'Hope for Hailey' Website Launches
By: Laura Kellerman
Updated: March 10, 2011
A new website that launched this weekend hopes to raise awareness about the disappearance of 13-year-old Hailey Dunn.
Hailey was last seen Dec. 27 at her home in Colorado City.
HopeforHailey.org lists events, search opportunities, and information about the missing girl.*
The site offers descriptions of Hailey's personality and interests not yet heard by the general public, such as, "Hailey loves the water and swimming, and would spend every day of the summer by the lake or by a pool if she could."
Events listed on the site include a booth set up at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater this coming weekend, hoping to get the word out about Hailey to the 30,000 expected to attend.
*Correction: The merchandise found on Cafe Press is not affiliated with HopeforHailey.org, as originally stated in this article. Below is a response from organizers:
Hailey was last seen Dec. 27 at her home in Colorado City.
HopeforHailey.org lists events, search opportunities, and information about the missing girl.*
The site offers descriptions of Hailey's personality and interests not yet heard by the general public, such as, "Hailey loves the water and swimming, and would spend every day of the summer by the lake or by a pool if she could."
Events listed on the site include a booth set up at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater this coming weekend, hoping to get the word out about Hailey to the 30,000 expected to attend.
*Correction: The merchandise found on Cafe Press is not affiliated with HopeforHailey.org, as originally stated in this article. Below is a response from organizers:
Unfortunately, it has been called to our attention that the
integrity of Hope for Hailey is being questioned. This is largely due
to www.hopeforhailey.org having a "Merchandise" tab included in the menu.
Hope for Hailey is a group made up of Hailey's family, friends, and other caring individuals whose sole purpose is to find Hailey. We are under the guidance of several other missing persons organizations. Hope for Hailey is in the process of becoming a non-profit organization. Once we have this status, all financial records will be public and transparent. Presently, Hope for Hailey has an account set up at a local bank which is funded largely through private, anonymous donations. The account has a board of directors made up of three individuals who where unknown to Hailey's family before she disappeared.
The money in the account is there to serve only one purpose - to find Hailey. The board of directors must approve any distribution of the funds as having a valid purpose, such as printing flyers. None of the funds in this account go to any individual, and no individual can profit from the use of the funds.
At this time, we are removing the "Merchandise" tab from the website. At some point in the future, we may put it back. Everyone needs to be aware that if Hope for Hailey does sell any merchandise, such as T-shirts, bracelets, hats, buttons, etc., the money to have these items made will come out of the Hope for Hailey fund. And 100% of any profit made will go right back in to the fund. The sole purpose of selling any merchandise will be to replenish the Hope for Hailey search fund.
Any merchandise sold by Hope for Hailey will have the official black and white logo on it. Only Hope for Hailey is authorized to use this logo.
We sincerely hope that speculation of individuals profiting in any way by any undertaking of Hope for Hailey will cease. Everyone involved in Hope for Hailey has only one goal, and that of course, is to find Hailey.
Hope for Hailey is a group made up of Hailey's family, friends, and other caring individuals whose sole purpose is to find Hailey. We are under the guidance of several other missing persons organizations. Hope for Hailey is in the process of becoming a non-profit organization. Once we have this status, all financial records will be public and transparent. Presently, Hope for Hailey has an account set up at a local bank which is funded largely through private, anonymous donations. The account has a board of directors made up of three individuals who where unknown to Hailey's family before she disappeared.
The money in the account is there to serve only one purpose - to find Hailey. The board of directors must approve any distribution of the funds as having a valid purpose, such as printing flyers. None of the funds in this account go to any individual, and no individual can profit from the use of the funds.
At this time, we are removing the "Merchandise" tab from the website. At some point in the future, we may put it back. Everyone needs to be aware that if Hope for Hailey does sell any merchandise, such as T-shirts, bracelets, hats, buttons, etc., the money to have these items made will come out of the Hope for Hailey fund. And 100% of any profit made will go right back in to the fund. The sole purpose of selling any merchandise will be to replenish the Hope for Hailey search fund.
Any merchandise sold by Hope for Hailey will have the official black and white logo on it. Only Hope for Hailey is authorized to use this logo.
We sincerely hope that speculation of individuals profiting in any way by any undertaking of Hope for Hailey will cease. Everyone involved in Hope for Hailey has only one goal, and that of course, is to find Hailey.
Comments
WOW THIS IS REALLY DISTURBING! oNA T-SHIRT FOR AWARNESS yes!!!! On a dog...that is disrespectful! jmo :-x
Bee H.
March 9, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Priscilla Luong has no business getting in the advertising business when she is supposed to be a professional journalist/reporter. Maybe she is getting a cut of the proceeds?
Cisco S.
March 7, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Very tacky to sell merchandise and have Big Country promote it. So whose pockets does this money go to? Billie didn't even keep Hailey's dog, why sell merchandise with the dog on it?
Billie just needs an income and missing children are big business.
Billie just needs an income and missing children are big business.
Cisco S.
March 7, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Merchandise? LOL Really? Give me a break... Putting the face on the T-Shirt to increase publication of a missing child is one thing, but making money from merchandise is completely different. Billie Dunn should be ashamed.
Dove R.
March 7, 2011 at 5:17 pm
