SHOH receives surprise $10,000 grant
Soroptimist House of Hope recently received a welcome surprise when we were awarded a $10,000grant from Coachella Valley Spotlight, a partnership between the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation and Gulf California Broadcasting Company (owners of KESQ Channel 3 in Thousand Palms).
The organization selects local 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations throughout the year to receive the grant, and promotes the group with coverage on KESQ Channel 3 News, the program “Eye on the Desert,” public service announcements and the station’s website.
“We are very grateful for this donation,” said SHOH Executive Director Rebecca Norton. “It will help us to serve women in recovery, as we have done for 40 years.” She said the funding will go toward operating expenses, including utilities, gas for vehicles, recreational activities and curriculum.
SHOH Board President Trish Klimkiewicz and Residential Services Program Manager LupeStoneburner received the donation at the KESQ studio. Later at the Desert Hot Springs house, KESQ news reporter Marian Bouchot interviewed staff members for a story that appeared on the Aug. 26 edition of the channel 3 noon news. It can be seen by logging onto: https://kesq.com/news/ 2021/08/25/coachella-valley-spotlight-soroptimist-house-of-hope-gets-10000-surprise-grant/
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Lupe’s story as former resident and current manager at House of Hope was featured in the segment. Now 23 years clean and sober, she entered the house as a client at age 33, after living on the street and being arrested numerous times. During her last stay in jail, she saw a brochure about House of Hope and sought treatment there, where she was warmly “welcomed home” as a resident. Despite challenges and tragedies, she knows to never pick up “no matter what.” Now on the welcoming side of House of Hope’sdoor, she teaches other women, new in recovery, how to do the same.
KSEQ is also promoting “A Day of Hope,” our annual fundraiser, this year online at 11 a.m.Saturday, Sept. 18. To register for the event, log onto
https://ADayofHope.givesmart.com
