A Legacy of Hope,
A Mission of Support.
HARK provides assistance to alleviate the financial burdens faced by families battling ALS.
THANK YOU to our generous sponsors for the Hark-ALS 2nd Annual Florida Fundraiser.
What is Hark?
HARK is an active ALS charity organization that was founded by Donna Dourney York in memory of her father, Charles W. Dourney, a lifelong athlete, coach, and father of seven, who courageously battled ALS until his death in November 2009, and who was affectionately known as “Hark” by his wife Ann.
Who Are We?
Donna York, Founder/President
Donna & her 6 brothers and sisters watched as their dad, Charlie “Hark” Dourney, courageously battled ALS passing away 18 months after diagnosis. When Charlie was diagnosed the doctor said, “I believe your father has ALS and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Not knowing anything about ALS they thought, “How bad can it be.” It wasn’t long before they found out as Charlie slowly lost the ability to swallow, eat, talk, walk and breathe.
Donna thought of how hard it was taking care of her dad with 6 siblings to help. She thought what do people do that have no family to help and have to do this alone? There weren’t many resources available. Her dad taught her, if you have the opportunity to help someone, take it! Hark-ALS was formed in 2011 to honor Charlie and help families in his memory.
ALS devastates families emotionally, physically and financially. Hark-ALS strives to alleviate the financial burden and be that someone that understands what families are dealing with when no one else does.
Deb Fabricatore, Director of Development
Deb joined the Hark team in 2014 and has been a passionate advocate and fundraiser ever since. Her dedication and contributions have played a key role in helping the organization expand, including the opening of a new Hark branch in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she now resides.
With a long-standing commitment to the nonprofit sector, Deb has served on multiple nonprofit boards focused on women’s health, environmental advocacy, education, and more. She also co-founded an ALS research organization but chose to step back in order to fully dedicate herself to Hark-ALS — the organization closest to her heart.
In addition to her fundraising and outreach efforts, Deb has been actively involved in political lobbying to raise awareness of ALS and advocate for policies that support those affected by the disease.
She does this work in loving memory of her younger brother, John Bocskocsky, whose battle with ALS continues to inspire her unwavering commitment to the cause. She is deeply devoted to supporting individuals and families affected by ALS until a treatment and cure are found.
Our mission
Hark is on a mission to share the real story of ALS and to provide a network of compassionate resources for families.
Our Vision
Change the way the world views ALS. Create a courageous legacy of support for families.
