Group in High Heels Helps Raise Funds For Charities

The mission of High Hopes in High Heels, a local nonprofit founded in 2009 with over 50 members, is “to empower Tampa Bay’s women to improve their lives personally, professionally and philanthropically through supporting our community.”

And help, they have.

Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, Joshua House, Shriner’s Hospital, Girls Inc. of Sarasota, Trinity Café, Metropolitan Ministries, Children’s Cancer Center, and Alpha House have all benefited from the members volunteering and fundraising efforts.

Vice President and media contact, Laura Fontanills explained, “We also helped organize the annual Tampa Bay NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) Walk, which raised more than $33,000 the first year and more than $60,000 this year.”

The latest project for High Hopes in High Heels is Kids and Canines, an organization that pairs at-risk youth with service dogs.

“Kids and Canines is a program in the Hillsborough County school district that uses dogs to teach at-risk middle school children how to make changes in their lives, said Carrie Burke, Kids and Canines office manager.  “The ideal situation is we would take an eight or 10 week old puppy at the beginning of the school year and the student and the puppy would go through the two years together. The student teaches the dog all of the commands that are needed and then the dog is placed with a person with physical disabilities or a child with autism as a service dog.”

When asked why High Hopes in High Heels selected Kids and Canines, Fontanills explained a member recommended it.

“Kids and Canines not only prepares service-dogs-in-training, but also helps the students gain a sense of responsibility, confidence and accomplishment as well as helps a family or individual who will benefit from having a service dog for years to come,” said Fontanills.

With up to 12 dogs in the program, it costs the nonprofit an average of $6,000 per year per dog for expenses like purchasing the puppy, supplemental training, veterinarian care, food and other miscellaneous items.

To bring attention to Kids and Canines, High Hopes in High Heels members hosted a Yappy Hour in May at Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City, raising nearly $200 by selling raffle prize tickets for the organization.

In addition to fundraising, the group hosts a professional development networking social for members and nonmembers with a guest speaker. They also have fun social events like a yoga and a healthy cooking class.

High Hopes in High Heels is always looking for new members. Annual membership dues are $65.

“There are no qualifications, age restrictions etc. Our members are all professional women from different walks of life, backgrounds and professions, but we all share the same desire to serve others and volunteer for worthwhile causes,” said Fontanills. “Interested women can join by visiting our website and clicking on the Getting Involved tab on the top of the page.”

Upcoming events include a larger fundraiser in October and a second Yappy Hour in November.

“Anyone interested in helping out with Kids and Canines – a host location, donations, raffle prizes, etc., can email hhinhh@yahoo.com or me directly at lafontanills@yahoo.com,” said Fontanills.  “All of our events have been memorable from Glam Jam at the Shriner’s Hospital to the NEDA Walk, but as a dog lover and dog-mommy, I really enjoyed our yappy hour last month.

It was so much fun to see all of the dogs running around the patio at Gaspar’s Grotto and to have the opportunity to bring Kids and Canines to the attention of so many other dog lovers and owners.”

Burke was happy to have High Hopes in High Heels bring attention to their organization.

“We have to fundraise for all expenses related to the dogs and appreciate High Hopes in High Heels fundraising for us and helping get the word out.”

To learn more about High Hopes in High Heels, visit www.highhopesinhighheels.org or follow their events on Facebook.