2014 Summer Newsletter
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Meet a Scholar
Back to School
Summer Reading Games
Staff Announcements
Get Involved!
Upcoming Events

October 18th
Evening of Hope
October 24th
Palladium

Holiday Boutique
December 4th
Sunset Country Club

Where Hope Lives Open Houses

Girls Hope
September 11th 4:30pm

Boys Hope
October 7th
4:30pm

RSVP to:

Meet a Scholar!
Javon
Rising 6th Grader
1 Year at Boys Hope

Why He Came:
Great opportunity to get to and through college

Favorite Things To Do At Boys Hope:
-Going to school to learn
-Going to sleep because it is important

Hardest Thing About Boys Hope:
All the rules, like going to bed early

2 Things He Wants to Pursue:
-Basketball
-Soccer

Excited About:
How much he has grown at Boys Hope personally and improved his grades

Hopes For:
-a phone
-a 4.0 GPA

Wants to be Known As:

"I want to be known for being a good pediatrician."

 

Message from the Director

As of Sept. 1, I have formally begun the transition to a new position at the Boys Hope Girls Hope International Office.  As regional director for affiliates west of the Mississippi - including, of course, St. Louis - I am thrilled to remain a part of the mission and young people that, after 15 years, continue to inspire me.  

 

There is a search underway for my replacement.  Visit our website for the posting and job description.  Please advise us of any prospects you think could dynamically lead the local affiliate into its bright future, including the Hope Builds expansion plan. Until my successor is in place, I will continue to serve as Executive Director to ensure that the momentum toward our initiatives does not falter. But, with a solid board and staff team, the affiliate is in great hands.  

 

The St. Louis affiliate has been so good to me.  I am filled with gratitude to the thousands of amazing individuals, companies and foundations that sustain our young people and make this work possible.  My friendship with so many of you has sustained and empowered me. Thank you! 

 

Brian Hipp

YES, We are Headed Back to School!
Tylisha shows off her newly decorated locker.

     Last month, all of our Residential and Non-Residential Scholars gathered at the BHGH International Office to kick off the school year with this year's first YES (Youth Empowerment Service) Program event. There they participated in games designed to emphasize team building and remind them of key organizational skills before heading into next semester. Scholars were then given an opportunity to "shop" for the school supplies they need from our collection of donated items. 

Taujh shops for school supplies.
     Thanks to the generosity of so many, including the Women of Hope, M.O.M.S. (Moms on a Mission of Service), and the Tapestry Network, we were able to provide nearly 150 notebooks, 400 pens and pencils, 60 reams of paper, and a variety 
of other supplies, as well as a backpack for each scholarThe day, which was an exciting reunion for the scholars and staff and an enormous help to their families, was capped off with a Ted Drews frozen custard celebration!

     A few other beginning of the year events have also allowed us to start the year strong. The second-annual Youth Volunteer Orientation and first Girls Hope Orientation for new and returning scholars and their families were both well attended and served as vital opportunities to gather as a community and recommit to each other, our collective goals, and our hopes for the scholars as we launch the 2014-2015 year.
A Note on Hope Prep

Hope Prep scholars were able to put their supplies from the Back to School Bash to good use as they returned to school in the Ferguson-Florissant School District last week.  Though school was delayed due to the unrest in Ferguson, scholars were eager to return to the classroom to see their friends and begin classes. BHGH staff delivered care packages to each scholar to keep them busy during the extra week off. With school back in session, Hope Prep is celebrating a new year with the largest group yet-48 scholars total!

 

Summer Reading Games

Crystal Pierce, Academic Achievement Coordinator 

    

     Although we were not the  crowned victors, our St. Louis team, comprised of the Girls Hope scholars and two "mystery men" from Boys Hope, did quite well in this summer's First Annual BHGH Summer Reading Games.  For this nation-wide competition, each team was assigned a certain number of hours per week to read from an approved novel of their choice.  If the team completed their weekly assignment of hours, they would be issued a challenge.   I can proudly say we completed all that were issued to us.  These challenges included dressing up in survival outfits and writing a newsletter about the books we were reading.

 

     Reana, of Girls Hope, was our top reader for more than one week, which was quite an accomplishment considering the various camps and summer activities that she was involved in.  She read "The Fault in Our Stars", "Frankenstein", and "Like Water for Chocolate", among other great titles. Some other books that were read by our amazing team include, but are not limited to, "In These Girls Hope is a Muscle", "Dear Marcus: A Letter to the Man Who Shot Me", "Light: A Gone Novel", "Remembering Raquel" and "Jim Henson's Labyrinth: the Novelization".

 

     I was also very pleased with some of our more reluctant readers who were not a part of the team, but still read their assigned summer reading from school.  Thanks to the support of our staff team acting as reading buddies, I am proud to say our St. Mary's boys were both able to complete their quite challenging summer readings: "Hiroshima" and "Battle Cry".  

 

  

 

     Reading novels was not the only way we hit literacy with a bang this summer.  Two scholars participated in a summer literacy program at St. Louis University, engaging in one-on-one lessons specifically designed to improve their literacy skills. 

 

     Three scholars participated regularly in the online Reading Plus program, which we were fortunate enough to receive access to thanks to a partnership with the Reading Success Center. "What are you reading now?" was a question that could be heard regularly in the homes.

 

     Overall, we've come a long way with reading this summer...having a jump start toward the busy and successful school year that lies ahead.  

Staff Announcements

Thomas Patchan 
Boys Hope ASC
Patrick Noonan
Boys Hope Staff

We are thrilled to announce that Patrick Noonan, our AmeriCorps Academic Success Corps (ASC) Member for Boys Hope for the 2013-14 school year has joined the Boys Hope staff as a Residential Counselor and is in the process of a seamless transition. Coming in to fill the ASC role for this year is Thomas Patchan, a graduate of Viriginia Tech whom we are excited to be bringing onboard!


 

Additionally, we are expecting a new Community Resource Coordinator to begin training for the role of managing our volunteers and community partnerships within the next few weeks and look forward to introducing her soon!

Get Involved!

 

Provide a Meal for the one of the homes. This is a vital help to our residential staff and a wonderful treat for scholars! To sign-up on our Care Calendar, contact Amber Mohrmann for instructions. 


 

Consider serving as an academic tutor for our Residential Scholars or leading a College Prep small group with our Hope Prep 11th Graders. Contact Amber for information.

 

Sign up to send a Care Package to a Collegian Here 
 

 

Cleaning out a closet, know a friend cleaning out a closet?


Our annual Purses with a Purpose booth will be held at the Holiday Boutique on 12/4/14.  We need your help to make the booth a wonderful success.   

 

Have a new or gently used designer label bag you are no longer using?  Consider donating the purse to Boys Hope Girls Hope for our Purses with a Purpose sale. Purses may be dropped at our office.  For further information, please contact Jan Wacker

 

 

Shop Talbots on September 18th-Support Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars as you shop for your fall wardrobe at Talbots in Frontenac Plaza.  Join friends and fellow shoppers from 5-8 p.m. for snacks and goodies while shopping for a cause.  Questions please contact Jan.Thank you Mary Ellen Cremins and Talbots for this wonderful opportunity!

BHGH Logo 2 color
Give Today!
   Call: 314-692-7477
       Mail To: 755 S New Ballas Road, Suite 120
St. Louis, MO 63141