Tomorrow with general contracting services to build the house at St. Casimir and lent members of their marketing team for media services.
Hardwire — Serving as an official charity partner for Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation, the defense manufacturing company jump-started a long-term relationship that will accrue quarterly contributions to Believe In Tomorrow’s coastal Maryland programs with a focus on the military initiative. The company is based out of Pocomoke, Md. under the leadership of George Tunis. Hardwire has already bought new flat screen TVs for the Believe In Tomorrow House By The Sea and funded a retreat for families in a Walter Reed support group.
Home Depot — Home Depot, a name synonymous with home improvement, has served as one of Believe In Tomorrow’s largest contributors since 1984. The organization has donated the lumber for the deck and a gas grill for The Children’s House By The Sea. At the Believe In Tomorrow House on Fenwick Island, Home Depot donated all the materials for the glittering sunroom. The company has also acted as title sponsor for Believe In Tomorrow’s Port to Fort event. The national retailer became involved with service and donations when an executive received a tour of the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. Since then, Home Depot provides regular drywall and paint maintenance and donates: bathroom hardware, carpet and electrical supplies to the house. The organization also sponsored a large golf tournament that helped build The Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. Today, regional Home Depots from Baltimore to Ocean City have joined in the effort.
L&L Company — L&L Company provides blinds and floor carpeting services to customers nationwide. They took on the project of wall-to-wall carpeting for the 15 bedrooms that make up the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. Since then the company has provided continuing maintenance for the carpets and sponsors a yearly golf tournament.
Lakewood Manufacturing — Doug Widlake of Lakewood Manufacturing – a Maryland-based commercial manufacturing company specializing in hard wood products - donated fifteen sets of solid wood furniture for the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins in 2007. Each set included: armoire, dresser, desk and wall mirror. Widlake now sits on the Believe In Tomorrow board.
Maryland & Northern Va. Floorcovering Association — This not-for-profit organization dedicates itself to providing a code for fair business practices in the floor covering community. The group of about 20 members has partnered with BIT since 2001, raising more than $50,000 during those years by hosting an annual golf tournament to benefit Believe In Tomorrow.
Natural Stone Veneers International, Inc. — The Buechel family began a revolutionary kind of stonework in Fond du Lac, Wisc. in 2002. Since then, their natural stone veneer product – a lighter, lest costly and easier to install stone façade – has taken off. Now, the beauty of hand-placed stone can be viewed on the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls, open the summer of 2009. A team of volunteers spent many nearly sleepless nights laying stone in Hendersonville, N.C. to make the house a reality.
DC Development — DC Development purchased the land on Wisp Resort in 2001. Their employees served as friendly faces as they watched Believe In Tomorrow families come to respite trips at the resort. A couple years later the resort donated land so Believe In Tomorrow could have a permanent property in the community. With the help of Mountaineer homes and Karen Myers, The Believe In Tomorrow house at Pinnacle Falls is a reality. DC Development helped to jump-start the development of the property and build community support for Believe In Tomorrow that continues today.
Pulte Homes — Pulte Homes, one of America’s largets homebuilding companies with operations in 26 states, has delivered 500,000 new homes in its 58-year existence. A longtime funder of the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, Pulte contributes large cash endowments to the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. The company also provides service to the house, aiding with delivery and maintenance. In addition, Pulte has provided in-kind contributions of anything from camcorders to tickets for families to experience Baltimore. The company has also made donations to the Children’s House at St. Casimir.
Renaissance Communities — Dave Amick, an owner of Renaissance Communities’ Pinnacle Falls development, shared his dream of one day having a Believe In Tomorrow property at Pinnacle Falls where families can stay for free during a week or weekend. In 2009, Amick will realize his dream. Under his leadership, Renaissance communities – a 10-year-old company with two other resort communities - drives community support, funding and oversight for the Believe In Tomorrow house construction at Pinnacle Falls. Renaissance Communities has worked to secure several service and in-kind donations in addition to organizing fundraisers to benefit the house such as the annual Biker’s Believe motorcycle ride.
StowAway Bag — StowAway bags are water-resistant, nylon bags - less than a pound - that a traveler can use to maximize weight and avoid baggage fees, unzipping and unfolding them from a small, purse-sized package. Keeping with their tagline: "Where every purchase makes a brighter tomorrow!” one hundred percent of net profits from StowAway come to Believe In Tomorrow and the Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. CEO/Founder Kim Reese is a longtime supporter of Believe In Tomorrow and sits on the Board. View Kim’s convenient travel bags at StowAwayBag.com
SunTrust — SunTrust Banks serves over 1,600 branches and 2,500 ATMs in the southeastern United States. The company serves Believe In Tomorrow as well. In addition to yearly contributions to the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins, SunTrust took the opportunity to name and sponsor a suite when the Children’s House at St. Casimir first opened.
Johns Hopkins Children's Center — The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center offers the best care available in modern pediatric medicine. A door to Johns Hopkins hospital also sits just across the street from the door of the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House. Through the Children’s Center, the Children’s House endowment provides major support for the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s House at Johns Hopkins. The center has also provided several grants and helped with general up-keep of operations at the house.
Nacho Mamma’s — A fixture of Canton neighborhood of Baltimore – providing Mexican fare to the masses since 1994- Nacho Mamma’s owner Patrick “Scunny” McCuscker has become a fixture of the organization with his generous food and service donations. In addition to yearly participation and support for annual events like the Believe In Tomorrow Benefit and Auction and Rock the House, McCuscker has provided over 28,000 family dinners to date. His donation can be found every Monday evening at the Believe In Tomorrow Children's House at Johns Hopkins in the form of a pizza party for Children’s House families. McCusker also provides special dinners for events and holidays, including Christmas.
Wisp Resort — Wisp resort welcomes families who visit The Believe In Tomorrow House on Wisp Mountain into the community, serving as a guide and support for visitors. Through Wisp connections, members of the community came together in a barn-raising effort to oversee the completion of the Believe In Tomorrow House on Wisp Mountain. Today, Wisp resort provides families with a brief orientation of the property and lists of activities as well as resources to help visiting families participate in those activities. Examples include free use of the indoor pool and a gift certificate for activities like skiing and riding the mountain coaster.
Hands On™ Adventures
Lightship Group — The Lightship group is a full service airship advertising company that provides integrated airship promotional campaigns for major international clients. Two of lightship’s clients, Syngenta and Sanyo, have carried Believe In Tomorrow children aboard their blimps.
Since its inception in 1996, the Hands On Adventures Blimp Program has given thousands of critically ill children and their families the thrill of a lifetime as passengers aboard blimp airships throughout the United States.
NHRA — Founded in 1951 by Wally Parks, the National Hot Rod Association is an organization with 80,000 members and 35,000 licensed competitors; it is the largest promoter of professional drag racing in the world. As guests of the NHRA for the past several years, critically ill children and their families get revved up as they watch the races from VIP seats, meet famous drag racing drivers, and participate in pre-race ceremonies. Children also get a hands-on tour of the pits and race trailers. The NHRA is the world’s largest auto racing organization. Believe In Tomorrow families usually participate in one event per month.
PBR — Since 1998, the Professional Bull Riding Association has served as a partner in Believe In Tomorrow’s Hands On Adventures program, inviting critically ill children and their families as special guests to PBR events. Families receive a behind-the-chutes tour, VIP seating and the chance to place lucky handprints on the riders’ chaps. The PBR has graciously allowed Believe In Tomorrow children the opportunity to forget about the past and the present and focus on the future as they watch cowboys try to stay on a bucking bronco for eight seconds.