Our Beginnings

Act of Faith was founded by a group of people who came together in 1997, un-named at the time, to raise money for someone in need suffering from a serious illness and the burden of outrageous medical expenses.

The group put on a benefit yard sale where donations were accepted of many items and then in turn, sold for cash donations. $5000 was raised that day and became a blessing to this person.

Again in 2005, the group came together as one of its co-founders, Cheryl Poland’s brother, was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer. This brought the old team of people plus new faces together to join the group. Blessed again, we raised over $5000 to help this person.

In 2008, one of our own was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, this time it was Cheryl. At this point we had to formally name the group in order to grow into different areas of fundraising, a new level. Thus Act of Faith was born, in honor of Cheryl Poland. Several events were held in 2008 raising more than $10,000 to help her with the financial burden of this illness.

Act of Faith organized and produced its first Annual Charity Car, Truck, and Bike Show on May 3, 2008. Two different benefit yard sales were held in Brownsburg and in Indianapolis. On October 4th, Act of Faith organized and produced its first Annual “Go Hawg Wild for Charity- Hawg Roast”.

On October 14, 2008, Cheryl Poland left this world to be with the Lord. We now have a new mission, one that will continue to honor the memory of Cheryl. Act of Faith will continue on to help other people. We will do so with perseverance, determination, and great faith with what we can accomplish. All of our efforts has and will be blessed many times over as we reach out to help and assist those suffering with medical and financial burdens.

We will keep “stepping out in Faith”; we will keep moving forward, we will keep thanking God for working thru us and in us to accomplish the task at hand. It is with the Leadership of the Lord, that we will remain together and take one step at a time, all for the common goal. It is with this, that we will honor and keep Cheryl’s spirit alive.

Why we do this:

Early on in Cheryl’s illness, after she lost her job and her insurance, a group of people stepped in and paid $1000 of her monthly expenses. These were strangers, people she did not know. She was amazed and at a loss for words as to why people that did not know her would want to help her. This was such a moving experience for her spiritually and personally.

It is our desire to keep this goodwill going on to bless many others the way it was a blessing to her. We have been told so many times, ‘why would you help me? You don’t know me’, and each time it takes us back to the day Cheryl said these same words.

There is no greater feeling than to be a part of a wonderful blessing for those who are really suffering and need help. God continues to use us to be His hands and feet in His blessings. Where He fed 5000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves of barley bread, He uses Act of Faith in today’s world to continue to feed his people in the form of financial relief.