Give Hope this Holiday Season

November 06, 2018

Give Hope this Holiday Season

As temperatures drop and the year draws to a close, there are many reasons for hope. We look forward to holidays with loved ones and cozy evenings by the fire. The nostalgic tastes and smells of fall leading into winter cause us to look to the past in thankfulness and to the coming new year with hope. This time of year is often the busiest as we scurry between work deadlines, family gatherings and holiday parties. Thanksgiving leads into the demands of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday with Christmas coming right around the corner.

In all of this busyness, let’s take a step back from all the “doing” of this season to focus on a day centered around giving. Six years ago, the United Nations Foundation and other charitable organizations founded Giving Tuesday, which takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Giving Tuesday is a day to celebrate giving and the good work of charities around the world. Personally, I think it should be before all those big spending days, especially since we have been challenged to give first fruits, not last ones.  

This year, Giving Tuesday falls on November 27. On this day, Hope Now invites you and your loved ones to join us in giving HOPE to orphans in Ukraine. As you are surrounded by your loved ones this holiday season, we invite you to consider how you can provide loving communities and hopeful futures for orphans, thousands of miles away.

Sophia School

This year on Giving Tuesday, Hope Now will be raising awareness and support for our Elevate Scholarship. The Elevate Scholarship is part of our Orphan Graduate Program and provides continued education, safe housing and Christian communities for teenage orphans after they graduate out of their orphanage. Recipients of the Elevate Scholarship are given the opportunity to finish their high school education at an accredited Christian school. They are hosted by Christian families and are supported and nurtured in a Christian environment. The chance to graduate from Sophia School, combined with the support of a loving Christian community, gives these orphan graduates many opportunities for college, university and beyond. You can read more about the Elevate Scholarship and our 2018 Elevate Scholars in our recent blog, “Elevate Scholarship Gives Hope”.

Even now, in the weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday, you can help Hope Now raise awareness and support for this scholarship. First, you can raise awareness by telling your community about the Plight of Orphan Graduates in Ukraine and how the Elevate Scholarship is providing a new future for these Ukrainian teenagers. Share this video on social media, talk to your coworkers, or even contact us about starting your own fundraiser for the scholarship. Second, you can give and encourage others to give financially to this scholarship. Our goal is to raise $10,000 on Giving Tuesday (and in the weeks leading up to it!) in order to build a solid foundation for this scholarship. We hope to offer this scholarship to two orphan graduates every year. If you feel led to give, you can go to our donate page and select the box entitled Elevate Scholarship. Lastly, and most importantly, pray for the Elevate Scholarship. Pray for Ira and Alina, our 2018 Elevate Scholars. Pray for the teachers and administration of Sophia School as they teach and encourage these students. Pray for the host families as they model healthy Christian families to these orphan graduates. And pray that God would raise up future Elevate Scholars as He leads them into a future centered on His abiding love for them.



Also in News

Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!
Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!

August 24, 2023

Today, August 24, is Ukrainian Independence Day! This national holiday honors the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people and remembers all who’ve given their lives for their country — including those still fighting now. On this day in 1991, Ukraine gained its independence and joined the world stage as a sovereign nation. This year’s Independence Day holds particular significance as the country continues its struggle against the ongoing Russian invasion. Here is the true story of one family who just arrived in America on Sunday, and how they have been spending the past 546 days of the war.

Read More

Last School Bell in Ukraine has Rung
Last School Bell in Ukraine has Rung

June 09, 2023

The Last Bell has been rung in Ukraine, and school is officially out for summer! That famous Alice Cooper song is not well known in the orphanage, but nonetheless, children all across the country of Ukraine, those that are now displaced in Europe and in the USA, and indeed those students who switched to online learning in the face of war, are celebrating that school is out for summer! Last week, our kids celebrated Last Bell, complete with 11th grade Graduation and our dedicated team made sure they had an audience! They brought flowers, chocolates, ice creams and most importantly themselves. I hated having to miss Last Bell and celebrating with the children and teachers. I traditionally give an end of year speech, and this year (as last year) Inna had to read my speech at the closing ceremony, in my stead. Here’s what I wrote, and here are some of the gorgeous photos taken that day…

Read More

Memorial Day is Everyday in Ukraine
Memorial Day is Everyday in Ukraine

May 26, 2023

Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor all military personnel who died in the service of our country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. This Monday, Americans all across our country will have the opportunity to do just that.
 
Meanwhile, just in the past year, Ukraine has suffered 124,500-131,000 total casualties, including 15,500-17,500 killed in action and 109,000-113,500 wounded in action, according to the document entitled "Russia/Ukraine - Assessed Combat Sustainability and Attrition."  And not just on Monday, but on every day in Ukraine, people just like us remember and honor the loved ones who have died these past 457 days defending their country.  With your help, Hope Now does whatever we can to help protect Ukrainian lives – civilians and soldiers alike.

Read More

Guidestar Platinum Seal Amazon Smile