The Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Fund for Children's Advocacy | Learn About our Primary Benefactor, HKQ Law >
Our Mission
The mission of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Fund for Children's Advocacy, known as HKQ Kids, is to promote a safer future for children in Northeastern Pennsylvania through public awareness and advocacy programs. HKQ Kids was established by HKQ Law following the settlement of a major medical malpractice case in September 2005 involving 4-year-old Torajee Bobbett, who died in 2001 due to negligent care at Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre.
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“It has been a longtime dream of this firm to honor the memories of the many wonderful children and families we have represented by establishing an organization to promote child safety,” said Joseph A. Quinn, Jr., the firm’s senior personal injury litigator. “It is our sincere hope that the work of HKQ Kids will be a force for positive change in our community and help prevent the kinds of horrible tragedies we have witnessed as lawyers who represent injured people.”
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In 2008, HKQ Kids began a Free Bicycle Helmet Giveaway. This simple piece of safety gear can help reduce the likelihood of suffering a head injury by 85 percent. Bicycle helmets can also lower the risk of brain injuries by 88 percent. With these statistics in mind, HKQ Law attorneys and staff have volunteered their time at the annual July 4th Kirby Park Family Day, July’s First Friday in downtown Scranton and recently during the annual Pittston Tomato Festival, to fit more than 10,000 children with free bike helmets. The helmets meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, and each helmet comes equipped with a user’s manual and CPSC label of certification.
The Primary Goals of the HKQ Fund for Children’s Advocacy to:​
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Create a safer future for children in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
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Promote public awareness of issues affecting the safety of children in Northeastern Pennsylvania through regular communications with the public and news media.
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Organize, coordinate and sponsor regular proactive programs to educate parents, children and the general public about child safety hazards.
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Collaborate with other individuals, organizations and programs that promote child safety in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
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Work cooperatively with the news media to promote child safety in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Additional initiatives include:​
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HKQ Kids has worked with the American Red Cross to help bring Babysitting Seminars to the community. The seminar teaches youths how to care for children and infants; how to be a good leader and role model; how to make good decisions; how to handle emergencies; and much more.
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Every Friday morning, HKQ Kids broadcasts safety tips for parents and their children on Magic 93 FM. Topics, presented by HKQ Law attorneys, such as childproofing your home, fire safety, tips for teens and online safety are timely and informative.
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HKQ Kids has a website (www.HKQKids.org) and a Facebook page where parents can find current product and safety recalls, recognizing that staying up to date and informed is an important part of keeping families safe. Additionally, HKQ Kids shares the “Trouble in Toyland” report with the community around the third week of November so that shoppers can avoid purchasing any potentially dangerous toys during the holidays.
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HKQ Kids participates in Kingston Borough’s Annual Trunk or Treat where more than 2,000 people parade through the HKQ Law parking lot so that children can enjoy trick or treating in a safe environment.