In 2001, we were touched by an article in our neighborhood newspaper which shed light on two (2) families. They felt invisible and were desperately in need of necessities during the Christmas season. We joined our community, we privately adopted our first family and so our story began. We noticed that the mothers/guardians selected for the Christmas Wish Program would frequently ask for new pajama
s. After many years we asked one mother - Why new pajamas? She explained that clothing is most often donated, used and previously worn. She simply wanted her two boys to sleep in a pair of new pajamas. In 2014, our Holiday Organized Pajama Event (HOPE) was formed whereby our family privately funded the gift of new pajamas to children within our community. Between 2001and 2016, we privately adopted over 45 families, granting the Christmas wishes for each child and often the guardians. Between 2014 and 2016, we honored a mothers wish for new pajamas for her children as we hosted an annual dinner each year donating more than 160 pairs of new pajamas to families in need. Founded as an IRS sanctioned 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2017, the LaBranche Family Foundation Inc. (LFFINC) provides support to financially challenged families, families impacted by tragedy, women and children who reside in homeless shelters and residents of assisted living facilities throughout Will County and the surrounding areas. Guided by four pillar programs, we grant provisional wishes, donate the gift of new pajamas, provide annual scholarships/grants and present free healthy living sessions THROUGHOUT the year! With the exception of residents residing in select Homeless Shelters or Assisted Living Centers, our families are screened and/or referred to us with assistance from local Emergency Assistance Programs, Community Service Agencies, School Districts and/or non-profits groups which serve financially challenged demographic groups.
