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Imagine the feeling of helplessness when your child is terminally ill. That’s what Paul and Vicki Giblin experienced when they were told by their doctors to take their 5-year-old daughter, Colleen, home from the hospital. Colleen had an inoperable brain tumor and was in the final stages of her battle with cancer. There was nothing more the doctors could do to save her life.
“That’s when the Giblins founded the Hope for Children Research Foundation,” explained Bill Damora, Principal and co-founder of KB Financial Partners of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. “They vowed to do all they could to prevent other parents from living this nightmare.”
The team at KB Financial feels the same way. For the past 30 years, Bill and his firm have been avid supporters of the foundation. In June 2019, KB Financial sponsored the 4th Annual Fred Hartel Memorial Sporting Clay Shoot, with all proceeds going to the foundation. Since its formation, this event has raised more than $200,000 for Hope for Children.
So who is Fred Hartel?
In 1981, Fred became one of KB Financial Partners’ first substantial clients; in fact, Bill worked with Fred to establish one of the first 401(k) plans in the country.
“Fred, one of our first and favorite clients, introduced KB Financial to the foundation and asked us to help,” Bill said. In 2015, Fred envisioned partnering with Bill and KB Financial on a larger event, and the Sporting Clay Shoot was born. When Fred passed away in October 2017, the event was renamed the Fred Hartel Memorial Shoot to celebrate his dedication to the foundation.
The event is held each June at the beautiful 4,000-acre Hudson Farm Club. This year saw the largest turnout yet, and 60 sporting clay enthusiasts tried their luck at hitting the fast flying targets. In 2020, the event will expand significantly to accommodate 120 participants within the club’s enlarged pavilion.
Thanks to KB Financial for their ongoing support of the great work being done by the Hope for Children Research Foundation, the first foundation in the country dedicated solely to supporting pediatric neurological research at a major academic medical center. The foundation has raised nearly $7 million for medical research with the help of more than 5,000 donors and volunteers over the past 34 years.
