History

The Children’s Hope Chest is a non-profit incorporated and founded in 2005 by Rosemary Cordasco and Valerie Sprague.

For many years, Rosemary and Val participated in a holiday gift giving program for another non-profit which provided holiday gifts to needy children. 

They encouraged their friends to have their children participate in the gift buying and wrapping so they would one day themselves continue the charge to spread hope for children less fortunate.

 The generosity of spirit at the holidays was heartwarming and inspiring, but they were concerned that after the holidays, these same children still continued to face despair. 

The mission of The Children’s Hope Chest was born
—to spread the giving spirit throughout the year and to have children help other children to create social change.

Rosemary and Val formulated a volunteer board of directors and researched the partnership with local agencies whose own missions align with CHC. 

Since the beginning, it has been providing hope to children in need who face despair and suffering on a daily basis. The Children's Hope Chest reaches out to suffering children all over Westchester, Fairfield county and the Bronx. 

Volunteer families come from as far south as Manhattan and up to Ridgefield, Connecticut with Purchase/Harrison as its center of operation.

There is now an active Advisory Committee to support the work of the Board of Directors and together are supported by an extremely generous and supportive base of local donors. 

The organization relies upon a grass roots approach to reach new donors and develop volunteerism. For each person that steps up to help CHC, another child is helped.

The essence of the organization is summed up in a few simple sentences.  Each donor is always asked to help a child in need by Holding out your hand, opening your heart and offering hope. There are many children waiting on us.

 

Board of Directors

Susan Nangle – Co-President
Enza Dattero - Co-President
Teri Dubeck - Treasurer
Jini Sachse - Corresponding Secretary
Allanna Hasselgren - Recording Secretary
Diane Carlson
Carla Ifrah
Ellen Kaidanow
Donna Myers
Valerie Ryan
Lyne Samad

Advisory Committee

Beth Bronzo
Mark Canno
Linda Cavanna-Wilk
Tony Coash
Kimberley Debald
Lisa Eliasson
Bob Hasselgren
Wendy Kleinman
Coco Lefkowitz
Karen Loewentheil
Sara Mahoney
Kathy Manning
Susan McCarthy
Lynne McTague
Abby Mendelsohn
Dierdre O’Donnell
Nicole Parent
Robin Psaros
Lisa Smith
Sharon Stein
Joan Tiburzi
Denise Warshauer
Carol Wolf