Hope Communities

Hope for the Future is Coming

We are excited to announce that Hope Communities’ annual fundraising event, Hope for the Future, is coming up on Wednesday, September 23, 2026!

Each year, Hope for the Future brings together community members, partners, supporters, and friends of Hope Communities for an evening of connection, celebration, and shared purpose. It is a special opportunity to reflect on the impact made possible through community support and to look ahead at the work still to come.

This year’s event will help raise support for the 6,000+ individuals and families Hope serves each year through affordable housing, wraparound services, and programs that support stability, opportunity, and community wellbeing. Guests will enjoy dinner catered by Aung’s Bangkok Cafe, with event emcee Adam Morgan, as heard on KUVO and KOSI.

Hope for the Future
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
6:00–8:30 PM
Upper Larimer St., Denver, CO 20205

As we look forward to this year’s event, we invite you to take a look back at last year’s Hope for the Future celebration and the community that made it so meaningful.

Watch highlights from last year’s event here:
https://lnkd.in/gFebmd7F

Interested in attending or learning more about sponsorship opportunities? Tickets and sponsorship information are available on our website here:
https://lnkd.in/gY9DSMfj

Please mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details. We can’t wait to gather with you for an evening celebrating Hope’s mission, our community, and the future we are building together.

Sweet Dreams Shared With Love

Did You Know? This week, more than 200 of Hope’s youth residents ages 0 -16 received bedding sets, comforters and blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toys, and books through the incredible generosity of Sweet Dream in a Bag.

Program staff worked closely with families so each child could choose the bedding set they loved most before deliveries were made to families at Hidden Brook, Carolton Arms, The Gardens, and our office in Northglenn.

At Hope Communities, we know that stability starts with the basics. What may seem like a simple gift can mean so much more. A cozy bed, a favorite blanket, or a new book can bring comfort and stability, helping a child feel safe, valued, and at home. This effort was truly a labor of love, strengthening not just access to essential items but also the sense of care and community that surrounds our youth and families.

A special thank you to Susie and Wayne Fox, and to the team at Sweet Dream in a Bag, for making these moments possible and helping our youth feel seen, supported, and cared for.

https://lnkd.in/gc7SDWHF

Creating Pathways to Stability and Opportunity: As Hope Communities continues to explore whether expanding the PACES Program and Employment Programs could help meet growing community needs, recent success stories have reinforced just how impactful this work can be.

PACES, which stands for Pathways to Change, Empowerment, and Stability, is led by Amber Owens, Hope Communities’ Manager of Housing Stability and Employment Programs. Through this work, Amber supports individuals both during and after incarceration, helping them navigate the often difficult transition back into the community.

One example of how effective this support can be is Mr. McDonald, who recently graduated from the African-American Trade Association with plans to pursue a career in HVAC. Hope Communities staff worked alongside him to tailor his resume and highlight the transferable skills and experience relevant to the field. By aligning his resume more directly with the positions he applied for, he secured more interview opportunities and built confidence as he entered the workforce.

In addition to supporting individuals directly, the PACES Program works with families of incarcerated individuals, helping loved ones better understand how to support someone returning home and navigate the challenges that can come with that transition. Twice each month, Hope Communities staff facilitate sessions within the Denver Detention Center focused on resume development, job searching, and identifying career pathways that align with participants’ strengths and experiences.

Over the past year, the PACES Program served 231 individuals, helping create pathways toward long-term stability, employment, and personal growth. At Hope Communities, we know that stable futures are built not only through housing, but through opportunity, support, and the belief that positive change is always possible.

Programs Integration

Congratulations to the leaders identified as "Women of Distinction" by Girl Scouts of Colorado, including Hope Communities' President and CEO Sharon Knight. Girl Scouts of Colorado honors 10 exceptional women each year, recognized for their meaningful contributions to the community. We know that Sharon has been making a tremendous impact in our community for many years, and we couldn’t be prouder.
It is wonderful to see other leaders with whom we work also recognized with this honor.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Denver Women of Distinction honorees! These honorees were selected by a committee of previous Women of Distinction honorees and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. This year's event will also celebrate CEO Leanna Clark’s retirement, honoring the legacy she leaves of believing in girls and inspiring future leaders. Celebrate these women and their amazing accomplishments at the Sept. 10 ceremony. Tickets and sponsorships are available: https://bit.ly/3LN3rXS

Amanda Blaurock, CEO and Co-Founder, Village Exchange Center
Lori Davis, Retired Partner, Grant Thornton
Renee Ferrufino, President and CEO, The Women's Foundation of Colorado
Rebecca Holmes, President and CEO, The Colorado Education Initiative
Shannon Jones, Chief People Officer, FirstBank, now part of PNC
Sharon Knight, President & CEO, Hope Communities
Annie Lee, President & CEO, Colorado Access
Laura Love, Founder, GroundFloor Media
Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Executive Director, David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism
Anita Padilla-Fitzgerald, Founder & CEO, MegaStar Financial Corp and Take 3 Technologies