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Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 12, 2026

To Keep The Hope Alive ("we," "us," or "our") is a personal stories blog written by Hope and provided by Gillyware, LLC. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal data when you use the website ("the Service").

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • Identifiers: Name, email, and password collected when you create an account. These are managed through your Gillyware account.
  • User Content: Comments you post on stories and the upvotes you give.
  • Profile Information: An optional profile picture, if you choose to add one.
  • Commercial Information: If you make a donation, payment is processed by Stripe. We keep a record of the gift amount and the email address associated with it; we never store your card number.
  • Newsletter Data: If you subscribe to new-story notifications, the email address you provide.
  • Internet or Network Activity: Technical details such as device type, browser, and your interactions with the Service.
  • Session Data: Cookies used solely for session management and security (e.g., CSRF tokens), not for analytics or third-party tracking.

2. How We Use Your Information

  • Provide the Service, including reading stories, posting comments, and upvoting.
  • Authenticate users and secure your account.
  • Process one-time donations through Stripe.
  • Send you an email when a new story is published, but only if you have subscribed. You may unsubscribe at any time.
  • Maintain, improve, and troubleshoot the Service.

3. Data Deletion

  • Account Deletion: Deleting your To Keep The Hope Alive account schedules your account data, comments, and uploaded media for permanent removal within 90 days. You may delete it independently of your Gillyware account.
  • Gillyware Account Deletion: Deleting your Gillyware account also schedules your To Keep The Hope Alive data for deletion within the same 90-day window.
  • Newsletter: You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email, which removes your address from the mailing list.

After the 90-day window, deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data as defined by the CCPA. We may disclose it to:

  • Service Providers: Third parties (e.g., hosting providers, Stripe for payment processing) to operate the Service, under strict confidentiality agreements. Payment data processed via Stripe is governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy (opens in new tab).
  • Legal Authorities: To comply with legal obligations, such as law enforcement requests.
  • With Consent: If you explicitly agree to additional sharing.

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard encryption and protocols to protect your data from unauthorized access. No system is fully secure, so we encourage strong passwords and credential confidentiality.

6. Children's Data

The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal data. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account or post comments.

7. Your Privacy Rights

Under laws like the CCPA, you have the right to:

  • Know: Request details about the categories of personal data we collect, use, or share.
  • Access: Obtain a copy of your personal data.
  • Delete: Request deletion of your personal data through your account settings or by contacting us.
  • Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@tokeepthehopealive.com. We'll respond within 45 days, extendable by 45 more if needed, per CCPA rules.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the Service evolves. Material changes will be communicated through the Service. Continued use after updates constitutes acceptance.

9. Contact Us

For questions about this Privacy Policy, email us at support@tokeepthehopealive.com or write to Gillyware, LLC.