Transitional Housing Success!

Transitional Housing Success!

With skyrocketing rents and former foster youth facing homelessness, Hope & A Future recently launched a new Transitional Housing Program. Did you know, every year, 1000 Arizona foster youth will age out of the system when they turn 18. 25% become instantly...
The Hope & A Future Logo – October 2005

The Hope & A Future Logo – October 2005

Now that we were officially recognized by the IRS and received our first donation, we wanted to host a Christmas party for the foster kids that attended SBC’s Royal Family Kids’ Camp. This would be a first – an event outside of camp for the kids. However, before we...
IRS Approval & Our First Donation

IRS Approval & Our First Donation

On August 26, 2005, I received the IRS approval in the mail. Hope & A Future was now an official nonprofit! I was so excited and the approval happened so quickly. Everything was moving along so quickly! After getting the approval in the mail, I had to run to a...
Teen Reach Adventure Camp & Kelli Freeman

Teen Reach Adventure Camp & Kelli Freeman

The morning after getting home from Royal Family Kids’ Camp in 2005, I woke up so see Adrian’s rock sitting on the table. The idea just gnawed at me that we needed a summer camp for the teen foster children. I just had absolutely no idea what that would look...
The Summer of 2005 – Adrian’s Rock

The Summer of 2005 – Adrian’s Rock

After incorporating Hope & A Future in November 2004, not much happened until the summer of 2005. We still needed board members, create bylaws, have an initial board of director meeting, and complete an extremely tedious application with the IRS. And above all,...
Hope & A Future’s Birthday!

Hope & A Future’s Birthday!

After registering the Tradename, I knew the next step was to incorporate and files papers with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Looking back, I know having a law degree, helping other nonprofits with legal work and actually knowing where all these government...
Prologue: How It All Started

Prologue: How It All Started

While the Tradename of Hope & A Future was registered on November 15, 2004, the seeds of the organization were planted years before in 1999. So, as Paul Harvey would say, “Here’s the rest of the story…..” “And we know that in all things God works...
How It All Started

How It All Started

In 2000, I began volunteering at Royal Family Kids’ Camp through Scottsdale Bible Church. This was a summer camp for foster children from 7-11 years of age. Every year, I had the 11-year-old children asking why they couldn’t come back to camp at 12. I...
Relationships, Personal Attention, Consistency

Relationships, Personal Attention, Consistency

Kimberly Castro Aleman was living in a foster care group home at age 11 when a representative from Hope & A Future visited the girls in the home and invited them to attend Royal Family Kids’ Camp. “That experience was so much fun,” said Kimberly. “There was bible...
We Were Always Taught to Give Back

We Were Always Taught to Give Back

Jerrod Nichols has packed a lot of accomplishments into his 30 years. He attended Arizona State University and earned a marketing degree. Interned at Make a Wish, A New Leaf and FEMA. Moved to Chicago to take a job with FEMA. Founded a coffee company, and an office...