Mission Minute

31 May - Celebrating New Hope’s Nurses

This May, we celebrated Nurses' Week with a profound sense of gratitude for the selfless professionals who have served our mission throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for each of them and the sense of comfort and peace that they bring to our New Hope community under the leadership of Nicole Powell, RN, NHI Clinical Nurse Coordinator. Nicole began her New Hope journey in 1996 as a Direct Support Professional. She was drawn to New Hope because she helped take care of her older sister, who is disabled. In her six years serving as a DSP, Nicole learned how...

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31 May - Getting Back into the Community

While COVID-19 has kept New Hope cautiously inside our bubble, we are finally feeling safe enough to get back into the swing of things. This May, New Hope enjoyed Friends of the Fox, an annual tradition that allows our clients and caregivers to enjoy time behind the scenes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the practice days leading up to the Indy 500. After two years without this long-standing tradition, New Hope's individuals and staff were relieved and excited to be able to return to this beloved activity. Thank you to volunteer Bill Ray and his colleagues for making this...

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20 Apr - Finding Inclusion and Meaning

At New Hope, there is one group of individuals that just might have more fun than any others. Our AIM participants, affectionately called AIMsters, are making sure that they live up to their program's name - Achieving Inclusion and Meaning. These young adults spend most of their time together in the Indianapolis community, learning skills for independence, practicing philanthropy through volunteerism and teaching others what it means to be truly inclusive. Our AIMsters, like most of the people we serve, have various types of intellectual and developmental disabilities. This can sometimes make it difficult to live independently, make friends, get a...

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20 Apr - New Hope Launches Success Navigator Program for Associates

New Hope of Indiana is committed to recognizing our associates for their unwavering commitment to service every day and we will commit to provide them with resources to be successful both personally and professionally. To this end, New Hope recently began offering the Success Navigator program to all New Hope associates. This program allows New Hope associates to meet one on one with a coach to help them achieve their dreams. The Success Navigator will work with participants to identify their goals, connect them to community resources, governmental programs, and workplace benefits to support those goals. Participants might seek support for a...

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12 Apr - Volunteer Appreciation at New Hope

April is National Volunteer Month!   In 2021, New Hope's volunteers provided nearly 1,000 hours of service to our mission despite the continued challenges of a global pandemic. From Board members and committee volunteers to corporate partners and friends of New Hope, our volunteers enrich the lives of the individuals and families that we serve. This month, we want to say a special thank you to a few of these dedicated volunteers. Kathe Rae Not only did Kathe Rae devote her nearly 40-year career to New Hope, she continues to serve our mission even in her retirement, coming nearly every week to work in...

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29 Mar - A Community of Hope…and Social Workers

by Amy Flint This month marks my 37th service anniversary with New Hope of Indiana, something nearly unheard of among my younger colleagues. Not many people stay at the same employer for over three decades, but at New Hope, it isn't quite so unusual. New Hope's leaders, managers and even our Direct Support Professionals tend to stick around a lot longer than our counterparts at other organizations. I think it might just be because the people at New Hope are simply good people who share a great mission. I started at New Hope in 1985 as a social worker in the largest...

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22 Feb - Inclusive Summer Camp Coming in 2022

New Hope of Indiana is excited to be offering a one-week inclusive day camp for youth ages 11-16 from June 20 -24, 2022. New Hope is committed to our core value of inclusivity, and we are excited to offer this opportunity to campers with and without disabilities. The week will be filled with traditional camp activities like tie-dying, jewelry making, sports, camp songs, water activities and much more. The camp will be led by Amanda Boyd, a certified recreational therapist, and New Hope associate. Volunteers will be needed to lead these fun activities and the week will end with a family-friendly community...

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22 Feb - New Hope Receives 3-Year CARF Accreditation

Once again, New Hope of Indiana has received a 3-Year Accreditation from CARF - Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. This is a testament to the high quality services provided by #TeamNewHope each and every day! CARF accreditations are determined by a group of expert surveyors who review New Hope's programs and service delivery, policies and planning, and the overall satisfaction of the individuals we serve. After undergoing our most recent survey in January of this year, New Hope is proud to have received another 3-year accreditation. Here is some of what the surveyors had to say in the accreditation...

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4 Benefits of Donating to Local Charities

22 Feb - Four Benefits of Donating to Local Charities

By Jenny Pfeil, Director of Development After working in the development space for over a decade, I’ve learned that when it comes to fundraising, charitable giving rewards both the donor and the nonprofit they choose to support. Whether you donate your time, talent or treasure, there are so many benefits of giving back to local organizations. For donors who choose to support New Hope of Indiana, this isn’t any different. Impact the Mission First and foremost, your donation makes a direct and meaningful impact on the individuals we serve. For me, this is the biggest benefit for both New Hope and for our...

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22 Feb - Raising Black Voices

At New Hope of Indiana, we value the many people of color who make up our community. We believe that the unique experiences and values that they bring to our mission are vital to the work that we do. New Hope is committed to amplifying the diverse voices of #TeamNewHope and of the individuals we serve. This Black History Month, we are proud to do just that for three amazing Black women who make an impact at New Hope of Indiana every day. Carolyn Short, DSP, 7 Years of Service I was born in Muncie Indiana and raised in Indianapolis. I was raised in a...

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14 Jan - National Mentoring Month: Bringing Smiles

January is National Mentoring Month! At New Hope of Indiana mentorship is often an informal relationship and can be found woven throughout our mission. Much of the work that our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) do to support the individuals in their care involves mentoring them - teaching life skills for independence, practicing good decision-making, and encouraging them to set, meet and exceed personal goals. This month, we are celebrating two important New Hope mentors who support individuals with disabilities in achieving their dreams.   AIM's Community Mentor Lashawnda Wright I was referred to New Hope by a former coworker in September of 2016. When...

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28 Dec - Voices of New Hope

Growing up I lived with my single mother, Kim, my older brother Coi, my sister Maisha, younger brother Larry and younger cousin, Ashley in the Butler- Tarkington neighborhood located on the Northside of Indianapolis. It was a close-knit community of neighbors, family, and friends where everyone looked out for one another. I loved playing Kickball games with my siblings and cousins and eating soul food - smoked pork chops, mixed greens, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese and my Mom's extra-hot chili. I graduated from Arsenal Technical High School, attended Ivy Tech State College. In 2021 I returned to...

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28 Dec - Holiday Volunteers Bring Cheer to New Hope

This holiday season, New Hope has been fortunate to have the support of dozens of volunteers to bring some holiday cheer to the individuals we serve. In our Day Services program, nearly 20 volunteers made the holidays bright with seasonal crafts, holiday bingo, sing-alongs and visits from Santa and his elves. Special thanks to New Hope's Maintenance team for their creativity and caring which made these holiday parties so extra special! Check out the photos on Facebook. Continuing a decades-long tradition, our partners at Ascension St. Vincent came together through the Hope for the Holidays program to deliver holiday gifts to...

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30 Nov - Spreading Holiday Hope

This Giving Season we are thankful for partners like the Columbia Club for their extra support during the holidays. This month, young adults in New Hope's AIM program enjoyed some festive holiday ornament making alongside members of the Columbia Club Leadership Group. These Hope ornaments will be on sale at the Club through December and proceeds will directly support New Hope's mission this holiday season. The Columbia Club isn't alone in their generous holiday support this year. We are proud to continue our decades long tradition of Hope for the Holidays with our friends at Ascension St. Vincent. New Hope...

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30 Nov - Voices of New Hope: Holiday Cheer

The holiday season is often a time of happiness, tradition and magic. At New Hope, we LOVE the holidays and all of the fun and festive moments that they bring. We asked some of our clients what they enjoy most about the holiday season. Here is what they shared.   “I like Thanksgiving because we bake a turkey. I’m most thankful for Mom and Dad.” Jacob “I like Christmas. I like celebrating it with my family. I like Christmas shopping and baking cookies.” Denni “I’m excited for Christmas Eve. A holiday to me because ever since I was a little kid we would have...

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30 Nov - A Note from Allison: Thankful Thoughts

For many people, Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season each year. It is a time to share our gratitude for one another and for the many blessings in our lives. At our Payne Road Day Services, many of the individuals we serve and our associates have been sharing what they are grateful for this Thanksgiving. Rather than my usual monthly update, I want to share what we are happy for at New Hope. Here are some highlights: · Loved ones · Day Services · Amazing Coworkers · Life · Friends · God · Candy · Family · Home · New Hope of Indiana   Today, I am also grateful for New Hope,...

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17 Nov - A Strong Family Bond

Family has always been important to Christy Bowser. She has a picture of her mom, who has been gone for 20 years, next to her bed. She worries about her aging dad, who lives in Florida with her sister Michelle. While her mom and dad are important to her, it’s her sister Michelle with whom she is the closest. Christy lights up when she talks about Michelle, who has made it a priority to ensure for Christy’s health and well-being. Long before the term “autism” was widely used, Christy was diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability as a child. Christy describes...

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26 Oct - A Note from Allison: Fall Updates

Happy Halloween! October seemed to fly by here at New Hope. We started the month full of gratitude after our most successful Silver Cup Celebration ever where you helped us raise over $121,000 to support New Hope’s mission! The Silver Cup was a wonderful event where we honored New Hope's #EverydayChampions who have tirelessly provided service throughout the pandemic and announced our annual award winners. Without much rest in between, we also enjoyed a fun tradition, our annual Fall Festival, where individuals and associates enjoyed a costume contest, dancing and some cherished reunions after many months apart. To keep everyone safe...

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26 Oct - 2021 New Hope of Indiana Award Winners

One of the highlights of this year's Silver Cup Celebration was honoring a few of our very own #EverydayChampions. We are so blessed with a great network of caring, dedicated and selfless individuals who support our mission in their own unique way. Please help us recognize this year's New Hope of Indiana award winners. 2021 Partner in Service Award The local Kiwanis Club has been a partner to New Hope of Indiana for well over 30 years. Most recently, the Kiwanis Club of Northwest Indianapolis has been a vital partner to New Hope's mission. Kiwanis has sponsored the Fall Festival each year...

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26 Oct - Thanks for a Great Silver Cup Celebration

by Jenny Pfeil, Director of Development The Fourth Annual Silver Cup Celebration was held on September 30, 2021 at the Willows on Westfield. After not holding the event in 2020 due to COVID, this year’s event was our most successful yet! We were able to share the New Hope story with the over 240 guests who attended the luncheon and raise over $122,000! This year’s theme was #Everyday Champions and we celebrated the wonderful New Hope associates who have gone the extra mile this past year and half to provide the very best care to those we serve as well as...

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