The Hope Effect

Changing how the world cares for orphans.

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Santa Rosa, Honduras – Fully Funded!

Big news! Thanks to you, our project in Santa Rosa, Honduras, is FULLY FUNDED!

We first told you about our work in Santa Rosa earlier this year. Along with our partner organization Legacy of Hope Foundation, we are providing family-style care for children in times of transition as they await a more permanent solution.

We knew our awesome supporters (that’s you!) would show up in a big way to care for the children of Santa Rosa. What we didn’t know is that you would reach our fundraising goal so quickly…18 months earlier than expected! Amazing!

You are making an incredible difference in the lives of so many children! A few months ago, we told you about Samuel and his journey to a forever family. Now, we’d like to share two additional stories of children whose lives you’re changing.

Mario’s Story

Mario came to our transition home when he was only a few days old. He was abandoned almost immediately after birth, and he was found covered in ant bites and other marks. Because of his heartbreaking condition, Mario was admitted to the hospital to receive medical care.

Shortly after that, DINAF (the equivalent of CPS in Honduras) confirmed that nobody was going to come forward for Mario. That meant he would be going through the abandonment process and would be eligible for adoption. Because of that, he was placed in our transition home to wait for an adoptive family.

Mario is now three months old, and we are so excited to say he is thriving and growing! He’s reaching new milestones and recently began rolling over. At his young age, the family-style care he is receiving is so important physically and developmentally. Because Mario has been in a family environment, he will be able to bond more quickly with his adoptive family.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Mario!

Cristofer’s Story

Cristofer has a very different story, but one that also illustrates the importance of family-style care. He is five years old and has been living in the transition home for more than a year. Cristofer is awaiting a foster family.

Cristofer’s parents are unable to care for him, so he needs a permanent home. But because of his circumstances, he is not eligible for adoption. While we search for a long-term foster family for him, he’s being well cared for in our family-style transition home.

As of now, Cristofer has been in this family-style environment for more than a year. He’s been receiving quality education, nutritious meals, and excellent psychological and medical care.

Thanks to you, Cristofer is the experiencing the love, support, and stability of a family. And we know that when he finds his foster family, he’ll already understand what it means to be loved and valued.

Thank You!

You are making such a difference in the lives of children like Mario and Cristofer! Thank you for your support and generosity…you make all of this possible.

We look forward to continuing our work in Santa Rosa, Honduras, and providing you additional updates along the way. Thank you for changing the way the world cares for orphans!

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Expanding Family-Style Care in Chihuahua: Seven New Foster Families!

It’s no small feat to change the way the world cares for orphans…it takes a lot of passionate individuals working together toward a common goal. You’re a huge part of the team – you are making a difference through your generosity and support. And because of your partnership, The Hope Effect is pioneering and expanding family-style care in several locations in Mexico and Honduras.

But there’s another group we can’t do this without…the incredible families who open their homes and their hearts to care for children. And we have exciting news – earlier this month, more families joined the movement in Chihuahua, Mexico!

In April, we told you about our partnership with Familia LightShine, an organization aiming to expand family-style foster care in Chihuahua. We’re working hand-in-hand with Familia LightShine to get more children into families, and by joining forces we can triple the capacity to offer family-style care. Our combined goal is to expand to 50 foster families over the next several months…and thanks to you, we’re well on our way!

This month, seven additional families were certified by the government to provide foster care in Chihuahua. That means we now have 20 families now providing loving, family-style care for a total of 22 children. We’re so grateful for these families…and for your generous support that makes it all possible.

After going through the training and approval process, the seven families were celebrated and certified at an event put on by the government. At the certification ceremony, the families officially welcomed the children into their homes.

It was a wonderful celebration of family, and we are so thrilled to see the enthusiasm surrounding foster care in Chihuahua. Take a look at a few pics of the event below!

If you’d like to be a part of this life-changing work, we’d love to partner with you! Click here to learn more about our project in Chihuahua.

Thank you for all you do – you are changing the way the world cares for orphans!




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Daring To Be Different: When It’s Good To Not Be Trendy!


Time to brag on you a bit! We’ve always known our supporters are awesome, but now we have even more proof.

A recent report from Giving USA says charitable giving by individual Americans declined in 2018. Not only that, but individual giving decreased by the largest amount in ten years.

What does this have to do with you? Well, as American charitable giving decreased, The Hope Effect’s donations INCREASED, and in 2018 we had our biggest year yet! That’s incredible – we are so grateful for your support and partnership! And that got us thinking…what makes The Hope Effect – and our supporters – different? Let’s take a look!

A Need We Can All Relate To – Every Child Deserves a Family

We all know the importance of families (but if you need some convincing – or want to see some really cute kids – check out this video). Families provide loving, stable, supportive environments for children. But currently, not every child has the opportunity to grow up in a family. Millions of children are living in institutional care, which has damaging effects on their physical and psychological development.

The Hope Effect is changing orphan care by providing family-based solutions. Two-parent, family-style care provides opportunities for children to flourish and thrive. And that’s something we can all get behind!

Rapid Growth and Success – Pioneering and Expanding Family-Style Care

The Hope Effect was founded in late 2015, and thanks to you, we’ve seen incredible growth and success! We are now working to improve orphan care in several locations in Mexico and Honduras.

In Santa Rosa, Honduras, we are partnering with a like-minded organization, Legacy of Hope Foundation, to care for orphans in times of transition. Our transition home – the only resource of its kind in Western Honduras – provides a family-style environment for children as they wait for foster and adoptive families to become available.

In Chihuahua, Mexico, we are partnering with another organization, Familia LightShine, to expand family-style foster care. Together, we’ll be able to triple the capacity to offer family-style care in Chihuahua, with a goal to expand to 50 foster families over the next several months.

And in Sonora, Mexico, we are pioneering family-style care and awaiting government approval to bring our innovative model of orphan care to the city of San Luis Río Colorado.

Directing Your Donation – The 100% Model

At The Hope Effect, we know that when you make a donation, you want your money to be used for the reason it was given. That’s why we empower our donors to direct their donation.

You can choose to put 100% of your donation directly into orphan care – getting kids into families and providing quality nutrition, education, and health care. Or, you can help with our “behind the scenes” expenses and support the awesome team of people who work hard to make it happen. And if you’re not sure which option to choose, no problem! Just let us know you’d like us to direct your gift to the area that currently has the biggest need.

We appreciate the trust our donors have in us, and we always honor our donors’ selections. We’re so grateful for every gift, and you can be confident it will help make a difference!

Engaged and Passionate Supporters – That’s You!

Our work is only possible because of you. You continue to amaze us with your support and generosity…not only in 2018, but in this year as well! Just a few highlights…

Last November, you raised $39,000 in ONE DAY on #GivingTuesday…our largest single fundraising day ever! And when we introduced our Dollar a Day Team this May, you blew our goal of 50 Dollar a Day teammates out of the water! We had 75 people commit to changing the way the world cares for orphans through their donation of one dollar a day. Amazing!

Whether it’s a one-time gift or a recurring donation, every gift makes a difference. We are honored to have such awesome supporters – thank you so much for your continued partnership.

There’s no doubt about it…your generosity is changing lives and having an impact across the globe. Thank you for changing the way the world cares for orphans!

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Samuel’s Journey: From Orphanage to Forever Family

Samuel sat quietly as he processed the news. He looked through pictures of his new home, and his eyes grew wide. The moment was finally here, and it was starting to feel real.

About seven months earlier, Samuel had come into our transition home in Santa Rosa, Honduras, where we work with our partner organization Legacy of Hope Foundation to provide family-style care for children awaiting a more permanent solution. Samuel had spent most of his childhood in a poorly-run orphanage, leaving him with many effects of institutional care – including great loss and trauma.

When Samuel was just a small child, a family came to volunteer in the orphanage where he was living. The family met and interacted with many of the children, but they felt an instant connection with Samuel. In this moment, they began to pursue him – to bring him into their family. They began the long journey to make sure Samuel knew he was loved and valued by a forever family…even if he had yet to fully comprehend what those words meant.

After a time, Samuel came to live in our transition home. We are grateful that our Legacy of Hope partners were able to work closely with his adoptive parents to help Samuel begin to build a relationship with his forever family. During those seven months, Samuel created a life-book which helped him connect his past to his present and future. And because of the family-style environment of the transition home, he began to understand what it meant to be in a family.

Samuel slowly let his guard down and learned to trust. He was able to connect with his adoptive parents while waiting for the adoption to be finalized, and he started to understand that he would one day share their last name. Even on the hardest days – like when court dates were changed and there were missing signatures on paperwork – Samuel knew his family loved him and would be there for him.

A few weeks ago, Samuel went to live with his forever family. The night before he left the transition home, he had his favorite meal and made chocolate cupcakes. It was a celebration – a celebration of him, his adoption, and his new family.

Today, The Hope Effect and Legacy of Hope celebrate with Samuel’s adoptive family as they are finally able to hold and cherish this little boy – their son. Today, we celebrate the stories of all the children our transition home has served. Siblings who have been able to stay together after being removed from their family, teen girls who have been able to care for their babies and learn what it means to be a mother, and abandoned babies who have been placed into safe and loving families.

And today, we celebrate you – the incredible, generous people who make this all possible! You are changing the lives of children…children like Samuel, and so many others. We are incredibly thankful for your partnership and support. You are doing great things. You are changing the way the world cares for orphans!

*This post was co-written with our partners at Legacy of Hope.

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You Helped Daniel Find a Family!

Thank you for helping Daniel find his family!

Changing the way the world cares for orphans is hard work…but you are clearly up to the challenge! We’re so excited to share how you’re making a difference in the lives of children in need!

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Daniel, a baby boy in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Daniel’s Story

Daniel was abandoned outside a church in a small town in the state of Chihuahua. He was found wrapped in shower curtains just a few hours after he was born. The church priest called the authorities, and Daniel was taken to a nearby hospital, where he remained for seven days.

In many other places around the world, a child like Daniel would be placed in an institution, never knowing the love of a family. Thankfully, you are providing another option in Chihuahua! 

Our partner organization, Familia LightShine, was contacted while Daniel was in the hospital. Instead of being processed into an orphanage, Daniel was placed into the loving arms of an amazing foster family. Currently, he is thriving in this stable, caring environment, and he will soon begin a new life with his adoptive family!

This is all thanks to you! You are making a difference in Daniel’s life, and we are so grateful!

One Dollar a Day Can Change a Life!

Would you like to help more children like Daniel? It only takes one dollar a day…that’s less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks (trust us, we love our caffeine)!

Just one dollar a day opens up a home for an orphan. One dollar a day provides continued family-style care for that child. One dollar a day gets a child – a child like Daniel – into a family. We’d be honored if you’d consider joining the Dollar a Day Team to help change the way the world cares for orphans.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of children around the world!

JOIN THE DOLLAR A DAY TEAM

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Celebrating A Forever Family!

Every child deserves a family. Unfortunately, many orphans in developing countries are growing up in institutional care, never knowing the love of a family. That’s why, with your support, The Hope Effect is working tirelessly to provide family-style care to orphans around the world.

It’s hard work, but it’s worth it! We are thrilled when children get out of institutional care and into loving, supportive family environments. And today, we are celebrating a child in our newest location – Chihuahua, Mexico. Today, we celebrate María!

María is 10 years old, and she has been in institutional care for most of her life. She was placed in an orphanage at age three and later went through two failed adoption attempts. This child grew up not knowing the love of a mother and father. She grew up without the love of a family.

But thankfully, that’s not where María’s story ends! Through our partnership with Familia LightShine, María was placed in foster care with a loving family. And now, that family is in the process of adopting her! This is life-changing for María, and we are so excited for her. We can’t wait to see her thrive in her forever family!

You are making this possible! Your support is providing children like María the family-style care they so desperately need.

Thanks to your generosity and partnership, we are working in Chihuahua and several other locations to change the way the world cares for orphans. And you can continue to make a difference in the lives of children like María…for just one dollar a day!

Just one dollar a day…

  • Opens up a home for an orphan currently in institutional care.
  • Provides continued family-style care for that child.
  • Gets a child like María into a family!

We’d be honored if you would partner with us! Will you join our Dollar a Day Team and help us change the way the world cares for orphans?

JOIN THE TEAM!

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What Can You Do With One Dollar A Day?

What can you do with one dollar a day? With one dollar, you can download a single song on iTunes. You can purchase your daily cup of coffee at McDonald’s (or if you’re a Starbucks fan, you’d only get about half a cup!). And of course, you can walk away with something from the local dollar store.

But what if you could do more? What if you could change the way the world cares for orphans? 

At The Hope Effect, we believe every child deserves a family. But currently, not all children have that opportunity. Millions of orphans across the globe are growing up in institutional care, which has negative physical, developmental, and psychological effects. The good news is, you can change that…for only one dollar a day!

We’re excited to introduce our Dollar a Day Team – a new opportunity to provide loving, family-style care for orphans in need. For just one dollar a day, you can…

  • Open up a home for an orphan currently in institutional care.
  • Get a child into a family.
  • Provide continued family-style care for a child.

We would be honored if you would partner with us to change the way the world cares for orphans! Current donations are being used to provide family-style care in multiple locations in Mexico and Honduras.

Will you join our Dollar a Day team today? 

JOIN THE TEAM!

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Going the Distance for Children in Need

“Epic.” “Incredible.” “The hardest challenge I have ever done…for a great cause.”

Those are just some of the words used by The Hope Effect hikers to describe their recent Rim to Rim to Rim hike of the Grand Canyon. Sounds about right – the journey was more than 50 miles, and they set out to accomplish it in one day! That’s pretty impressive in and of itself, but even more awesome? This inspiring group used the hike to benefit The Hope Effect!

In addition to training and preparing for the hike, the team raised money to make a difference in the lives of orphaned children around the world. Altogether, they raised $7,000 for The Hope Effect! These generous gifts will help provide family-style care for children in Mexico and Honduras. Check out our projects page to learn more!

Ready for a recap? Read on! 

The team of 16 individuals assembled at the Grand Canyon the afternoon before the hike. Although many of the hikers were local to Arizona, two of the hikers traveled from out of state (shout out to Jay Medailleu from Massachusetts and Keith Wilkinson from Colorado – thanks making the trip out!) to participate. How awesome to have representation from so many different places in support of The Hope Effect!

The next morning, the team set out at 4:00 a.m. to get a head start on the day while it was still cool. Arizona weather in April can be unpredictable, and they knew this day would be HOT – temperatures would rise into the 90s (some locations would reach 100 degrees!) during the middle of the day. Yikes!

The trek took them down the south rim of the canyon, up the north rim, and all the way back again. Not only is that 54 miles of hiking; it’s also about 20,000 feet of elevation change! Definitely a challenge…but it came with some beautiful scenery! Check out pics of the journey below.

Thanks to their hard work and training (and some major grit) the hikers persevered through the sun and heat, and everyone made it back safely! The larger group split into smaller teams along the way, with the total finish times ranging from about 17 hours to 25 hours. Talk about endurance!

We are so proud of these guys – and so grateful they combined their love of the outdoors with their passion for making a difference. We’re also incredibly thankful to the generous people who gave to The Hope Effect in support of these hikers. These gifts will have such an impact in the lives of children around the world!

To the team of The Hope Effect hikers – thank you for your courage, determination, and enthusiasm. Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans!


P.S. Feeling motivated to use your passion to help kids in need? Awesome! It’s super quick and easy to create your own campaign and begin raising money to make a difference in the lives of children. And the good news is, you don’t have to hike the Grand Canyon! Anything goes…you can donate your birthday, hold a garage sale, run a race, or whatever else sounds good! And all along the way, we’ll be there to answer your questions, provide support, and cheer you on!

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Hope in Honduras – The Hope Effect is in Santa Rosa!

2019 is shaping up to be a big year! Thanks to you, we’re gaining ground in Sonora, Mexico, as we work to pioneer family-style care in San Luis Río Colorado. And now, we’re excited to announce the first of our new projects this year…

The Hope Effect is now in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras!

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Legacy of Hope Foundation, an organization currently providing family-style care in Santa Rosa. We’ve known the awesome people at Legacy of Hope for quite some time, and they are doing great work with foster care in Honduras. By joining forces, we’ll be able to provide loving, family-style care for even more children.

How You’re Making a Difference!

So what does our work in Santa Rosa look like? We’re glad you asked!

No matter their background, orphaned children often find themselves in transition. With this partnership, The Hope Effect will be providing a family-style environment for children as they wait for foster and adoptive families to become available.

This transition home is the only resource of its kind in Western Honduras. Your generous support allows the kids to have the personal attention of a foster parent, along with access to quality education, nutritious meals, top-notch psychological and medical care, and more!

The children you invest in will remain in this safe, loving family environment until a more permanent home is identified. That might be a few weeks, months, or possibly even years. But through it all, the kids will experience the love, support, and stability of a family.

Learn More and Get Involved

Want to see your support in action? Watch this quick video and check out the amazing family-style environment you’re providing for these kids in need.

To learn more and make a difference in the lives of of these children, visit the projects page on hopeeffect.com. There, you’ll find opportunities to get involved in this specific project. We’d love for you to be a part of the great work going on in Santa Rosa!

Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity. None of this would be possible without you! Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans.

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SHAZAM! Foster Kids Are The Heroes

My family and I love going to movies. We enjoy hanging out together at the theater, and we all love eating the popcorn (maybe just a little too much). Like many of you, we’ve become fans of the superhero flicks that have been flooding the silver screens. Without starting a Marvel vs. DC debate, I have to be honest. For us, Marvel is leading the way in this area…as proven by our advanced ticket purchase for the 3+ hour coming attraction. Marvel is the only company to inspire such silly devotion in our family.

But recently, while we were munching on popcorn and sipping soda before a movie began, we saw a preview for the new DC movie Shazam. My daughter Mia, who we adopted from Thailand a few years ago, turned to me and gave me the thumbs up. It’s our little sign that we would be seeing the movie when it came out.

A few days ago, we made it out to see Shazam, and we were not disappointed. Sure, there was some unnecessary swearing and a few adolescent fantasy references, but the overall message of the movie leads me to give it two thumbs up.

Without giving too much away, 14-year-old Billy Batson only needs to shout out one word to transform into the adult superhero Shazam. Most of the movie is about Billy discovering his new superhero abilities and learning how to harness them. However, it was his backstory that caught my eye and heart. You see, Billy is a foster child.

For the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of leading The Hope Effect as we strive to change the way the world cares for orphans. Most orphans around the world don’t have the opportunity to live in a family environment like Billy. Many countries don’t have systems in place to provide family-style care for orphans. As a result, millions of children are being cared for in institutional settings, causing long-term psychological, emotional, and developmental damage.

We as a people can do better. At The Hope Effect, we are convinced children thrive when they are cared for in a family setting as they are waiting to be reunited with their biological parents, placed with extended family, or welcomed into a forever adoptive family. Take a look around our website to learn more about our work and discover how you can get involved and make a difference.

Ultimately, Billy not only discovers he is a superhero…more importantly, he discovers a family inside his foster home. This family – led by a loving couple who were foster children themselves – is full of other kids just like Billy. Within this family, Billy realizes what we want all the children we work with to realize. We all have a superhero inside of us, and with the love and support of a family – SHAZAM! – we can become who we were created to be.