Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going: Hope Loves Company’s Journey In 2026

For more than a decade, Hope Loves Company (HLC) has walked alongside children and families who love someone with ALS or who have lost a loved one to the disease. Our work has always been rooted in one simple belief: no child should have to navigate ALS alone.

As we look ahead to 2026, we are reflecting on where HLC began, how our programs have grown, and how we hope to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and serve even more families across the country.

The Beginning: Why Hope Loves Company Was Founded

Hope Loves Company was founded by Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, inspired by her own family’s experience with ALS. Jodi lost her first husband, Kevin, to ALS, and later became stepmother to two children who had also lost their biological mother to this disease. Through these deeply personal experiences, Jodi saw firsthand how isolating ALS can be for children and how few resources existed to support them emotionally.

HLC was created to be the program Jodi wished had existed for her children: a place centered on connection, understanding, and hope. What began at a kitchen table has since grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit serving hundreds of families each year.

Growing Support: How HLC Has Expanded Over the Years

One of HLC’s earliest and most impactful programs is Camp HLC, a free overnight retreat for children and young adults who have or had a loved one with ALS. Since its inception, HLC has hosted dozens of camps across the country, including in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Arizona, and California.

At Camp HLC, campers experience more than just a weekend away. Through team-building activities, art and music therapy, and healing circles led by grief counselors, children find peers who truly understand their experience. Many campers return year after year, growing alongside the program and building lifelong connections.

Hugs of Hope: Reaching Children Where They Are

Not every child can attend camp, and HLC has always believed support should reach families wherever they are. Hugs of Hope care packages are sent free of charge to children who have or had a loved one with ALS. Each package includes age-appropriate books, comfort items, encouragement, and an invitation into the HLC community.

These care packages often serve as a family’s first connection to Hope Loves Company, reminding children that they are seen, supported, and not alone.

Adapting to Meet Families’ Needs: Virtual Programs

When the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped how families connected, HLC responded by expanding its virtual programming and these offerings have remained an essential part of our support system.

Beyond the Bunk virtual hangouts offer monthly, age-specific healing circles facilitated by licensed mental health professionals.

Parent Meet & Greets provide caregivers with space to connect, share, and feel supported.

Kids Are Curious, a video series that helps children understand ALS-related medical equipment in approachable, kid-friendly ways.

Together, these programs ensure year-round support for children and families, regardless of geography.

Where We Are Now: A Community Built on Connection

Today, Hope Loves Company supports hundreds of families nationwide, always at no cost to them. Our programs are shaped by lived experience, trauma-informed care, and a deep understanding of the unique grief children experience when ALS touches their lives.

As mental health challenges among youth continue to rise, HLC remains committed to meeting children where they are, addressing both emotional and social needs, and creating spaces where hope and joy can coexist with grief.

Looking Ahead: How HLC Hopes to Expand in 2026

As we look toward 2026, Hope Loves Company is focused on thoughtful, mission-driven growth. Our goals are rooted not in becoming bigger for the sake of scale—but in becoming stronger, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of families.

HLC hopes to bring Camp HLC and in-person programming to new regions, ensuring more children can experience the power of connection in their own communities.

We also plan to expand our digital content library with more videos and on-demand resources that families can access anytime, whether they are newly navigating ALS or years into their journey.

Growing Awareness and Community Engagement

Finally, we hope to continue raising national awareness about the impact of ALS on children by amplifying their voices, educating communities, and inviting more supporters into the work of ensuring no child faces ALS alone.

Moving Forward Together

Hope Loves Company’s journey has always been shaped by the families we serve, the supporters who believe in this mission, and the children whose resilience inspires everything we do. As we move toward 2026, we do so with gratitude for how far we’ve come—and with hope for how many more families we can reach.

Together, we are building a future where children facing ALS are supported, connected, and reminded every day that hope truly does love company.