| Motto | Helping Families through the Bone Marrow Transplant Process |
| Established | 2002 |
| President | Zenaide Swenson |
| Headquarters | Hudson, MA, USA |
| Membership | N/A [1] |
| Founders | John Sousa, Zenaide Swenson, John Swenson [2] |
| Homepage | www.andrewshelpfulhands.com/ |
Andrew’s Helpful Hands Inc., also known as "AHH", is an American tax-exempt charity (IRS designated 501(c)(3)) that was established in memory of Andrew Swenson by his uncle, John Sousa.[3] After five years of chemotherapy, remission, relapse, a bone marrow transplant, and other such struggles, Andrew lost his battle to leukemia on July 28, 2002, one day after his 7th birthday.[4]
The all-volunteer organization is headquartered in Hudson, Massachusetts, operates in and around the metro-west Boston and Worcester regions of Massachusetts and works primarily with beneficiaries from central and southern New England.[5]
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Andrew's Helpful Hands Mission is: to help families going through the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) process. They assist in organizing bone marrow drives, promote fundraisers to help with finances, and lend a hand during the recovery stages of the operation as well. Their primary focus is to allow parents to focus on their child throughout the many stages of the process.[3]
AHH is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors which runs the day-to-day operations of the organization and the fiscal year runs January through December. The Board is led by a President. Zenaide (Zee) Swenson (Andrew’s Mom) has been the organization’s President since the organization’s inception.[1]
There are several Committee structures throughout the organization. Many of these center around AHH's various fundraising events (Annual Gold Ribbon Holiday Reception, Annual Leukemia Ride, Walk, and Family BBQ, Themed Dances, Bone Marrow Drives, etc.). All Board members and Committee Chairs congregate to organize future events, discuss internal business and promote the general growth of the organization. While Board Members are the only ones who can vote on general matters of business, volunteers and the general public are encouraged to attend and participate.[1]
They also work with several other organizations that share a similar vision, such as Take a Swing at Cancer, Angel's Hope, Childhood Cancer Lifeline of New Hampshire and Dana Farber Cancer Institute.[6][7]
The organization's roots began in 1997 when Andrew began his five year battle with cancer. Throughout the process, a legion of friends and family members came together to offer support to the family. This devoted support - combined with Andrew’s strength, courage and desire to always help others - led Andrew’s uncle, John Sousa, to formally begin the process of applying for non-profit designation. The foundation was named in Andrew’s honor as “Andrew’s Helpful Hands Foundation”.[8]
In 2004, AHH reached a milestone by gaining its official 501(c)(3)status from the IRS.[9]
The AHH logo is an actual “high-five” handprint made by Andrew Swenson. The concept came about during transplant when Andrew had Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD). The GVHD had caused an extreme itch and burn over his whole body. Making the “hand made High 5” postcards was a distraction that kept him form itching and peeling his skin. [8][10]