Founding Families Gather to Honor Hope Builders’ 30th Anniversary

Left to Right: Shawna Smith, Jon Storbeck, Mimi Cora, Katie Storbeck, Jannette Ingardia, Jill Ortiz, Pat Ortiz. Front: Sister Eileen McNerney

On Sunday, April 6th, the beautiful grounds of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Mother House in Orange welcomed a very special gathering—our Founding Families Luncheon. This heartfelt event, celebrating Hope Builders’ 30^th anniversary, brought together our longtime champions to honor the vision and foundation they worked tirelessly to establish.

It was a time of reflection, gratitude, and inspiration as we celebrated the legacy of our founding families and the incredible impact their vision continues to have—leading to the transformation of over 7,000 lives.

To look back on the remarkable journey of Hope Builders, our founder, Sister Eileen McNerney, along with founding board member Father Christopher Smith, shared moving memories from our early days as Taller San Jose. They spoke of their inspiration to take action—mainly the lack of opportunity faced by young people in the community— and how those early challenges gave rise to an unshakable commitment to become a beacon of hope. “These 30 years later, by the grace of God and the generosity and hard work of so many people, the original vision of creating a place of hope for young lives has become more than a vision,” Father Christopher shared.  “It is now a living, breathing, thriving reality.”

Additional memories were shared by founding champions Eleanor Brewer, Pat Ortiz, and Bruce Hamlin, reflecting on the organization’s early years and their passion for Hope Builders’ mission. We’ll be sharing their insights over the coming months as we continue to mark our anniversary.

Perla Lopez, a 1996 Hope Builders graduate, shared an inspiring testimonial on the pathway to prosperity the organization helped her launch.  “In 1996, I was 18 years old, had dropped out of high school, and was pregnant.

The day I heard about Taller San Jose—now Hope Builders—it was like a light turned on. Hope Builders was the foundation for the life I dreamed of…. Today, I’m proud to share that I’m now the Executive Assistant to the Office of the Co-Presidents at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. None of what my family and I have today—our home, our careers, our sense of purpose—would have been possible without Hope Builders.”

The event concluded with a blessing in the chapel, where one of Sister Eileen’s original paintings was dedicated and blessed. It will be proudly displayed at our training facility in Santa Ana as a lasting remembrance of this meaningful day and the legacy that continues to guide us.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our founding families, what started as a small program rooted in a desire to help has grown into a thriving organization offering comprehensive training in construction and healthcare. Thank you to our entire community of Hope Builders—for believing in our vision, for nurturing it with your generosity, and for helping us build a legacy that continues to change lives and build pathways to prosperity.

To revisit our founding story, click here.