Does informing another party about helping a needy family—which was initially done secretly—with the aim of increasing support for that family, cause the act to lose its status as a hidden charity and diminish its reward, especially if this would reveal previous assistance?

If it is possible to help this family with more aid without others knowing of your secret assistance, that is better. But if that is not possible except by informing another person that you had been helping them secretly, then it is preferable to make the charity public in this case for the benefit of increasing the poor’s welfare. In any case, strive to help them by encouraging others to give charity to them, and if it is possible to keep your charity hidden, that is more virtuous; otherwise, inform.