Where We're At

Thank you for your continued interest in Abby Horan Charities! I apologize for the long delay between blog updates; with school, extracurriculars and, of course, AHC, it's been difficult to find the time to finally get on here and update the AHC website and blog!

Although I haven't been on here to write about it, AHC has in fact accomplished a lot over the past two years! Double T continues to flourish, as we have donated over 3,200 hygiene kits to date! Our recent recipients include various organizations for Haitian relief, following the horrific earthquake. Donations of hygiene supplies are, as always, greatly appreciated as we continue to grow. I'm hoping to make at least one more hygiene kit delivery this summer-- if anybody is aware of a group or organization that could use our kits, please e-mail me at abby@abbyhorancharities.org. We'd love to help!

I've been spending many of my days at the Kids on Track day camp for the children of the backstretch workers of Arlington Park Racetrack. I wrote a lot about the camp and my experience there on the AHC website (www.abbyhorancharities.org). I LOVE every moment I get to spend at the racetrack. The children who live there are so appreciative of everything, and just very fun-loving and adorable! They are incredibly in need of all support we can offer them, however. Families with up to six children live in 190 square foot one-room apartments on the backstretch. With little money to provide for added commodities, I made it my mission a few years back to give these kids all that I can, whether it be my time (I've volunteered regularly at the camp, and this year I was hired as a volunteer coordinator) or resources, which is why I consider the Catch the Reading Bug drive for new books for the kids so vital. Please consider donating new books to our drive, as well as any new stuffed animals. Thank you so much!

This year was my fourth year as a team captain for our local Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. One of my favorite parts of directing AHC is the opportunity to spread my mission of helping others to my peers and other kids. Over 100 kids from our high school came out to this year's Relay for Life, which was so humbling to see. I love to see other kids getting involved and breaking stereotypes about "bad" teenagers. RFL is such an amazing event-- if you haven't been involved before, I strongly recommend you consider it! So much fun for such a great cause! Our school as a whole raised thousands for the American Cancer Society this year, which was awesome.

I'm sure there's more things that I'm forgetting to mention, but I updated our website as accurately as I could (including the "charties" spelling mistake on the homepage-- sorry about that!) so be sure to check that out for clarification! And, as always, feel free to e-mail me at abby@abbyhorancharities.org. I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks again for supporting AHC and all of our endeavors! As I look forward to my senior year of high school, I realize just how much the program has meant to me and so many others over the past several years. Thanks for making that happen!

Have a great summer!
Abby