Pictured L to R: Abigail (3rd), Kristin, Caleigha, Steve, and Makiah (1st). Abigail is in our "Strings of Hope" suzuki violin program.  | Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Greetings!,
As we prepare for 2010-2011--a year when we will serve 300 inner city students--I am excited to share with you an announcement about our current facility (see below). I also encourage you to read a brief story below about a new incoming High School student, Marcus Thomas*.
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With unanimous consent the Hope Academy Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Hope Academy closed on the purchase of our current facility on July 7, 2010.
The Board is grateful to the Lord for your prayers, and the incredible generosity of those of you who made gifts to make this purchase possible.
Many contributed time and counsel to us throughout this process. We especially thank God for Jay Bennett (Twin Cities Christian Foundation), Gary Hegenes (Hegenes Management), Dave McGuire, and Dennis Doyle (Welsh Co.) for their help. On behalf of the families of hundreds of inner city youth enrolled at Hope, we thank you.
We are also grateful for our working relationship with Joe Smith and the Fidelis Foundation and the role they played in securing and managing Hope Commons for inner city kids since August 2006. They have been extremely gracious in assisting us as we make this important transition.
The Board's decision to purchase our current facility came after extensive deliberation. Since 2008, we have invited the input of commercial real estate professionals to help us investigate other urban schools on the market. After much counsel, it became clear that our current location and facility is the perfect fit for our mission to serve inner city youth with a remarkable, God-centered education.
Yet again, God has done more than we could ever ask and imagine. Join us in thanking the Lord as we continue to entrust the future of Hope to him: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." (Psalms 127:1).
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I want to share with you about Marcus Thomas*, one of more than fifty new students we will admit for next year.
Marcus is entering 9th grade, and is the oldest of
four kids in a Christian family living in poverty (His family lives on $15,000/year).
Marcus
loves to share the gospel, and hopes to become a preacher. In the public school
he attended last year, however, Marcus was asked to stop bringing his Bible and
stop sharing Christ with his classmates. Around that same time, Marcus and his
dad walked by Hope.
"Dad,
that's where I'm going to High School," Marcus said.
"Marcus, that's a private school," his dad
responded, "We can't afford a school like that."
Later, though, Marcus's dad
talked with a friend and found out that Hope is affordable for everyone.
The family came to a recent open house, and applied on the spot.
When we called Marcus's parents recently to let them know Marcus had been admitted
into our High School, hey were overwhelmed with joy.
I
am humbled by how God has continued to provide through your sacrificial giving these last ten years. On behalf of Marcus and his parents and hundreds of other inner city families I thank you.
Blessings in
Christ,
Russ
Gregg
Head of School
"News of Hope" Highlights:
- 2010 Test Scores: See results here and thank the Lord
with us for how he is working in
the hearts and minds of our students!
- Family Focus: Meet the Carlisle family and learn what Hope means to them.
- Other News: Download the
print version of News of Hope (PDF) to meet 8th grader Abraham Norman (HOPE award winner) and read about our Mom's Healing Retreat, and more.
Ways
to Give in 2010-2011
If you would like to serve 300 inner city youth with a remarkable,
God-centered education this next year in any of the following ways,
contact Dan Olson, Director of Development, dolson@hopeschool.org,
612-721-6294 ext. 106.
1) Sponsor a table at 'An
Evening of Hope' (6-9pm, Nov. 11, 2010--emceed by Bob Stromberg)
(free)
LINK: http://www.hopeschool.org/giving/eoh.shtml
2) Host friends for a 'Tour of Hope'
(first two are Thurs, Sept. 9,
Thur., Oct. 14 -- 12-1pm) (free)
LINK: http://www.hopeschool.org/tours.shtml
3) Sponsor a Student (or another
student!) to attend Hope ($5,800/student) (30 students still need a Partners) Learn
about our Partner Sponsorship Program.
4)
Be a Boaz Partner for 2010-2011
(additional gift of $50K) - learn about Boaz Giving here.
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