Mike Sudyka of Children's Hope

Mike Sudyka has been the administrator for Children's Hope in Upland for 18 years and has quite a few stories to tell.

The non-profit organization provides care and shelter for boys ages eight to 18 who have been abused, neglected, orphaned and abandoned.

Children's Hope operates a Christmas Tree lot every year to help fund their programs.

This year may be one of the most crucial for the organization and those it helps.

Sudyka was asked 10 questions about his experiences with the charity. To read the full story pick up a copy of the Friday December 12 edition of City News in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspaper.


Q: Could you describe Children's Hope and its role in the community?

A: Children's Hope of California is a non-profit organization that provides care and shelter for abused, neglected, abandoned and orphaned boys, from ages 8-18, who have been removed from their parents by court order.  Most of these boys have been bounced from shelter to shelter or among several foster homes.  Many of the youngsters arrive scared, unsure of their future, and wary of adults.  That is why Children's Hope places a strong emphasis on providing as normal a home life as possible. The home strives to avoid an institutional feel, instead stressing a loving, close-knit family setting, located in a quiet residential area, with lots of room for the youngsters to play, blow off steam, and just be... kids.  The boys benefit from, and eventually learn to contribute  to this environment of mutual respect.

Q: How did you get involved and why?

A: I know that I have a "calling" on my life to help these kids.  I feel like doing this work is not work at all.  It's like that saying "Do something you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life".  Working with these boys is not work, it's so fulfilling and rewarding that I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Q: Has the current economic downturn had an effect on your non-profit?

A: Well, for the first time in many years we have decreased in donations income while expenses have increased.  This is causing severe financial strain and we are hoping for a miracle so that we can continue to stay open.  If things don't get better financially we may be faced with the idea of closing down.

Q: How successful do you think this year's Christmas Tree lot will be?

A: This is our 15^th year and our business has decreased the last 4 years in a row, thus making this year very scary for us.  We have some great loyal customers but tough economic times are effecting us all including tree sells.  I just hope that those who are buying Christmas trees consider us because it's going to a great cause unlike most other tree lots that are private or corporately benefiting business owners.