About The Footprints of Hope Project
Every family begins with hope.
For some, that journey unfolds as expected. For others, the path to parenthood is marked by uncertainty, heartbreak, and obstacles that few people truly understand. Among the greatest of those challenges is the overwhelming cost of fertility treatment.
The Footprints of Hope Project was founded on a simple belief: no family should have to walk away from the dream of having a child because they cannot afford the care they need.
Our family's own experiences taught us that life's greatest hardships can also reveal its greatest purpose. After a life-changing spinal cord injury reshaped our future, we came to understand the extraordinary impact that compassion, community, and hope can have during life's most difficult moments. That perspective became the foundation for this organization.
Today, we are dedicated to helping others pursue one of life's greatest gifts: the opportunity to become parents.
Through financial assistance, partnerships with fertility clinics, educational resources, and a growing community of supporters, we are working to ensure that hope remains within reach for every family.
Every child leaves a footprint on someone's heart long before they are born.
Our mission is to help those footprints become reality.
Our goal is simple:
To provide hope, encouragement, and financial assistance to families pursuing fertility treatment.
Our Board of Directors
Matthew Thomas
President
Ketteley Thomas
Secretary
Etta Zwigard
Treasurer
Core Values
Hope
We believe every family deserves hope throughout their fertility journey.
Compassion
We approach every applicant and supporter with empathy and understanding.
Integrity
We maintain transparency, fairness, and accountability in everything we do.
Impact
We strive to maximize the impact of every dollar entrusted to our mission.
Vision
To create a future where financial barriers no longer prevent families from pursuing parenthood.
A Letter From Our Family
Dear Friends,
Thank you for taking the time to learn about The Footprints of Hope Project.
This organization was born from a deeply personal journey. One that brought us incredible joy, but also showed us firsthand the emotional, physical, and financial challenges that so many families face when trying to have a child.
Like countless others, we experienced the uncertainty, stress, and sacrifices that often accompany fertility treatment. We learned quickly that while modern medicine has made parenthood possible for many families or individuals, the cost of treatments such as IVF remains out of reach for far too many people. For some, the dream of becoming a parent is delayed. For others, it is abandoned altogether because of financial barriers.
When we welcomed our son into the world, we were reminded that every child begins with hope. That realization stayed with us. We knew there were families or individuals still waiting for their opportunity to experience the same joy we felt, and we wanted to find a way to help.
That desire became The Footprints of Hope Project.
Our mission is simple: to help remove financial barriers that stand between hopeful parents and the families they dream of building. We believe that infertility should never be faced alone and that financial limitations should not be the reason someone gives up on parenthood.
Today, we are starting small, but we are dreaming big.
Our initial goal is to provide meaningful grants that help offset the costs of fertility treatments for individuals and couples pursuing their journey to parenthood. As we grow, we hope to expand our reach, increase the number of individuals and families we serve, build partnerships with fertility clinics and healthcare providers, and create a supportive community for those navigating infertility.
One day, we envision The Footprints of Hope Project becoming a nationally recognized organization that helps hundreds of families or individuals each year. We hope to provide not only financial assistance but also encouragement, education, advocacy, and a reminder that there is always hope, even during the most difficult seasons of the journey.
Every donation, every partnership, every shared story, and every act of support brings us one step closer to that vision.
To the families or individuals who are still waiting, we want you to know that we see you. We understand that your journey can be filled with uncertainty, disappointment, and heartache. While we cannot remove every obstacle, we are committed to building an organization that helps carry some of the burden and reminds you that you are not alone.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for joining us as we work to create more stories of hope, perseverance, and family.
With gratitude,
Matthew, Ketteley, and Wyatt Thomas
Founders
The Footprints of Hope Project
Helping Families Begin