Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, A McCormick Foundation Fund, Donates to HOPE Helps, Inc.

OVIEDO, FL. (April 30, 2014) – HOPE Helps, Inc. announces receipt of a $20,000 grant through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation fund. HOPE Helps, Inc. will direct these funds toward the Kids of HOPE Enrichment Program, specifically School Lunch Break Program, which feeds children from low-income families during all school breaks throughout the year. These students typically receive free or reduced lunch when school is in session and they are able to pick up free, healthy lunches at HOPE’s Food Pantry during each school break throughout the year! Additionally, the parents receive access to other resources, as part of HOPE’s effort to help them get their family back on its feet.

“The support through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, allows us to continue our efforts in alleviating hunger for children in our community, said Joan Faulkner, CEO of HOPE Helps, Inc. “Now in its 6^th year, Kids of HOPE has been extremely successful in tracking progress of families in need and helping them to self-sufficiency. When parents register their children, they are able to meet with a case manager to help them with a personalized plan to get them back on their feet. We’re into the month of May and already have 554 school children registered for the program”, Faulkner said. “Our client families will then be invited to register for the annual Back to School Bash, which provides everything a child needs to start school. The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, has been extremely instrumental in their support in funding this program.” 

HOPE Helps, Inc. Board of Directors receives a check from Lisa Jacobsen,
Corporate Giving and Communications Manager of the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund.

“The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund is proud to support HOPE Helps and their Kids of Hope program. Feeding hungry children during the school vacations and summer is critical and the need in our community is high. HOPE Helps is able to provide measurable outcomes that show an impact in helping to move these children and their families to be more self-sufficient,” said Lisa Jacobsen, Charitable Giving and Communications Manager, Orlando Sentinel Family Fund.

About HOPE Helps, Inc.

HOPE Helps Inc. prevents and reduces hunger and homelessness in Central Florida by assisting individuals and families in times of crisis and by equipping them to become self-sufficient through Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Education. HOPE’s services include a Food Pantry, Resource Center and Thrift Store. For more information, please visit www.hopehelps.org.

About Orlando Sentinel Family Fund

The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, is committed to supporting programs that move low-income children and families to self-sufficiency. Since 1990, through the Fund, more than 870 grants totaling more than $35 million have been awarded to local nonprofit organizations serving Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and W. Volusia Counties. To learn more about the Orlando Sentinel Children’s Fund, visit www.orlandosentinelfamilyfund.org.

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BJ’S Charitable Foundation Grants Donates To HOPE Helps, Inc.

 

BJ’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GRANTS

DONATES TO HOPE HELPS INC.

Oviedo, FL  – HOPE Helps, Inc. announces receipt of a grant from the BJ’s Charitable Foundation.  HOPE Helps, Inc. uses this grant for the Kids of HOPE program, which feeds children from low-income families during the school breaks throughout the year. These students typically receive free or reduced lunch when school is in session and they are able to pick up free, healthy lunches at HOPE’s Food Pantry during each school break throughout the year! Additionally, the parents receive access to other resources, as part of HOPE’s effort to help them get their family back on its feet.

“HOPE is extremely grateful for the support of the Kids of HOPE program in alleviating hunger for children in our community,” said Joan Faulkner, CEO of HOPE Helps, Inc. “BJ’s support once again, allows us to continue our mission in serving those in need and providing the tools to bring them to self-sufficiency.”

Volunteers from St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Oviedo
pack lunch bags for HOPE Helps, Inc.'s
Kids of HOPE Program

“The BJ’s Charitable Foundation is dedicated to supporting hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, healthcare and education in the communities surrounding our Clubs,” said Jessica Newman, Executive Director of the BJ’s Charitable Foundation. “BJ’s Charitable Foundation donated a total of $569,160 to 92 nonprofit charitable organizations across our footprint during this grant cycle, and we hope these donations benefit the incredible efforts of our partners working to impact the lives of individuals and families and enable them to continue to provide crucial services to those in need.”

About HOPE Helps, Inc.

HOPE Helps Inc. prevents and reduces hunger and homelessness in Central Florida by assisting individuals and families in times of crisis and by equipping them to become self-sufficient through Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Education. HOPE’s services include a Food Pantry, Resource Center and Thrift Store. For more information, please visit www.hopehelps.org

About BJ’s Charitable Foundation

BJ’s Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ’s Wholesale Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the area of basic needs (hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, education and health). For more information about BJ’s Charitable Foundation, please visit, www.bjs.com/charity

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HOPE Helps Inc receives Disney Grant 2014

HOPE Helps, Inc. is proud to be among the recipients of this year's Disney Grants. CEO, Joan Faulkner and Director of Finance, Janis Williams, attended the ceremony at the Orlando Science Center last Thursday, March 26th 2014 to receive the grant along with the prestigious Mousecar Award. 

  

Walt Disney World has awarded $3.8 million in Disney Grants this year and over $9 million during the past 5 years. The company selects community groups that will positively impact the lives of children in Central Florida. In this press release, Disney states that "through the support provided by this signature giving program, Disney Grants will help Central Florida organizations build brighter futures for children in a variety of ways, such as securing food and shelter for families in need, empowering students to write their stories, and kindling a love of music and the arts throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties."

This is the fourth time that HOPE Helps, Inc. has received a Disney Grant. The continued funding has allowed HOPE to continue its Kids of HOPE program, which alleviates hunger for children who typically receive free or reduced lunch while in school; HOPE Helps, Inc. provides a healthy lunch for each day they are out of school for every break throughout the year, as well as provides their parents case management and other services to help bring them to self-sufficiency. 

Last year, HOPE's Food Pantry distributed 250,000 pounds of food to those in need in Oviedo and other parts of southern Seminole County, and served over 9000 lunches to kids in need during the school breaks. Thank you to Walt Disney World for your continued support of non-profit organizations in your community and your commitment to helping families in crisis in Central Florida.