The Hawk Children's Fund (HCF) began in January 2008 as a senior level research project within the Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) Department at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Although previous senior classes had researched how to start business corporations, the 2008 graduating class was able to demonstrate the "hands-on" philosophy of HRM/UMES with the actual creation of a "charity" entity within the recently established 501(c)(3) Maryland Hawk Corporation associated with UMES.

The Hawk Children's Fund began life as the "Children's Development Fund" (CDF) with a "seed" grant from the Rural Development Center (RDC) of UMES. Quoting from the grant:
"The CDF in 2008 is envisioned as a platform to involve UMES students, faculty and the broader community in the creation, planning and development of a project designed to raise awareness of global issues involving children and to raise funds to assist "at-risk" children."

In compliance with the vision of this grant proposal, the "seed" money was contingent upon matching money being raised. The local eastern shore community stepped forward and a team of "founders" matched the "seed" grant.

The HRM senior students kicked off the spring semester 2008 with the development and adoption of a CDF "Vision Statement":
"To be the regionally recognized organization for developing proactive partnerships among student, community and other concerned organizations to help children in Africa"

The HRM senior students then went on to articulate and adopt both "Core Values" and a "Statement of Commitment" for the CDF during Spring 2008.

At the same time a series of exercises were completed by students to identify fund raising activities and to create a short list of child development activities that the students were interested in funding. Of greatest concern to the students were issues related to poverty, health care and education.

Permission was granted by the HRM department chairman to begin community based fund raising at the HRM "Spring Luncheon Series". Various methods and formats were field tested with the net result of over one thousand dollars being raised.

The HRM senior students also created their own unique "Signature" spring semester" event. This event combined marketing, sales, menu development, production and service. The April 3, 2008 "Children's Development Fund" luncheon for eighty patrons was sold out and produced almost fifteen hundred dollars in donations.

Other classroom exercises included a website concept team, a partner identification team and a strategic planning team. The final graded activity of Spring 2008 was the adoption by the students of a draft three year strategic plan.

Several important initiatives began upon the return of students to campus in September 2008 with the beginning of the new senior research class:
1. A second grant proposal was submitted to the Rural Development Center for "strengthening and capacity building" of the CDF/MHC.
2. The website plan developed by Spring 2008 seniors was launched with the hiring of a design professional. This process resulted in this website, domain name, logo and content management system.
3. A formal request was made of and approved by UMES to officially establish the "Children's Development Fund" as a non-state supported activity at UMES with its own business office account.

In October 2008 the students created and launched a $5000 initiative called "Buy-A-Brick" to raise money on campus and in partnership with our community action team (CAT).  The students also approved the first project to be funded in Africa, the new primary school for the children in the small rural village of Kyamulinga, Uganda. The school construction project will be managed by  "One School at a Time" 501(c)(3) corporation.

November 2008 found the students hosting a fund raising "Special Gourmet" Dinner with the HRM junior FMGT 350 class which raised $1380 for the Kyamulinga primary school.  The students also officially "launched" their website at www.hawkchildrensfund.org.

December 2008 came to a close with the student voting to adopt the "2009-2011 Strategic Plan" which establishes the semester by semester goals for each committe over the next three years. 

Spring 2009 saw the $5000 "Buy-A-Brick" program completed and donations sent to "One School at a Time".  The new school building construction began in January 2009 and was completed by the end of year. The official grand opening of the Kyamulinga school in Uganda was held in January 2010.

Currently the student are working to complete the "Buy-A-Book" fund raising initiate. As of February 24, 2010 a total of $2800 has been raised towards the $3000 goal. A proposal has been accepted from "Partering for Africa's Future" to administer the "Kyamulinga Literacy Project"  for the period 2009 through 2012. An additional $1000 for this literacy project was provided as part of a generous grant from the Palmer Foundation.