Granting wishes for Montana children living with critical illnesses

CHARITY OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF MONTANA TROOPERS
P.O. Box 5927 | Helena, MT 59604 | (406) 949-HOPE
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About Us

Michael-Bozeman-picture-1The Montana Highway Patrol started the Montana Hope Project in 1984 as a way to give back to the communities they serve in a special and unique way.

The Montana Hope Project
was born.

Today, the Montana Hope Project is a separate non-profit organization funded by tax-deductible charitable contributions. The Hope Project does not receive tax support and is not associated with any national wish-granting organization.  Sponsored by the Association of Montana Troopers, the Montana Hope Project originated from the strong desire of Troopers to offer a special and unique service to the communities they served.

Granting wishes to Montana children has proven to be a rewarding endeavor and has had a positive impact on those involved with the Hope Project. Granting wishes, hosting reunions and our fund-raising events offer comfort and encouragement to families facing difficult circumstances and bring communities together in support of their neighbors. Those involved know first-hand the special meaning of the smile on a child’s face when they receive their wish.

The mission of the Montana Hope Project is to fulfill the dreams and wishes of the children of Montana who suffer from a terminal, critical, or chronic illness that are between the ages of 2 and 18 years. The conditions the children face typically require medical intervention and physically, emotionally, and financially drain the children and their families.  Eighty-three percent of all proceeds from funds raised, corporate and private donations, and memorials go directly to wishes for Montana children. The average wish granted costs approximately $8,800, and the most requested wish is a trip to Walt Disney World.

Wishes over the years have included trips to Hawaii, professional sports events, computers, shopping sprees, camping trips, hot tubs, vehicle restorations, Caribbean cruises, a horse buggy, adaptive equipment, entertainment centers, video games, and dream bedrooms. Whenever possible, the entire family is involved in the wish.  As a way to further encourage families, the Hope Project also invites each wish recipient and their family to two reunions each year. Our summer and winter reunions are held at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort the first weekend in June and the first weekend in December.

The Montana Hope Project is a success due to the combined efforts of many. Our volunteer staff is comprised of active and retired highway patrol troopers and their spouses, along with other dedicated individuals. We also enjoy the support of various organizations from across the state of Montana that give generously of their money, time, and talents.

We are sincere in our belief that the lives of children are precious and should never be cut short without their wishes coming true. We welcome you to join us in this endeavor.

 

Testimonials

Hello! My name is Tana, and I got the amazing opportunity from the Montana Hope Project to go to Hawaii with my mom and my sister. In 2014, I was diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer. It was a long journey, but I was so thankful to have my family. I choose Hawaii for my…

Hello! My name is Tana, and I got the amazing opportunity from the Montana Hope Project to go to Hawaii with my mom and my sister. In 2014, I was diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer. It was a long journey, but I was so thankful to have my family. I choose Hawaii for my wish because I have always wanted to go there to see how beautiful it is. Going to Hawaii was a way to thank my mom and sister for going to all the doctor’s appointments, and for being my support system. In Hawaii, I got to experience things I have never done before! We went paddle boarding, which was a struggle for my mom, went on a hike that lead us to a waterfall, and swam. We got to go snorkeling in the ocean and saw such amazing fish and turtles. At the resort, we got to just chill on the beach and relax, but also got to go on the water slides and swim. I will never forget going to the pizza place across the street and meeting such nice people who told us about Hawaii.  

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What was your most favorite part of your trip? I liked the Tower of Terror ride and seeing Hope and Winter, the dolphins. What was your least favorite part? The airplane ride was too long. What was something that surprised you? We had our own house at Give Kids the World! If you did it…

  1. What was your most favorite part of your trip?
I liked the Tower of Terror ride and seeing Hope and Winter, the dolphins.
  1. What was your least favorite part?
The airplane ride was too long.
  1. What was something that surprised you?
We had our own house at Give Kids the World!
  1. If you did it all again, what would you change?
I would go for 2 years, not 1 week.  I would make Mayor Clayton have floppy ears, not straight, stick-up ears.
  1. What would you tell other wish kids who are taking a trip to Florida?
You can ride any ride you want! They treat you like a super hero there! You get a lot of stuffed animals and presents! I have more to say, but my brain is clogged up right now….
  1. What do you want others to know about the Montana Hope Project?
I want other people to know that the “policemans” sent me on my wish trip. Thank you to everybody who sent me on my wish!
  1. What would you like to tell the Montana Hope Project?
You’re the best, and you ROCK!  

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I would like to start by thanking the Montana Hope Project, its coordinators, supporters, and all those involved. Through their efforts, I have been able to create, and continue to create, lasting memories from unforgettable experiences. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “ The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost,…

I would like to start by thanking the Montana Hope Project, its coordinators, supporters, and all those involved. Through their efforts, I have been able to create, and continue to create, lasting memories from unforgettable experiences. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “ The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Montana Hope Project has given me the opportunity to do just that. By granting my wish for a self-contained, adventure-ready camper, I have been able to reach and chase new experiences without medical limitations holding me back. The Project’s attention to detail in making my wish come true amazed my family and me. Bozeman Area Coordinator, Joe Rehbein, went above and beyond in assisting me to make sure my camper was everything and more than I wished for. Throughout the summer, I was able to take my sister and her fiancé from out of state camping and show them the very best of Montana. I was able to travel out of state to Cheyenne, Wyoming for the Fourth of July. I was able to adventure away from civilization with friends. All of which I was able to do because of the Montana Hope Project. Not only was the camper used to make fun memories, it made trips to doctors a great deal easier by not having to get a hotel for those appointments away from home. Making sometimes stressful situations that much easier on me and my family, and the experiences aren't over. I am planning to take the camper hunting this fall and around the state skiing this winter. I cannot begin to express how much easier it is to enjoy what I love when I have a fully-equipped place to maintain my medical health away from home. Furthermore, having a place that is mine has given me the opportunity to learn how to care for my medical needs independently as a young adult. It's no exaggeration when I say that I slept in my camper more nights this summer than my own bedroom. That experience taught me more about keeping myself healthy than any other. To those who support and sponsor this amazing organization, thank you. To those who keep this amazing organization going, thank you. To those who are thinking of reaching out to this amazing organization to make a wish, absolutely, without hesitation, do it, and to the Montana Hope Project as a whole, I thank you endlessly.  

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