Hope Ignites

Today we celebrate Juneteenth in the name of freedom, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of dignity for all people.

At Hope Ignites, we are committed to walking alongside young people as they build futures full of possibility. That work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves the chance to thrive.

Wishing our community a meaningful and joyful Juneteenth. 🖤❤️💛

At 10 years old, Fátima Sazo begged her mother to let her leave home for a program in Guatemala City where she could continue her education. Years later, she used that same determination to build her mother a brand new home. 🏡🧡

Now Fátima works as Esperanza Juvenil, Guatemala's International Fundraising Coordinator, raising funds to open two new student houses so more children can have the same chance she did.

Read her full story on the Hope Ignites blog: https://hopeignites.org/2026/06/17/a-home-built-on-hope/

Serenity Jordan and Jamion Mayweather, both from Hope Ignites Cincinnati, are heading to Miami University this fall, a proud Hope Ignites partner school. That partnership means real resources: extra financial aid, dedicated support, and a pathway to graduate with little to no student debt.

For Serenity, it's about the connections, internships, career paths, and the HAAS scholarship that will help her get there. For Jamion, it's the rigorous academics, community, and the chance to keep building on everything Hope Ignites has helped him achieve.

This is what our partner schools make possible. 🧡
Learn more about our university partnerships at hopeignites.org/universitypartnerships

🎉 Walk to Hope 2026 results are in! Thank you all for showing up for the scholars of Hope Ignites!

Together, we raised over $48,000 to fuel hope and opportunity for young people across the US, Guatemala, and Mexico!
People put in incredible effort throughout May. Michael Viamontes led all individuals with an incredible 337 miles, and Populus Group dominated the team leaderboard with a combined 1,514 miles.

Huge congratulations to our top fundraisers:
🥇 Top Individual Fundraiser: Jason Pernell — $2,395 raised
🏆 Top Team Fundraiser: WWT Desert Mountain Walkers — $6,210 raised
⭐ Top Affiliate Fundraiser: Hope Ignites Phoenix — $6,233 raised

Thank you to the participants who ran, walked, biked, hiked, trekked, and fundraised, rallyiing their communities for this mission. Every step and every dollar moves us closer to a future filled with possibility.

🎓 Congratulations to all of our graduates!

This year, we provided our graduating collegians with Hope Ignites honor cords in our blue, white and orange colors. These honor cords are a visible symbol of everything they've accomplished.

Earning a degree is a major milestone on its own, but our graduates have gone above and beyond. They've balanced academics with the perseverance, leadership, and commitment that are integral to the Hope Ignites journey. These cords represent all of that, and the community that has stood behind them every step of the way.

Wear them with pride. You've earned it. 🧡

We reached the finish line! A massive thank you to every walker, runner, biker, and donor who participated in Walk to Hope 2026.

From Baltimore to St. Louis to Mexico and beyond, our supporters moved together across the network to demonstrate a commitment to our scholars. We are so proud of the community impact we’ve created this month. Stay tuned for our final fundraising and mileage reveal!

📣 Alumni — this one's for you!

Join us on Monday, June 8 at 7:00 PM CT for our next Network-Wide Alumni Call, featuring Andy Hilger. Andy is the former president of a $15 billion global staffing and services firm, Hope Ignites Baltimore board member, and former Residential Counselor at Hope Ignites Northeastern Ohio.

AI is redefining our relationship with work entirely and as someone who has helped more than 10,000 people start new jobs each week, Andy has a front-row-seat perspective on what employability looks like in a rapidly changing world. Fresh off his TEDx Jacksonville talk, he'll challenge us to stop clinging to old career roadmaps and instead embrace curiosity, agility, and lifelong learning as the real drivers of long-term success.

This is a conversation worth sharing. If you know a Hope Ignites alum who could benefit, please spread the word and register in advance at the link below!

🔗 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=ukc7IxZIn06k5A3xpfQiHRl6-pQUMhFCvLHvteWpcwdUMUk1MjFOUlBJVTlERFpOSVRUNDNBOUlENy4u&route=shorturl

The final stretch is here! There is only one week left in our month-long challenge to raise funds and awareness for our incredible scholars.

Whether you are hitting the treadmill, the local park, or your neighborhood sidewalks, remember that every dollar raised helps provide education and opportunity for the young people we serve. Let’s finish May strong! https://walktohope.org/

We’re halfway through Walk to Hope—and every step you’ve taken matters.

Because of you, miles are turning into momentum for Hope Ignites scholars—fueling opportunities, opening doors, and helping make college dreams possible with the support and scholarships they deserve.

Whether you’ve walked one mile or one hundred, you are part of something bigger. You’re helping scholars access education, build bright futures, and graduate with less financial burden.

👏 Keep going. Keep logging your miles. Keep sharing your “why.”

The finish line is in sight—and the impact you’re making is real. https://walktohope.org/