The HIKE Fund, Inc. (Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment Fund) collects funds to award to children who are in need of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices whose parents or guardians are unable to meet this specific need.

The HIKE Fund, Inc. was created in 1985 by Emma Tedrick and Charles Terrill, the international leaders for Job's Daughters International (JDI). The Fund was developed as the philanthropic project of the JDI, a Masonic youth organization for girls, to give the members of that organization a specific and unique charity to which they were able to devote their energies.

The first years of existence of The HIKE Fund, Inc. were focused on establishment and stability. Articles of Incorporation were filed in the State of Nebraska in 1985, and HIKE was temporarily set up as a 501(c)(3) organization with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. During the first year of operation, approximately $20,000 was donated to the fund and awards were granted to seven children in the Philippines. Soon after, a $10,000 base endowment was placed in a certificate of deposit. In 1990, a review of the fund's records brought final ruling from the IRS for The HIKE Fund, Inc. to be considered a tax-exempt charity.

Since those early years, several things have occurred to increase the reputation and responsibility of the organization.

A. With increased donations and awards has come increased community awareness. Each year the number of applicants increases dramatically. Fortunately, the revenue of The HIKE Fund has increased such that all worthy applicants are provided funding, although there is a waiting list of up to six months for many applicants.

B. The price of hearing devices continues to inflate. The HIKE Fund, Inc. awards funds to all children and adolescents from birth to the age of 20 years that have demonstrated both a medical and financial need. Recipients can reapply for an additional award after four years. There is no limit on the number of awards given per family.

As the work of The HIKE Fund, Inc. grew, the organizational structure was modified and the size of the Board of Directors was increased to better serve the purposes of HIKE. Additional Board Members have been added and responsibilities have been modified to increase the effectiveness of HIKE. There continue to be no paid solicitors or paid Board Members. All members of the Board of Directors and all helpers and members of Job's Daughters who collect the funds are unpaid volunteers and the percentage of donations distributed to needy children approaches 95% of all funds collected.

Many challenges, both structural and financial, continue to challenge the work of The HIKE Fund, Inc. Today, though, the fund continues to prosper and has reached over $3,000,000.00 in awards to children with hearing loss in the United States and the Philippines.

The structure of The HIKE Fund, Inc. is such that it allows for the organization of 36 states from Alaska to Texas and from Hawaii to Delaware into a cohesive unit working towards a common goal.