We did it! (Thanks to donors like you)!

As you may remember from our February post featuring single mom Ruby, she only had two semesters left of her bachelor’s degree when her scholarship funding ran out. Ruby worked so hard to get to this point, studying and raising a child by herself after being diagnosed with cancer, and learning that her four-year-old son had autism.

We simply couldn’t let her dream of graduating college (and raising both herself and her child out of poverty) slip away. Thanks to your generosity, we don’t have to.

Over these past few weeks, your donations have helped us pay the minimum balance Ruby needed to register for her next semester—  which was an incredible $11,098, and ensure that she’ll finally be able to finish school.

Despite every roadblock, Ruby is set to go back to school and finish those final two semesters of her bachelor’s degree, and it’s all thanks to you.

About HOPE

Here at HOPE, we’re a small team of only two full-time employees, dedicated to helping single parents of Metro Atlanta through education. Our program plays a key role in social justice by ensuring that our participants, 95% of whom are African American, are able to obtain their college degrees and secure future wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society.

Help This Single Mom Finish Her Bachelor’s Degree

—Have you ever felt stuck on your journey towards better things? Well H.O.P.E is helping single parents all over metro Atlanta overcome this “stuck” feeling, especially when it comes to finishing school.

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In fact, one of our current students— a single mom named Ruby, has been working tirelessly over the past few years to finish her Bachelor’s degree. Her most recent obstacle? Running out of student aid at her school.

Ruby has done all she could to get through school, but after losing her R.O.T.C scholarship due to her weight, being diagnosed with cancer, and learning that her four-year-old son has autism, her dream of completing a college education felt so far away.

We’re proud to have served so many hard-working single parents in Metro Atlanta, and we’re always looking to do more. We believe that the success of our program is largely due to our holistic approach, and the time we spend making sure each participant has what they need to succeed.

As a small team of only two full-time employees, we’re working hard every day to meet the needs of our participants— and we always appreciate the extra help.

Donate now 

With only two semesters left until Ruby completes her Bachelor’s in Technology (something which will benefit both her and her son), we’re determined to see her through.

—

But we need your help. In order to support Ruby as she realizes her dream of graduating college, we’ve set up this Global Giving page. Let’s make sure Ruby can finish out these last two semesters once and for all.

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Any donation you make will help us to continue our mission of HOPE: to empower, encourage, and equip working single parents like Ruby throughout our community, allowing them to provide a better life for themselves, their children, and generations to come.

—

Make a donation

Thank you for all you do to continue giving HOPE to our community. 

Sincerely, 

Team H.O.P.E

H.O.P.E Founder: My Fight With Breast Cancer

In October I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Most of you were unaware, but not only was I striving to keep providing resources for our participants and to stay alive through a pandemic— but I was also fighting breast cancer.

If you know my story, you know that five years ago I lost my late husband to bladder cancer. It was the hardest time of my life fighting that battle with him. Many of you fought with me and my sons and helped us put the pieces back when he finally passed away.

With the grace of God, after a couple of years, it felt like we were being restored as a family. I’d remarried, had a beautiful baby boy, and H.O.P.E was growing more than ever. I had begun to gain excitement about the future, but that was all interrupted when I noticed some changes after I stopped breastfeeding my son.

I did my due diligence and went to a doctor to check it out (two to be exact), and was told each time that it was probably nothing serious— just me still producing milk. I felt I needed to schedule my annual mammogram to make sure. So, I did. Even the tech that day seemed unimpressed by what I showed her and my concerns. However, further testing and a biopsy would show that my concerns were valid.

kenita

On October 6, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of you participated in our virtual run around that time and watched me present an award video without any signs of struggle. But I was struggling. I’d come face-to-face with my most feared diagnosis. My grandmother died at 45 from this disease and my aunt passed in her early 50’s. All kinds of things went through my mind, as I kept wondering, how could I tell my boys that we were going through this again? I hurt for them, my husband, and my family. Yet, the show had to go on. We had families that needed us, and if you know me personally, you know that I didn’t waste time feeling sorry for myself.

After several consultations, I decided upon a double mastectomy. I had the surgery last month and just returned to work last week. I am proud to say that I am CANCER FREE and did not require any chemo or radiation. The prescription was a healthy lifestyle. So, some of you may be wondering why I would share something so personal with you?

Well, I often tell people that we are a team. You have been on team HOPE for quite some time, and if ever you proved it, you showed me, even more, a week ago. If you remember my last email, I wrote about some hate mail we received. I received news of those letters, while I was healing from surgery and your responses blessed me tremendously.

Help H.O.P.E 

Can you imagine going through what I was already enduring and reading something like that? It was hurtful and disgusting, but you turned something hateful into something positive. 
—-
You sent us positive cards to let us know that our work is making a difference, and you encouraged me to keep going. You even sent donations and some of you became monthly donors for the first-time. It was AMAZING! We call them letters of HOPE because that’s what you gave us. 
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I thank you from the bottom of my heart for every card and donation we received. I encourage those of you who want to do something but don’t know what to do, to take a few minutes to write a letter of encouragement to either me, our participants, or Board Members and send it to P.O. Box 3166, Duluth, GA 30096. You never know what people are going through and your note could make someone’s day brighter.

Become a monthly donor

Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Kenita
———————————–

H.O.P.E trumps HATE

Immediately following the elections, H.O.P.E received two of the most appalling and degrading letters in the history of our organization. In over 11 years of serving the greater Atlanta community, we’ve never received racially-driven hate mail of any kind, so imagine how shocked, hurt, and angry we were when we read what was written.

We wanted to share these letters with you, not to encourage division, but to let our H.O.P.E family know that your continued support ensures that our single parents, who are 95% African-American, can never be categorized as “lazy”, “unemployed”, or “uneducated”.

You have given us and our students the power to combat this ignorance— and the insight to be affected by these incidents only insofar as they fuel our mission and make us even more determined to succeed in this all-important work.

Donate now!

During President Joe Biden’s inauguration, we were reminded again of what it means to be fighting for the single parents raising the next generation of Americans— and no one can explain it better than poet laureate Amanda Gorman in her reading of ‘The Hill We Climb’:

“We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour, but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves so while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe? Now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be a country that is bruised, but whole, benevolent, but bold, fierce, and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation. Our blunders become their burdens. But one thing is certain, if we merge mercy with might and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright.”

Donate now!

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for all the ways you continue giving HOPE to our community.
Sincerely,
Team H.O.P.E

 “For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 
– Amanda Gorman, January 20, 2021

#GivingTuesday: Join Us In Honor of GA Gives Day

“We couldn’t have done it without you,” is something we hear a lot at H.O.P.E. And while the success of our single-parent graduates is owed in large part to their hard work and dedication, we know how much that extra bit of support really meant.

From helping them find childcare to arranging for rent assistance, and even just being there along the way if things get tough. We’re proud to say that we’ve helped over 70 single parents in Atlanta graduate from four-year colleges, with many of them able to double their incomes as a result.

Help Us Do More

And while we’re grateful for all that we’ve been able to achieve (with the support of donors like you!), we’re always looking to do more. In the spirit of this season of giving, and in honor of Georgia Gives Day (12/1) on #GivingTuesday, we’re asking again for your support.

By giving as little as $10, you can help us open a savings account for a single parent. If you’re able to donate $25, you’ll pay for one of our participants to receive personal finance training. Larger donations will help us secure things like counseling for our single-parent students, or even allow us to pay for a full week of childcare, or a month of rent assistance.

We’re dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in our community, one single parent at a time. Help us meet our goal this #GivingTuesday (12/1) by making a donation to our holistic program that’s changing the lives of parents and children in Atlanta.

Help us help them!

About HOPE

Here at HOPE, we’re dedicated to helping single parents of Metro Atlanta through education.
Our program plays a key role in social justice by ensuring that our participants, 95% of whom are African American, are able to obtain their college degrees and secure future wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society.

There’s Still Time… to Join Our Virtual 5k & Earn Your Free Swag!

To join our first EVER Virtual 5K Run and score some of this awesome swag! Register by October 7th to get outside and make a difference with your family and friends.

Even though we can’t run together this year, that doesn’t mean you and your family and friends can’t do something fun together— like taking part in our first ever Virtual 5K!

Join Us!

This year we’ll be calling up our favorite people and inviting them to join us (anytime between September 21 and October 7) for a Virtual 5k. Not only will it allow you to get out (and chat with your family or friends on video), but the proceeds also go towards a great cause— helping single parents in Metro Atlanta get their college degrees, aka HOPE!

The best part? It’s only $10 to sign up.

How it Works

Step 1:  Register!

Step 2: Send a note to your friend or family members, like this one:

Hey, I miss you! Want to do a virtual 5K together sometime between Sept 21st and Oct 7th? It would be great to walk and talk, while also raising money for the single-parent families of HOPE Inc. Interested? Let’s try it! Here’s the link to sign up.

Step 3: Between Sept 21st and October 7th, complete your walking Virtual 5k while chatting on your favorite app (Zoom, What’s App, House Party, Skype…you name it)!

As you walk, you and your friends can also use our It’s Your Run app. From the app, you’ll be able to upload your pictures and videos, plus keep track of your time and distance!

Virtual 5k runner and her FREE swag!

Virtual 5k runner and her FREE swag!

The Swag

Once registered, you’ll get instructions for picking up your Swag Bag, which includes a customized face mask, hand sanitizer, and a wristband.

Want even more swag? You can also order one of our custom Virtual 5K T-Shirts for just $25. This year, they’ll be promoting our chosen theme:

“And the three of these remain, Faith, Hope, and Love.”

By joining our virtual event, you’ll also be eligible for these awesome prizes:

  • $25 Amazon gift card to the first five people that set up a fundraising page and make their goal by October 5, 2020

  • $100 Amazon gift card to the person who raises the most money for the event

We’ve lost a lot this year, but there’s still so much we can do. We hope you’ll join us and spend some time outside catching up with loved ones, and supporting the important work we’re doing for our single parent students.

Join us, get outside, and make a difference!

With love,

The HOPE Inc. Team

About HOPE

Here at HOPE, we’re dedicated to helping single parents of Metro Atlanta through education.

Our program plays a key role in social justice by ensuring that our participants, 95% of whom are African American, are able to obtain their college degrees and secure future wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society.

Run With Us, Enter to Win Big Peach Co. Shoes!

Wanna win a brand new pair of running shoes?

We’re excited to announce that this year for our annual Neon Deon 5K Run (happening September 21- October 7‬) we’ll be partnering up with one of Atlanta’s top fitness stores— Big Peach Running Co.!

In honor of the event, Big Peach Running Co. will be generously donating a FREE pair of shoes to one lucky runner, a $150 value!

So how do you win?

LIKE, FOLLOW, and then TAG two people on either the H.O.P.E, Inc. (Helping Other People be Empowered) page, or this Neon Deon page AND Big Peach Running Co. – Suwanee or Big Peach Running Co. – Brookhaven to qualify for a FREE pair of shoes from Big Peach Running Co.

The opportunity ends September 16 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be announced ‪on September 18!

Make A Difference, Get Outside: Join Us for Our First Ever Virtual 5k!

It’s been a tough year. But nothing gets our spirits up quite like getting outside and spending time with our favorite people. Even if you can’t physically get together with your family and friends right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something fun….like joining us for our first ever Virtual 5K!

Join Us!

This year we’ll be calling up our favorite people and inviting them to join us (anytime between September 21 and October 7) for a Virtual 5k. Not only will it allow you to get out (and chat with your family or friends on video), but the proceeds also go towards a great cause— helping single parents in Metro Atlanta get their college degrees, aka HOPE!

The best part? It’s only $10 to sign up!

How It Works:

Step 1: Register!

Step 2: Send a note to your friend or family members, like this one:

Hey, I miss you! Want to do a virtual 5K together sometime between Sept 21st and Oct 7th? It would be great to walk and talk, while also raising money for the single-parent families of HOPE Inc. Interested? Let’s try it! Here’s the link to sign up.

Step 3: Between Sept 21st and October 7th, complete your walking Virtual 5k while chatting on your favorite app (Zoom, What’s App, House Party, Skype…you name it)!

As you walk, you and your friends can also use our It’s Your Run app. From the app, you’ll be able to upload your pictures and videos, plus keep track of your time and distance!

Free, Fun Swag!

Once registered, you’ll get instructions for picking up your Swag Bag, which includes a customized face mask, hand sanitizer, and a wristband.

Want even more swag? You can also order one of our custom Virtual 5K T-Shirts for just $25. This year, they’ll be promoting our chosen theme:
“And the three of these remain, Faith, Hope, and Love.”

By joining our virtual event, you’ll also be eligible for these awesome prizes:

  • $25 Amazon gift card to the first five people that set up a fundraising page and make their goal by October 5, 2020
  • $100 Amazon gift card to the person who raises the most money for the event

We’ve lost a lot this year, but there’s still so much we can do. We hope you’ll join us and spend some time outside catching up with loved ones, and supporting the important work we’re doing for our single parent students.

Join us, get outside, and make a difference!

With love,
The HOPE Inc. Team

About HOPE

Here at HOPE, we’re dedicated to helping single parents of Metro Atlanta through education. Our program plays a key role in social justice by ensuring that our participants, 95% of whom are African American, are able to obtain their college degrees and secure future wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society.

Celebrate Black Lives & 828 Day: Support HOPE

This year on August 28th, we honor the memory of Emmett Till, the 14-year old boy who was brutally killed by three white men in 1955. That morning, Roy Bryant, Mose Wright, and J.W. Milam tore Till from his bed and drove him to Milam’s home. There, the men beat Till to death before dumping his body in the Tallahatchie River. The reason for this heinous crime? Till had been accused of harassing Bryant’s wife.

Although the current moment also feels dark with instances of racist violence, we are doing our best at HOPE to look towards the future, and take thoughtful  steps towards better days— much the way Till’s mother did in 1955.

After recovering her son’s body, authorities wanted a quick and quiet burial, but Till’s mother had other plans. Once seeing the remains of her boy, Mamie Bradley chose to have an open-casket funeral so the world could lay witness to what these men had done. And although ultimately not charged for their crimes, the exposure of this brutal crime was one of the primary inciting incidents leading up to the historical Civil Rights Movement.

Help Us Make History

Today, much like those dark days back in 1955, you can take strides with us towards meaningful change. This month, in honor of August 28th, people all over the nation will be donating to black-led and black-serving organizations.

Here at HOPE, we’re serving the black community by helping single parents of Metro Atlanta advance their education.
Our program plays a key role in social justice by ensuring that our participants, 95% of whom are African American, are able to obtain their college degrees and secure future wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society.

But we can’t do it without you.

Help us help them!

Call for Support

We’re proud to have served so many hard-working single parents in Metro Atlanta, and we’re always looking to do more. We believe that the success of our program is largely due to our holistic approach, and the time we spend making sure each participant has what they need to succeed.

As a small team, we’re working hard every day to meet the needs of our participants— and we always appreciate extra help.

Here are just some of the ways you can support us in honor of 8/28 Day.

$10 – Your $10 donation allows us to open a savings account for a single parent
$35 – A donation of $25 provides financial training to one of our program participants
$70 – Donating $70 pays for a single parent to get the counseling they need
$100 – Helps us secure one full week of quality childcare for our single parents
$250 – Secures rent for our single parents (and their children) for a full month
$1,000 – Covers a full year of childcare for one of our single working parents

Make a donation

Any donation you make will help us to continue our mission of HOPE: to empower, encourage, and equip working single parents in our community, and allow them to provide a better life for themselves, their children, and generations to come.

Calling all single parents students in Gwinnett County, Atlanta!

 
Hey Gwinnett County!

Are you a single parent currently enrolled in a college program to earn your Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree? If so, keep reading, because…

Our funding and support program for single parent students here at HOPE Inc. is now accepting applicants for the Fall 2020 semester— and we especially want to hear from YOU Gwinnett County!

About Us

H.O.P.E. Inc. is an education nonprofit supporting Metro Atlanta. We work with single parent students to help them obtain a college degree, develop essential life skills, and ultimately become self-sufficient.

We do this by providing our single parent students with:

  • Financial assistance for housing and childcare
  • A facilitator to connect our students to community resources
  • Financial literacy and a game plan for financial independence
  • Counseling resources and success coaching
Sound interesting? Here are a few more details about our program and what you can expect from us.

What we provide

  • Child care assistance– HOPE provides up to $100 per week for child care assistance— which is paid directly to the childcare provider on behalf of the program participant.
  • Rent assistance– We provide up to $400 per month in rent assistance, paid directly to the mortgage lender or apartment leasing officer on behalf of the program participant.
  • Social services – One of our licensed social worker volunteers will be available to provide more information and assistance on obtaining services such as food stamps, Medicaid, and locating quality childcare or housing.
  • Life skills training– Participants will have access to free training programs that include topics such as job-related training, career advancement skills, resume/ interview prep, job search skills, as well as our financial literacy programs. Participants will also be invited to monthly webinars on budgeting and credit counseling provided by a certified financial advisor.
  • Emotional support & mentoring– You’ll work with us to develop a Personalized Service Plan that will help us assess areas of need, and also identifies areas in which the participant needs emotional support and mentoring as pathways to empowerment. Referrals to community resources such as a licensed counselor for the participant and children will also be available.

What you’ll need to apply

In order to apply…

  • You must be a US Citizen, a single parent with primary custody, and a high school graduate (or have obtained a GED)
  • Enrolled in a two or four-year college as a full-time student working towards a degree (no certificates or diplomas)
  • Employed as an FT or PT employee for at least 6 months
  • Dependants must LIVE WITH the applicant
  • Show financial need
  • Have a 2.7 GPA or higher
Sound like you? Check out our application page to apply today!

 

Support Black Lives Matter in Atlanta: Uplift A Single Parent Student

We know this: One of the best ways to fight inequality is by taking steps to guarantee intergenerational economic mobility (IGM) for black families and their children. One way to get there? Education.

Intergenerational economic mobility refers to the likelihood that a child will experience a higher standard of living than their parents, and in the US this number is sorely lacking. In fact, a 2015 study from The Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality found that on average, IGM is significantly lower in the U.S. than in most other developed countries.

What does that mean? It means that poor American families are staying in poverty for many generations, with some scientists estimating that it takes as many as 10 to 15 generations for families to break free of it.

HOPE: How We’re Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

“Education is not a way to escape poverty, it is a way of fighting it.” -Julius Nyerere

Here at HOPE, we like to think of ourselves as breaking that cycle of poverty with education. Our program plays a key role in social justice by ensuring that our participants, who are 95% African American, are able to obtain their college degrees in six years or less and thus secure future wealth, opportunities, and privileges in our society.

There are many black Americans struggling to complete a four-year degree, but our program specifically targets those who may arguably be struggling the most: working single parents living in Metro Atlanta— which is considered by some to be one of the most difficult cities for solo parents.

Our Success Stories

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.” -Nelson Mandela

As of 2019, HOPE has served 195 people, including 64 single parents and 131 children. Our program, which has an 80% graduation rate, supports participants throughout the duration of their two or four-year degrees by providing rent and child care assistance, financial seminars, and even counseling.

While more than half of our graduates previously earned annual incomes under $20,000, over a third now earn between $30,000 and $40,000, and another 42% of our graduates are earning over $50,000 in their chosen fields— a 121% increase.

Call for Support

“In this program, I was never alone.” – Laverne M., HOPE graduate and mother of five

We’re proud to have served so many hard working single parents in Metro Atlanta, and we’re always looking to do more. We believe that the success of our program is largely due to our holistic approach, and the time we spend making sure each participant has what they need to succeed.

As a small team of only two full-time employees, we’re working hard every day to meet the needs of our participants— and we always appreciate the extra help.

Here are just some of the ways you can support the black lives in our community and help us meet our $2,500 fundraising goal 

 

 

Click here to support black lives in Atlanta

 

Any donation you make will help us to continue our mission of HOPE: to empower, encourage, and equip working single parents in our community, and allow them to provide a better life for themselves, their children, and generations to come.