HOPE BUILDERS BLOG
An Interview with Shawna Smith – 20+ years of changing lives
How long have you worked at Hope Builders? 22 years! I started in 1998 and assumed the role of Executive Director in 2008. What drew you to Hope Builders? The first time I walked into the Hope Builders lobby at 801 North Broadway in downtown Santa Ana I knew without speaking to a single person…
Ana & Gabriela- How Your Support Impacted An Entire Family
Two sisters with different careers aspirations, who both financially struggled as single mothers, were able to find meaningful careers through Hope Builders. Ana was 12 and Gabriela, 10, when their family moved to the United States from Mexico. Despite the hard adjustment, they were both able to successfully graduate from high school. Shortly after graduation,…
Where are they now? – Adrian G., 2008 Graduate
In honor of our 25th Anniversary we’ve been reaching out to our many talented alumni for updates on how the skills training and support around life’s challenges they received at Hope Builders has empowered them to thrive. Our longtime supporters may remember Adrian, pictured right, as our 2008 Light Up A Life Gala speaker. That…
2020 Marks Hope Builders’ 25th Anniversary
This year marks Hope Builders’ 25th anniversary. Since 1995 Hope Builders has helped more than 6,000 young people move from poverty to prosperity. Join us in honoring this milestone by revisiting our founding by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange as the first feature in our anniversary series. Click here for a personal recounting…
HB100 Bi-Annual Meeting: An evening of hope and growth strategy
Behr Paint Company generously hosted Hope Builders’ HB100 bi-annual meeting on December 9th. Orange County leaders, pictured above, came together to strategize how Hope Builders can best develop and scale innovative solutions to the skills gap. Members were joined by Dr. William Singleton, Clinical Psychologist, who shared insights on the lasting impact of childhood trauma…
Employer Roundtable- The Important Role Employers Play
After discovering one of his top performing employees was a Hope Builders’ graduate, Francois Tiab, Owner of Embers West, decided to reach out to Hope Builders with the desire to access more reliable employees. “Unlike many of the laborers we get from other sources, the youth here really want to make a change,” said Francois….
Guaranty Chevrolet- Making a Difference in its Community
“When anyone attends Hope Builders’ event in September, they always walk away with astonishment,” said Bruce Hamlin, owner of Guaranty Chevrolet. The crowd was filled with excitement as Bruce Hamlin took the stage to announce the winner of a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS or a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse Premier. Since 2002, Guaranty Chevrolet has been…
2019 Light Up a Life Gala
Hope Builders raised over $710,000 in Net Proceeds at 2019’s Light Up a Life Gala. Hope Builders would like to thank all those who sponsored and attended the gala, with a special thank you to its Best of Friends Honoree, PCL Construction!
Providence St. Joseph Health – A Pillar of Support
For 24 years, Providence St. Joseph Health and its ministries in Orange County—St. Joseph Hospital, Mission Hospital and St. Jude Medical Center—have partnered with Hope Builders to improve conditions of the most vulnerable Orange County residents. In addition to providing direct patient care, Providence St. Joseph Health partners with Hope Builders to connect disadvantaged youth…
Behr Paint Company – Investing in Orange County Youth
Hope Builders is grateful to Behr Paint Company, and its parent company Masco Corporation, for the multiple ways they invest in its youth. Headquartered in Santa Ana for over 60 years, the Behr leadership team recently welcomed a group of trainees from the Construction Training Program to tour their state-of-the-art R&D facility. From the top…
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