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.

Did You Know?


We were certified as a
Volunteer Service Enterprise, known for truly developing and partnering with volunteers to enact our mission and enhance our programs. Grandma's House of Hope partnered with over 1,130 volunteers contributing a total 7,000 of hours of service, a 40 % increase from just last year.  *Only 15% of non-profits nationally have this esteemed certification!


"Be the change you wish to see in the world." 



Because of You!

Grandma's House of Hope now has 11 Full Time staff members who were supported by 1,131 volunteers in 2014!


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


Warm and Fuzzies


"I'm very thankful for being here right now and having a place to go." (Diane S.)

"The entire time I've been at Grandma's House I've had my hand guided to great services like my new eyeglasses and given great counseling, and I just want to thank the staff at Grandma's House."  (Anonymous)


Join the Women of Hope Guild



 
The Women of Hope Guild is a social-working group dedicated to furthering the Empowerment of the Invisible Populations in Orange County.  This group is a fundrasing arm of Grandma's House of Hope.  Members must have a passion for Empowering the Invisible Populations in Orange County and Grandma's House of Hope programs that serve this community.  Contact [email protected] for more information on how to get involved!

Blessings!

 

We hope you had a wonderful Holiday season and a promising beginning to 2015.  

 

As we move forward into this new year, all of us here at Grandma's House of Hope want to take a moment to pause and look back at what was accomplished in 2014. 

 

Grandma's House of Hope experienced record growth this

year - doubling our bed capacity to 107 beds in 11 homes in North Orange County.  The Community Leadership Training Program was also established, which provides mediation and conflict resolution classes and property management training to participants in our housing program. As a result of this work, we were able to help 126 women move on into permanent housing!

 

 We launched the HopeWorks Education and

Enrichment Center complete with ongoing after school tutoring and educational support, community events, financial and nutritional education, workforce development, parenting workshops and even a Summer Kids Camp! In addition, our staff provided case management to the 45 families with 94 children who live at this low income affordable housing complex, resulting in two families moving out of government assistance and into full self-sustainability.

 

During the fall season, we were able to provide 650 homeless children with backpacks, shoes and school supplies at our Back-to-School event this year, a safe Halloween to over 1,000 children living in local Anaheim motels at our 4th annual Safe Harvest Event, and a Motel Christmas party to over 250 children in Anaheim.  

 

2014 was a great year for our Executive Director and Founder, Je'net Kreitner, who was honored as National Philanthropy Day's Founder of the Year by The Association of Fundraising Professionals. Je'net received a nomination from 11 local leaders in Orange County, including Senator Mimi Walters.  This resulted in unprecedented press coverage post-event for us! Additionally, Je'net was recognized as one of Orange County's 100 Most Influential People in 2014.

 

Grandma's House of Hope had a great year last year.  We continue to be able to Empower the Invisible population of Orange County because of the partnerships and support of incredible people and organizations like you!  As we move forward into this next year, we are excited to continue to work with you as we meet the needs of our community. 

From the Founder...
Je'net Kreitner, Executive Director and Founder of Grandma's House of Hope

Blessings to you!

I am grateful to you for your support in 2014.  We had a wonderful year in 2014, and I know 2015 will be another fantastic year.

I am very blessed to announce that due to the generous support of the Fieldstone Leadership/Clare Rose Foundation, I have been granted a Sabbatical grant. This grant will allow me to take a three month break from my responsibilities, and will allow me to have a dedicated time for renewal and restoration.  This time will also serve as a leadership building exercise in succession planning for the Grandma's House of Hope staff. 

I am excited for this upcoming season of rest and restoration! Thank you again to the Fieldstone Leadership/Clare Rose Foundation for making this possible.  
Again, thank you all for your continued support of Grandma's House of Hope!  I am so grateful for you!

In Service, 

Je'net Kreitner
Executive Director and Founder of Grandma's House of Hope
Goings-On at GHH
Blessings to San Antonio Catholic Church!

We are so grateful for all of the continued support of our partners at San Antonio Catholic Church.  You are faithful in supporting us year round, and your gifts this holiday season made such a tremendous impact for all of our programs.  

The special gift from your youth ministry of LIVE Christmas trees was such a treat!  "I've can't wait til my daughter comes home to see this!," said 'Sarah', a participant at HopeWorks. "She's 14, and we've never had a live tree."  The tree took up most of their living space, but for 'Sarah' and her daughter, it was a happy problem to have.  

We are also grateful for the help from the Peace and Justice Ministry.  Your donations of gifts selected for the fathers at our Children's Christmas Party made it possible for the children to select from a wide variety of tool sets, flashlights, and other handy tools as a gift for their dads.  

In addition to all your church did through specific ministries, several of your parishioners continued to serve independently! Thank you to Joan Stewart, who through her work with Princess House was able to donate $8,000 worth of children's cooking utensils for the children who attend our Community Center.  

All of your gifts and support are so special to us, and we are so very glad to have your partnership!  Thank you, San Antonio Catholic Church, for all you do!  You are amazing!   

A Very Merry Christmas!

 

Due to the continued generosity of our partners like Kareo and Southern Wine and Spirits, we were able to provide a very special Christmas to many of our program participants.  Thank you Kareo, for your holiday generosity for the ladies of Grandma's House of Hope!  You and your team "adopted" nearly 90 participants in our women's transitional housing program! You bought, wrapped, and delivered beautiful gifts to our ladies to make their Christmas extra special! One of our residents said,  "I haven't had a Christmas in over 3 years. It is really nice to have one here."  Thank you for helping make this possible!


 

We also want to say thank you to Southern Wine and Spirits!  By adopting our children from the HopeWorks Education and Enrichment Center,  you helped provide gifts to many of our families!  Thank you for helping make a child's Christmas bright!


How Sweet!

 
Trinh NBC Meg.Sarah
Trinh and our GHH Staff!

A very special THANK YOU to our partner, Trinh

 Hinson! She and her amazing team at Nothing Bundt Cakes at the Tuskatella Center in Orange recently hosted a benefit day for Grandma's House of Hope at their store!  Over $500 was raised, and many people in the community had the opportunity to learn more about Grandma's House of Hope and how to get 

involved!  Thank you for your hospitality Trinh! We are grateful for the support!


 


A New Beginning!

Annabelle and her sweet son, Eric.

Before Annabelle joined us at Grandma's House of Hope, she had been a drug addict for many years.  When her son was 14 months old, she was arrested, and ultimately her son was taken by Child Protective Services.  Annabelle went to jail and was released after a few months later.  She was clean, but was only able to spend a short amount of supervised time with her son each week.  As she continued to work towards staying clean, Annabelle read about Grandma's House of Hope, and learned that we were willing to be flexible with her in regards to the time she could have her son with her.  She moved into Grandma's House of Hope in September 2013, and was able to work towards regaining custody of her son full time.  "I love Grandma's House of Hope," says Annabelle.  "They are so special.  They take all the people who don't fit into other programs for one reason or another, but here, we are wanted."  Annabelle is excited for the next steps for herself.  She is continuing to be a full time mom to her now 3 year old son, as well as continuing her education at Santa Ana College.  Her goal is to be at Cal State Fullerton by this time next year, majoring in Human Services.  "I want to work with other women like me to show them there is hope.  If you had seen me a few years ago, my situation was hopeless.  It is a miracle I am at where I am," says Annabelle.  "I really don't think I would be where I am without Grandma's House of Hope." 

We are so proud of Annabelle!  Since graduating from Grandma's House of Hope, she has moved into her own apartment with her son Eric and has recently been accepted a board position with Grandma's House of Hope!  We are so glad to be a part of her journey. 


A Day Of Service

We were very privileged to host three amazing groups over Martin Luther King Service Weekend.  These groups worked for over 12 hours over the course of the weekend to clean and re-decorate just one of our properties for our Women's Transitional Housing Program!  Because of their efforts, we were able to begin placing women into a safe location as early as that same weekend!  Thank you to Oxford Academy, Los Amigos Girl's League, and University of California - Irvine Community Service and Leadership Program!  You did an amazing job! 

Los Amigos Girls League
UCI CSLP Organization
Oxford Academy

Evening With the Founder
On January 28th, Grandma's House of Hope hosted "An Evening with the Founder," an intimate evening at a private home where attendants had the opportunity to hear directly from Je'net Kreitner as she shared her story, as well as the story of how Grandma's House of Hope began.  Over 15 people attended this evening, and all were touched by Je'net's powerful story.  We are excited for all of the opportunites to share the mission and vision of Grandma's House of Hope and look forward to the new partnerships.  If you are interested in attending or hosting "An Evening with the Founder," please email Bill Burger, Director of Development, at [email protected].

Event Attendees listening to Je'net's story
A glimpse into Je'net's past



Upcoming Activities

Volunteer Orientation

We are always on the lookout for volunteers who want to play a part in the work of Grandma's House of Hope! If you are interested in finding out how you can be involved, please RSVP for our next Volunteer Orientation - Thursday, February 19th, 2015 from 4:00-5:00 pm!  Email [email protected] for more information or to RSVP! 

 


Grandma's Wishlist


We are so grateful for all of the donations you continue to give to help Grandma's House of Hope keep thriving! Here is what we are looking for as we move into this next year!

HopeWorks! Education and Enrichment Center:

Large 100% Juice Bottles (Grape is a Favorite!)
Yoga Mats for Exercise Classes
Gift Certificates to Jiffy Lube
Materials for Florist Classes
Skilled Volunteers to teach "How-To" Workshops
Tutors!

Nana's Kidz:

Canned Fruit
Healthy Snacks
Meals-in-One (Beef Ravioli, Canned Tuna, Beef Stew, etc.)
Individual 100% Juices
Peanut Butter


Women's Housing Program:

Daily Planners 
Board Games/Decks of Cards
Individual Shower Caddies
Cloth Mattress Covers
Can Openers
Cheese Graters
Coffee
Paper Goods
Bath Towels
Diapers (Newborn, Size 1, and Size 3)
Vacuums
Lawn Mower
High Chairs

  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


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 Resort Transportation

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

Dark180

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

Kareo

Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer

 

The Legacy Foundation

Llyod E. & Elisabeth H. Klein Family Foundation

Magnolia Baptist
Mariners Church of Irvine

Memorial Health Services

MobilityWare

New American Funding

Nothing Bundt Cake

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

Oxford Academy

Pacific Life
PIMCO Foundation

Princess House

Providence Speech and Hearing

Project Cuddle

Project SAY
Roosters Foundation
Salvation Army
San Antonio de Padua Perish

San Antonio Catholic Church
Santa Ana Emergency Solutions Grant
Second Harvest Food Bank
Senator Lou Correa
Senator Mimi Walters
Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation

Southern Wine and Spirits
Soroptimist International

SSS

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