Depending upon how you interact with us, we may collect information including:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Mailing address
• Donation information
• Volunteer information
• Program inquiries
• Information voluntarily submitted through website forms
• Communications sent to the Foundation
• Website usage and technical information, such as browser type, device information, IP address, cookies, and analytics information
• Information necessary to provide Foundation programs and services

We encourage users not to submit detailed medical information through ordinary website contact forms, email, social media, or other non-secure communication methods.

Information may be used to:

• Respond to inquiries
• Provide requested resources or services
• Administer Foundation programs
• Process donations
• Communicate with donors, volunteers, participants, and community partners
• Provide newsletters or program updates when requested
• Coordinate care packages or other supportive services
• Improve our website and programs
• Maintain appropriate records
• Protect the Foundation, its users, and others from fraud, misuse, or security threats
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

Donations or purchases may be processed through third-party payment processors.

Lasting Hugs Foundation may not directly receive or store complete credit-card information when payments are handled by those processors. Payment processors maintain their own privacy and security practices.

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to understand website traffic, improve functionality, remember preferences, and evaluate how visitors use our website.

Depending upon the technology used on our site, visitors may be able to restrict cookies through their browser settings or other available preference controls.

Lasting Hugs Foundation does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.

Information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary to:

• Provide a service requested by you
• Work with vendors or contractors supporting Foundation operations
• Process donations or transactions
• Comply with law, court orders, subpoenas, regulatory obligations, or governmental requests
• Investigate fraud, abuse, security threats, or violations of our policies
• Protect the rights, safety, or property of the Foundation or others

The FTC emphasizes that organizations should accurately describe their privacy practices and honor the representations they make to consumers.

Lasting Hugs Foundation may work with hospices, healthcare organizations, assisted living communities, or other providers.

HIPAA does not automatically apply to every organization that handles health-related information. HIPAA applies to covered entities and qualifying business associates.

When Lasting Hugs Foundation acts as a business associate for a HIPAA-covered organization, protected health information received or maintained in that capacity will be handled in accordance with the applicable Business Associate Agreement and applicable HIPAA requirements.

HHS requires qualifying business associates to appropriately safeguard PHI and restrict its use and disclosure according to the applicable agreement and law.

Information collected directly from individuals through this public website may not necessarily constitute HIPAA-protected information merely because it relates to health.

Therefore, please do not use general website forms to transmit highly sensitive medical information unless a form is specifically identified as an approved secure method for doing so.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect information under our control.

However, no internet transmission, email system, electronic database, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

The FTC recommends that organizations collect only information they need, protect sensitive information, and securely dispose of information that is no longer required.

If you sign up for newsletters or other promotional communications, you may unsubscribe using the method provided in those communications.

We may still send necessary administrative communications relating to programs, transactions, donations, or requests you have initiated.

Our general website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information directly from young children without appropriate parental or guardian involvement.

Programs involving minors should be administered using appropriate consent and privacy procedures.

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. The current version will be posted on this website with an updated effective date.