Happy March (Madness)-

March 13th marked New Hope’s 48th Anniversary—a moment that gave us all pause to reflect and celebrate. It was a wonderful day for #TeamNewHope, and I hope you take a moment to check out the photos and video. Also on that day, we welcomed our seventh cohort of associates into The Heart of the Mission program. During our first session, I shared a pamphlet from New Hope’s groundbreaking ceremony. On it was a mustard seed and a message that has stayed with me: a reminder that what once felt impossible—answering the question of “what will happen to my loved one when I’m gone?”—began with a small seed of faith, nurtured by dedicated people, generosity, and hard work. Forty-eight years later, that seed has grown into something extraordinary. Every day, through your support, our associates’ dedication, and the trust of the families we serve, New Hope continues to live out that promise. And as we look ahead, I am filled with hope and excitement for what the next 48 years will bring.

Spring has also brought a renewed sense of activity and momentum to our Payne Road campus. As I shared last month, we are currently in the silent phase of our Imagine More campaign, and it has been such a joy to begin welcoming people into that vision. In March, we hosted two receptions—one for current and former associates and another for friends and families—where guests were able to learn more about the campaign and tour our spaces. These tours have been especially meaningful as they highlight how future updates are being shaped directly by the vision and voices of the individuals we serve. If you were unable to attend and would still like to visit, I encourage you to reach out to David Koch, our Advancement Director, at dkoch@newhopeofindiana.org. We would love to show you around! We are also looking forward to entering the public phase of the campaign on April 13th. And, as always, we remain incredibly grateful to all our donors and  to United Way of Central Indiana for their generous commitment to match up to $1.5 million of the funds we raise. This partnership is truly transformative.

There is always a lot of energy this time of year, and 2026 is no exception! I have exciting update about one of our favorite traditions. The Silver Cup Celebration will have a new home this year! As many of you know, we have loved hosting this special luncheon at the Colts Practice Facility. However, with the NFL implementing new and evolving security measures, the facility has been making changes that impact space and accessibility for large events like ours. With attendance continuing to grow beyond 325 guests, we needed to find a space that could accommodate our community while preserving the spirit of the event. I am thrilled to share that this year’s Silver Cup Celebration will be held at the Biltwell Event Center in downtown Indianapolis. We are excited about this new venue and all the possibilities it brings, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you there in August!

As we move from Disabilities Awareness month to Autism Awareness month, I hope we can always be aware of individuals with disabilities and the gifts they bring!

Take care-

Allison