of DEAR FRIENDS OF HOPE HOUSE, What an honor it is to represent the Board of Directors of Hope House this year as we celebrate the Hope House 25th year of service to those whose lives have been impacted by HIV. This has been one of the most challenging years in our history, due to the financial uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of these financial challenges, your continued support has helped this organization remain resilient. We want to thank all our donors who have helped us build a strong endowment, stock our food pantry, and support each fundraising campaign. As Memphians struggle with the return to work and school, Hope House is there to welcome those whom we serve with open arms and open hearts. Children have already begun to return to our campus, and we continue to provide lifeline services through our adult support programs. Although there are many words that summarize Hope House, one which comes to mind is “essential.” The services provided are vital to those whose lives have been impacted by HIV. Our donors see to it that the absolutely essential work of Hope House remains financially stable to meet those needs. James Hay President, Hope House Board of Directors DEAR FRIENDS, Resilience. It is what keeps us going through these challenging times. COVID-19 has changed so much, but we are doing our best to not only survive but thrive. We are continually inspired by the resilience of the children and adult clients at Hope House, who overcome even greater challenges in their lives every day. The There is a term called ACEs, which stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. Two or more ACEs can lead to a debilitating life situation. The mission adverse experiences include divorce, poverty, death of a parent, abuse, of Hope a severe illness in the family such as HIV or cancer, or a physical or mental handicap. No one can predict who will thrive despite facing two or more House is ACEs, or who will move into despair that may lead to the tragedies of drug to improve addiction, suicide, or other circumstances. When they find support or know that others care, individuals can develop the quality the resilience they need to overcome these adverse experiences. Your of life for support for Hope House helps us foster what these clients need most: the individuals resilience to overcome adversity and continue moving forward. We all have events in our lives that we wish never happened. It would be and families overly optimistic to say that we all deal with these events in a way that helps affected by us move forward. Nevertheless, I thank you for all that you do to help us HIV and move forward. It takes all of us collaborating to work through life’s tragedies. Thank you for what you do for the children, adults, and staff of Hope House. poverty. With hope in our hearts, Elizabeth M. Dupont, Ed.D. Executive Director STORIES OF HOPE: RESILIENCE DURING COVID-19 Everyone can agree that 2020 has brought on many new challenges. COVID-19 has had an impact on all of us – keeping people from work, causing big events to be canceled, and making our loved ones ill. While this pandemic has caused uncertainty and hardships, it has also shined a light on the generosity of others and how we come together as a community. During this time, people from all over the city reached out to help strangers in need. Because of donors like yourself, Hope House was able to continue to provide hope to those affected by HIV and poverty. We received funding from new and existing partners who allowed us to continue to provide our services remotely, as well as expand to meet the growing and new needs of our families. FROM MARCH UNTIL JUNE 2020 $96,000+ 351 75+ in COVID relief funds households were served organizations, churches, was received by through the food pantry, groups, and families donated Hope House. impacting 756 individuals. food and hygiene products. 19 7 6 families received 2 months of individuals were given 6 families received rental assistance. technology resources. utility assistance. YOU HOLD THE POWER DOMINIC’S STORY Dominic had struggled with abuse all her life. At Angie was able to connect Dominic to the Hope the young age of 5, she became a victim of sexual, House housing program, allowing her to escape mental, and emotional abuse. This abuse continued her abuser and live safely in a home with her four into her teenage years, and she also faced abuse beautiful children. throughout her adult life. After being physically assaulted by a man she trusted and becoming “My kids are kids again. They are allowed to run, pregnant with her fourth child, Dominic decided laugh, and play in this home. I smile a lot more that she was done being a victim. now, too!” Following a move to Memphis, Dominic learned With the help of Hope House, Dominic is working about Hope House and met Angie, the Victim on getting a job, and she dreams of being an Services Coordinator. “When I first met Angie, my advocate for women who have experienced abuse abuser was keeping me at a point where I could or are at risk of becoming victims of abuse. not leave. Angie helped me build my self-esteem and find my dignity and self-worth.” “I know now that you can do anything if you believe in yourself. You hold the power.” ELGIN’S STORY After a traumatic HIV diagnosis, Elgin struggled with Luckily, he had a second family in the Hope House the additional pain of being ostracized by his family staff and knew he could rely on them for help. due to their lack of knowledge about the disease. A few years later, he became one of the first adult “It is hard not to have anyone to count on, but I Hope House clients – and everything changed. He can count on Hope House.” joined support groups, received individual therapy, and had new people who loved and cared for him. He considers his social worker, Sarah, one of his Best of all, Elgin received literature that he could best friends, and she made sure that Elgin and the pass on to his family to educate them. Once they children never went hungry. She would regularly understood the disease, he was lovingly accepted. check on them and let him know when Hope House was about to get food in stock. In the past year, Elgin became the temporary guardian of his cousin’s two children after she was “Hope House has given me a reason to live and diagnosed with COVID-19. Being visually impaired, has given me people I can trust and depend on. he was hesitant, but he knew it was necessary for This is a safe haven for me.” the safety of the children. His income covers only his essential bills with nothing left over for groceries. THIS IS A SAFE HAVEN I CAN BREATHE BETTER NOW XAVIERA’S STORY Just two years ago, Xaviera and her older son his ABCs. Drop-off became so much easier. The were living in a hotel room. She was pregnant and teachers are very patient and good with him.” working 70-80 hours a week to make ends meet. When she was introduced to Hope House, her Because of housing assistance, Xaviera is able to cut life completely turned around. Within a few short down work hours, spend more time with her sons, months of getting into the housing program and get involved in church, and even go to the gym! entering her younger son, Mason, into daycare, she started to see changes in both her sons and herself. “When Hope House entered my life, I saw it as a second chance from God to live a better life. “Before Hope House, Mason would cry at daycare I can breathe better now.” drop-off and not want to play with anyone. Just a few weeks into switching to Hope House daycare, he was playing, clapping, and starting to sing THANKS TO ALL OUR DONORS July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 Ms. Mary Bowen Ring Container Technologies FedEx Global Citizenship Leslie Settle Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Debby & Tom Stephens Response Fund Truist Bryan R. Mulroy & Ray Phillips United Way of Greater David Tester Philadelphia and Wells Fargo Foundation Southern New Jersey HOPE HOUSE HEROES United Way of the Mid-South $10,000 + United Way Suncoast The Assisi Foundation Voqal of Memphis Timothy D. Welker City of Memphis Mr. & Mrs. James A. West, IV Community Foundation William King Self, Jr. of Greater Memphis (N&A Henington Trust) Fund for Shared Insight Douglas B. Wright Gilead Sciences, Inc. Anonymous Homer Skelton HOPE HOUSE Charitable Foundation INNOVATORS John and Marine van $1,000 - $4,999 Vlissingen Foundation Adams Keegan, Inc. Medtronic Foundation Donna Anderson Methodist Le Bonheur Community Health & J. William Appling Well-Being Buckman Laboratories Plough Foundation The Canale Foundation Shelby County Schools Dr. Aimee Christian HOPE HOUSE Slingshot Memphis, Inc. Abbay & Jay Curtis INVESTORS Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Dawson State of Tennessee $500 - $999 TN Dept. of Justice – Sally DiScenza & Debra Langston Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) David Donnaud Pat Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Stan Turk Drs. Randy & Betty Dupont AstraZeneca United Way of the Mid-South Edible Memphis Patrick Baker The Urban Child Institute Melissa Farrar Boyle Insurance Agency, Inc. USDA Foods in Schools Program First Horizon Foundation Chickasaw Air Conditioning Valero Memphis Refinery Dr. & Mrs. Arthur Franklin Lynda Antonelli Clat Women's Foundation for Friends of George's Mrs.