About Us
Our Journey of Love and Purpose.
Learn about Growing Hands for Brighter Futures — our story, mission, values, and the people who make it real.
School Supply Drives
Collecting and distributing bookbags and supplies to local students.
Holiday Toy Drive
Spreading joy to children every holiday season.
Youth Involvement
Encouraging local young people to volunteer and lead.
Acts of Kindness
Uplifting our community, one act at a time.
Our Story
Our Journey of Love and Purpose
When AnnMarie DiPasquale's son Julius started preschool in June 2023, she saw an opportunity to teach him something beyond the ABCs — the importance of giving back. As a former Baltimore City law enforcement officer, AnnMarie had witnessed firsthand how many children were growing up without essentials like backpacks, school supplies, and the support they needed to succeed.
This experience, combined with her desire to raise her children with purpose, inspired her to launch Growing Hands for Brighter Futures — a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids feel seen, supported, and set up for success.
AnnMarie's passion for giving back was also fueled by her work as a wine representative for ONEHOPE, a purpose-driven Napa Valley wine company. Through this role, she helped contribute over $10,000 in donations to nonprofits both locally and nationally — proving that impact can be created in everyday opportunities when purpose leads.
In June 2025, Growing Hands for Brighter Futures officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. AnnMarie's children, Braydon and Julius, are active participants in this mission — learning the value of empathy and service by helping hands-on in every project.
Our History
How we got here
A Family Initiative
What began as a simple idea to give back quickly became a family mission. AnnMarie and her sons, Julius and Braydon, organized their first school supply drive for local schools and a holiday toy drive benefiting patients at Penn State Children's Hospital.
Growing a Tradition
The family continued their annual school supply and holiday toy drives, expanding their impact and inspiring a vision to create an organization dedicated to serving children and families throughout York County.
Growing Hands for Brighter Futures Is Founded
On June 16, 2025, Growing Hands for Brighter Futures officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, laying the foundation for greater community partnerships and a broader impact.
The First Stuff-A-Bus
The nonprofit hosted its first Stuff-A-Bus event, bringing the community together to collect more than 15,000 school supplies. Donations were distributed to schools across York County, helping students start the school year prepared for success.
First Holiday Toy Drive as a Nonprofit
Growing Hands for Brighter Futures hosted its first holiday toy drive as an official nonprofit, providing gifts to more than 400 children across York County and helping make the holiday season brighter for local families.
Growing Brighter Futures
With the support of volunteers, donors, businesses, schools, and community partners, Growing Hands for Brighter Futures continues to grow its impact — providing school supplies, community programs, and hope to children and families throughout York County.
Our Mission
What drives us
“To empower youth and families to serve their communities through acts of kindness like school supply drives and toy collections. Rooted in love, growing in purpose, and giving with heart — we inspire compassion and lasting impact.”
Our Values
What we stand for
Empowerment
We empower individuals and families to take action and make a difference in their community.
Inclusion
We welcome and value diversity, ensuring all voices are heard, respected, and supported.
Kindness
We lead with compassion, recognizing the power of kindness to transform lives and communities.
Community
We are committed to building strong, supportive communities where every child can thrive.
The People
Meet our team.
Founder & President
AnnMarie DiPasquale
I'm a former Baltimore City Police Officer, where I witnessed firsthand how quickly life can change and how deeply families are impacted during life's hardest moments. Those experiences shaped my commitment to service beyond the uniform.
I'm also a OneHope Wine representative — through this role, I've helped generate over $11,000 in donations for nonprofit organizations. Most importantly, I'm a mom to two boys, Julius and Braydon. They are the heart behind everything we do.
What started as a family effort has grown into something bigger. Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support helps turn intention into impact.
Julius
Heart Behind the Mission
Julius is 5 years old and the heart behind where this journey began. From stuffing backpacks with school supplies to picking out toys for drives, he's been involved since day one. He loves soccer, pizza, the beach, and dreams of becoming a chef one day.
Braydon
The Joy Behind the Mission
Braydon is our goofball — full of personality, laughter, and joy. He spent the holiday season helping drop off donation boxes and sort toys. He loves his Nintendo Switch, soccer, and trying all kinds of food. He reminds us that kindness doesn't have to be serious to be impactful.
Celeste Kaough
Secretary
Deeply devoted wife, mom to four incredible girls, and owner of Sparkle Fire Design Studio in Central Market. Through The HEY Project, Celeste brings enrichment programs to York City schools focused on social-emotional learning and empathy. Her belief in AnnMarie's vision and her own commitment to community make her an essential voice for GH4BF.
Rose DiPasquale
Treasurer
AnnMarie's mom, grandmother of four, and loving wife of 40 years. A Senior Internal Audit Analyst at Safestreets (ADT) for 25 years, Rose's attention to detail and love of a good spreadsheet ensure GH4BF stays financially responsible, organized, and transparent.
The Story Behind the Logo
Before Growing Hands for Brighter Futures became a nonprofit, it began with a simple family moment. Their father painted Julius' and Braydon's hands and pressed them onto paper, creating the handprints that would later become the organization's logo.
Those handprints represent more than a design — they symbolize the belief that even the smallest hands can make a big difference. Today, they serve as a reminder that when families, volunteers, businesses, and our community come together, we can create brighter futures for children throughout York County.
Their father guides the hand
Julius presses his hand
Together for the first time
The logo is born
Every time you see the GH4BF logo, you're seeing Julius and Braydon's actual hands.
Join us in our mission.
Whether through volunteering, donating, or participating in our programs, your involvement helps us make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families.