Grandma's House of Hope
    
Our mission is to empower the Invisible Populations in Orange County.
We say YES, when everyone else says no. 

Our vision: When our good works are done, we envision a thriving, supportive community full of caring and productive individuals where everyone has a
safe place to call home.

Giving Season
Your contributions this holiday season will GIVE A VOICE and a Christmas to the Invisible Populations of Orange County!

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"We make a living by what we get, but
we make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill  
 
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Our Values
Love & Compassion
A faith-based approach to healing and forgiveness in a safe and hopeful environment.
Respect & Acceptance
A non-judgmental  celebration of the diversity and uniqueness of humankind
Honesty & Integrity
An ethical approach to supporting personal growth and family values

 

Blessings!

 

  
 

 

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend full of family, love and laughter.  

 

At Grandma's House of Hope, there is no shortage of things and people to be thankful for this holiday season. You, our volunteers, supporters and clients are a daily reminder for us to all hold a grateful heart. 

 

As our very own Founder and Executive Director, Je'net Kreitner was honored as National Philanthropy Day's Founder of the Year 2014 this November, we were not surprised. What brought us all in the audience and 

even the announcers to tears, was her selflessness in thanking her family and the Orange County community for helping her get to where she is today: 

  

"I'm one of the lucky ones," Kreitner said with a shaky voice. "Someone believed in me ... someone invested in me. That's how Grandma's House of Hope got started." 

 

You can watch Je'net's acceptance video by clicking here.

Or you can read her feature in Orange County Register's coverage, by clicking here.

 

Je'net has found her calling through giving her heart, her home, time and talents to women and families, the Invisible Populations in Orange County, that have undergone similiar situations. There have been and continue to be hundreds of invisible people in Orange County who need our help.

 

If you are receiving this newsletter, we thank you, as you have given and joined our cause. We welcome you to read further and consider the gifts you give this holiday season. Whether it is of your time, talent, money or things, your gifts will make a difference!

Goings-On at GHH

A Very Thankful Thanksgiving!

We so appreciate the amazing support of George Rivero and family who spent their Thanksgiving Day blessing the ladies in all 11 of our homes, with 108 warm Thanksgiving meals!!

 


Philanthropist of the Year 2014 - National Philanthropy Day

 
Grandma's House of Hope's nominee and long-time supporter and friend, Catherine Sorensen, was honored at American Fundraising Professional's annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon! We could not be more proud and thankful for Catherine Sorensen, for her generous accomplishments and amazing heart for our work!

Home for the Holidays!
Halam and her family, including newborn Sophia, are moving into a place of their very own! Over the course of the last year, and while pregnant, Halam finished her schooling to become and RN and landed her first job! This family's commitment to building an independent and  brighter future has, however, disqualified them from their government housing assistance. 

While the family income has increased and brings the promise of starting a college fund for her two children, Halam was a bit overwhelmed with the daunting task of moving so soon after welcoming little Sofia into the world. With the help of Grandma's House of Hope and the Konoske family, we were able to make this happy move a little easier on the whole family. Movers and a truck were hired, a new refrigerator purchased, some gift cards to Home Depot and Christmas gifts for the family were thoughtfully picked out. Merry Christmas to this well deserving family!

Special Request: Halam's first job is quite a distance away in Victorville. This requires her to spend a couple of nights every week away from her family. Her Christmas wish is to find employment a little closer to her home in Anaheim. Should you know of any job openings for nurses in Orange County, please contact  our staff member, Meg Oka, at 714-558-8600 and we will pass along your information and/or suggestions.


Spread the Love
Local sandwich shop, Which Which, joined Grandma's House of Hope to feed the homeless at the Santa Ana Civic Center, as a part of their corporate-wide "Spread the Love" campaign.
Whenever you buy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at any Which Which location, the company will donate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to someone in need! The campaign began in August and this Which Which store was proud to be able to donate nearly 150 sandwiches!
Upcoming Holiday Activities

Adopt a Family or a Mom for the Holidays!

We still have 7 low-income families of the Hopeworks! Education and Enrichment Center that need a sponsor for the holidays! 

We are also looking for 6 more sponsors of our moms in our women's housing program, to help them provide gifts for their children. 

You can help by "adopting a mom or family" and providing them with gifts and a grocery gift card. You will be provided with a personal wish list for each family member. All gifts must be received no later than December 15th.

Giving Season = Baking Season!


Nothing says the holidays like a warm dish or dessert made with love! If you have a passion for baking or have a great family recipe you would like to share, we are seeking your help in providing a loving Christmas for the women, children and families we serve!

 

Donation deadline is Friday, December 19th at 3 pm.
This will allow us the time needed to plan accordingly.

If interested in participating in this opportunity, please contact us at 714-558-8600 or [email protected].


Christmas Day at the Movies

Help us make Christmas Day one the women and children in our homes will remember forever! Christmas Day at the Movies is an afternoon activity that we are planning for those in our program without safe outside family members. We are seeking movie tickets to AMC Theaters. Gift cards for movie concessions are also welcomed and would be a great treat for their Christmas day at the movies! 

 

Cost per movie-goer for a movie and popcorn is only $12.00!


Holiday Wishlist

When you are out shopping this holiday season - why not pick up a gift for us too? Whether you are looking to support the children of Nana's Kidz, women and infants in our Housing Program or our at-risk youth at HopeWorks!, we have a holiday gift opportunity for you! 


Click here to see our complete wishlist here or you can view our HopeWorks wishlist directly on Amazon.com, just click the photo!


Bathroom Blessing Baskets

We seek individuals or a group to provide "Bathroom Blessing Baskets" for the women in our Housing Program. Many of these women have severe illnesses, such as breast cancer, or they are seniors living with disabilities, or human trafficking survivors and they could use some pampering, love and hope this Christmas.   
  
Ideal baskets would include: a new towel set (full-size towel, hand towel and face towel) along with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. If you can, add a $5 gift card to Starbucks!

 

Please deliver baskets to our office by December 15th.


  For more information about our programs or how you can help,
visit our website, email us at
[email protected] 
or call us at (714) 558-8600
Board of Directors
Je'net Kreitner 
Board President
Executive Director
Co-Founder 
 Christina Haupert
Board Treasurer
Wells Fargo Bank
Robert Ahlke
Board Chair
Ahlke Construction

 
Denise Voss
Board Secretary
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Pat Kreitner 
Co-Founder 
MTCF Foster Parent
Mariann Vlacilek 
Volunteer Anaheim Police Department
Virginia DePaola
Wells Fargo Bank 
Deacon Doug Cook
San Antonio de Padua
Catholic Church 
Paula DeLong
 
Community Leader
Dr. Ja-Hong Kim
UCLA School of Medicine
Ericka D.
DV Survivor
Child Educator

Is this you? Be our next Board member!
Some of our Current Partners!
               

2-1-1 OC

A&S Printing

Activate Church

Allergan Foundation

Anaheim Chamber of Commerce

Anaheim Community Foundation

Anaheim D.E.V.O.T.E

Anaheim Emergency Solutions Grant

Anaheim Supportive Housing

Balsamiq Studios LLC

Breast Cancer Angels

Breast Cancer Solutions

Cal State Fullerton

CAMF- Collaboration to Assist Motel Families

CAPOC

Catherine Sorensen

Catholic Charities

Chapman

Chinese Baptist Church

Commission to End Homeliness

Community Services Program

Congressman Ed Royce

Cottonwood Church

The Crossings at Cherry Orchard

Dan Walsh

Disney VoluntEARS

Disneyland Resort

DoTopia

El Dorado Motel

Fieldstone Foundation

Food Prevention Forum

The Irvine Company

Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce

Homeless Prevention Forum

Hope Center of Christ

Institute for Advanced Studies

Jonie's Purse Project

Jorge Rivero Family

Kaiser Foundation

Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer

 

The Legacy Foundation

Llyod E. & Elisabeth H. Klein Family Foundation

Magnolia Baptist
Mariners Church of Irvine

Memorial Health Services

New American Funding

OC Healthcare Agency

OneOC

One Desk Foundation

Orange County Community Foundation
Orange County School of Arts
Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force
Orange County United Way

Pacific Life
PIMCO Foundation

Providence Speech and Hearing

Project Cuddle

Project SAY
Roosters Foundation
Salvation Army
San Antonio de Padua Perish
Santa Ana Emergency Solutions Grant
Second Harvest Food Bank
Senator Lou Correa
Senator Mimi Walters
Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation
Soroptimist International

Telecore/WIT

The Village at 17th Street - Shared Spaces Project

Weingart Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

West Anaheim Youth Center

UCI
UPS

Vanguard

Vineyard Christian Fellowship

... and many more

 



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