The Hemry Foundation came into existence in October 2009.  The organization was started by a group of concerned friends and family members of the Hemry Family.  Ten year old Kaelen Hemry had been emergently air lifted from Missoula, Montana to a Salt Lake City children’s hospital for replacement of shunts in his brain.  Kaelen was born extremely premature and has had a number of medical problems throughout his life as a result.  His parents, a hard working construction family, had struggled but managed to pay medical expenses as they arose, however the down turn in the economy and subsequently the construction industry left the family in a financial hardship after the hospitalization.  A benefit auction and dinner was held in November 2009 and was an overwhelming success.  Upon completion, the group that had organized the event came together and discussed their desire to start a non-profit foundation in an effort to help additional families in Western Montana that were or would be suffering similar circumstances.  They agreed on a name, the Hemry Foundation, in honor of their first beneficiaries.  The group adopted the mission statement: “To aid persons and their families in Western Montana who are experiencing financial hardship caused by unforeseen illness, complications of a previous illness, loss in a family or natural disaster.”

As of May 2010 the Hemry Foundation has filed articles of incorporation with the State of Montana, elected officers, established a board of directors, adopted by-laws and is in the process of filing for non-profit (501(c)(3)) status with the Internal Revenue Service.  The Hemry Foundation is also working on establishing an application and award process to be utilized by families or individuals requesting assistance.