New Hope Stories

21 Dec - Thank You for Your Support

What a great year this has been at New Hope of Indiana! It has been full of celebration and commemoration of our 40th Anniversary! In March, we celebrated the actual day of our 40th Anniversary with a huge party where over 300 friends, family and those we serve came to celebrate with us. The Mayor even declared March 13th as New Hope of Indiana Day. In May, we had our first annual Silver Cup Celebration where our supporters donated over $60,000 to help support our newest community-based program. In September, we welcomed our volunteers, donors and community partners to the big...

21 Dec - Peace and Joy

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by Denise Caudill Irons, NHI Parent and Board Member As I started to design this year’s holiday card, which was later than usual, I was already feeling overwhelmed and anxious. As I scrolled through the possible card templates, I audibly sighed when I saw the designs that said “Peace and Joy.” I may as well have said “Bah hum bug!” as the sentiment was the same. When I have an unusual reaction to something so mundane, I know to pause and reflect on what caused that emotion to bubble up. It is always deeper than the superficial...

17 Dec - Community Partnership: A Holiday Tradition

Posted at 17:56h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

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As a nonprofit organization, there are two things that are truly important to us: our mission and those who help us fulfill it. We rely on our friends and community partners for support in serving individuals and families in the Indianapolis community. We are grateful for our partnership with St. Vincent and Ascension for providing support in so many ways over the years including an annual holiday party sponsored by Ascension's I.S. Department at our Payne Road Day Services each year. After raising money through snack sales and other office collections, Ascension employees purchase gifts, snacks and crafts and even...

17 Dec - Mission Minute: Hope for the Holidays

Posted at 15:50h in Community and Corporate Partners, Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers Over twenty years ago, New Hope of Indiana was St. Vincent New Hope, a ministry of St. Vincent which served individuals with disabilities. At that time, St. Vincent decided to serve New Hope clients through their Hope for the Holidays program, a program in which St. Vincent staff or departments sponsor patients, former patients or other individuals served through St. Vincent's ministries who might be in need of some extra hope during the holidays. Throughout the last twenty years, the generosity of St. Vincent and Ascension Health associates has truly been a...

26 Nov - Disney World Dreams

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We are always excited to help the individuals and families we serve realize their dreams and achieve their goals, even when their circumstances make that difficult. This month, we heard a story that demonstrates just that. Gina was in New Hope's care for 16 years and was most recently supported through the Supported Living Program. After developing some symptoms, Gina saw a doctor and was diagnosed with terminal cancer which would likely leave her with only three months to live. Her family wanted to make some of her dreams come true in that short amount of time, and within just...

14 Nov - New Hope’s Social Life is Better than Mine

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Last week we welcomed three surveyors from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and were pleased to hear that they found all of the great things that we see in our work every day. Here's just a little of what they learned. In our music therapy program, clients like Stephanie work toward personal goals such as getting a job or a driver's license. Sometimes, these goals are daunting and they may seem out of reach or overwhelming. To better cope with that frustration and to express the emotions that come along with it, people like Stephanie are choosing popular...

12 Nov - Delving Deep into Thankfulness

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by Denise Caudill Irons, NHI Parent and Board Member As I reflect on the things for which I am grateful, I tend to focus on the superficiality when it comes to my daughter. For instance, I am thankful that she is happy and healthy. I am grateful that she loves going to school, has a good sense of humor, and is friendly and kind. I realize that although I find it difficult to see her developmentally behind her peers, I am thankful that we don’t have to participate in the high-achieving, college bound track. If she were...

25 Oct - Fashion Mall Dreams

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Not that long ago, Stephen shared his dream of working at Indy's Fashion Mall with his Employment Consultant in our Vocational Services Program. This program helps individuals with disabilities who are interested in working in the community or starting their own micro-business. Through goal-setting, interview skills-training and other types of pre-vocational support, our Employment Consultants work with each individual to find the perfect employer match for them through Indiana's Vocational Rehabilitation Services. After an individual is hired, they continue to receive ongoing support until they are stable in their new role. Employment Consultants also work with employers to facilitate communication...

22 Oct - Some Days, You Wear the Hat

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By Denise Caudill-Irons, NHI Parent and Board Member Being an effective advocate for my daughter is a skill that I have developed over years, and it continues to evolve as her needs change. I was conditioned to be a people pleaser, not to make waves and to defer to the experts. In the beginning, I blindly accepted the opinions of doctors, therapists and teachers. I willingly agreed with their treatments and plans. I trusted that they knew what was best for my daughter, and I was inexperienced and lacked confidence in my knowledge of her needs. ...

15 Oct - Mission Minute: Reverence and Diversity

Posted at 16:32h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 1 Comment

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The NHI Core Value of Reverence states that “we practice respect and compassion for the dignity and diversity of life.” As an organization, we embrace and celebrate our diversity, both in terms of who we serve as well as our associates. Representing so many cultures, varying backgrounds, perspectives, knowledge, and experience greatly enriches the New Hope mission, programs and services. A quote by the late author Maya Angelou comes to mind: “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value...

18 Sep - In Our Lane

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by Denise Caudill Irons Being a parent of a child with differing needs, I have experienced unexpected challenges to my perceptions about learning and what constitutes a successful education. One of my daily struggles is to release ingrained viewpoints that I have learned or subconsciously absorbed throughout my life. I grew up striving for straight A’s in order to pursue a college education that would help me procure a good job and become independent. I deeply believed in the old adage that if you work hard, you can achieve anything. I witness my daughter working hard on...

28 Aug - New Hope Announces Start of New Program

Posted at 20:21h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, News 0 Comments

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New Hope’s newest program, AIM (Achieving Inclusion and Meaning) successfully kicked off on August 20th! AIM is a community-based program which offers individuals with disabilities who are exiting high school and seeking alternative services to actively participate in the planning and execution of daily activities including identifying and participating in volunteer opportunities, learning how the legislature works, becoming self-advocates, participating in museum activities, learning how to ride public transportation and much more. Thank you so much to all of our friends and donors for making this program possible! With your generosity and Pearson Ford’s $10,000 matching contribution, New Hope was...

15 Aug - Mission Minute: Pictures Tell Our Story

Posted at 19:17h in 40th Anniversary, Events, Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration & Volunteers [caption id="attachment_20366" align="alignright" width="300"] NHI Fun-in-Action[/caption] In recent years, cell phone photography has exploded with the advent of selfies, quick videos, the ever-improving quality of phone cameras, and easy sharing. We all enjoy capturing those special moments, events and people in our lives. I believe that pictures tell our story and for many years have felt that is truly the case at New Hope. We can share stories about what is going on around New Hope in our newsletter, blogs,[caption id="attachment_20365" align="alignright" width="251"] Vintage[/caption] Facebook, Twitter, etc., but what are we often most...

30 Jul - Local Eagle Scout Gives Back to New Hope

Posted at 14:00h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, News, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

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This spring, Zionsville Eagle Scout, Michael Wassem, planned his final project with New Hope in mind. After raising more than $1,000 and recruiting 6 volunteers, Michael and his team spent over 50 hours completing the construction of 3 new raised garden beds at NHI's Payne Road location. New Hope clients planted these garden beds and have been enjoying vegetables and herbs all summer! Thanks to Michael and his family and friends for their generous contribution to New Hope of Indiana. His project will make a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve!...

16 Jul - Mission Minute: We Really Are One Team!

Posted at 13:18h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 1 Comment

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers Several months ago, Tiffany Mitchem, Seton group home Team Leader, wanted to make a very special trip happen for her aunt, Bethany Skinner, who is served by NHI and resides at the Center Street supported living home. Bethany’s father, who is also Tiffany’s grandfather, lives in northeast Indiana and is unable to travel due to health issues. It had been six years since Bethany and her father had seen each other. Planning for the visit involved numerous associates coordinating efforts to ensure everything needed was in place for the trip. Erron Fleshman, SLP...

29 May - Client Profile: Rick Borkowski

Posted at 13:22h in 40th Anniversary, Client Profile, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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Rick was recently honored as one of the Class of ’78, having moved into the NHI residential facility when it first opened in 1978. He resided on D Pod/Delta Hall and moved to the Riley Rd. Supported Living Home in 1996. Just last month, in April, Rick moved to the 74th Place SLP home. Rick is very social; he loves to flirt with the ladies and also tease others, especially D.G. Saladin, Team Leader at the Castleton Day Services. D.G.’s brother, Jeff Konrady, is Rick’s best friend, with whom he resided both in the residential facility...

11 May - Mission Minute: A Life Lesson

Posted at 20:25h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 1 Comment

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration Recently, Mai Cooper-Nolen, DSP in Supported Living, shared a story of an interaction she had with Rick Borkowski which she referred to as a life lesson. I believe her inspirational story bears repeating with some additional thoughts. Mai wrote: Please allow me to share one of the many lessons I have learned over the years from our clients. I would say this one is one of the most profound teachings, I have had at New Hope of Indiana. I was working at Riley Road assisting Rick with a shower early in the morning. We were...

24 Apr - A Note from Allison: New Hope Stories

Posted at 14:22h in 40th Anniversary, A Note from Allison, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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Spring Greetings from New Hope of Indiana! I am thankful for every day that we have sunshine and no rain or snow! I am also thankful for the sunshine we see in the faces of the people that we serve and our associates every day. New Hope is such a joyful place. It is hard to understand unless you experience it, so please come for a visit! You are also invited to come to our first Silver Cup Celebration on May 3 from 11:30 to 1:00 at the Willows on Westfield. Tickets are on sale until Friday, April 26th, so there is...

24 Apr - Volunteer Highlights: Angela Heitman

Posted at 13:35h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

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At the New Hope of Indiana Open House in September 2017, Angela Heitman came with several of her co-workers from Numotion, a durable medical equipment supplier and NHI partner, to see the all of the changes from the remodel at the NHI main office. While taking a tour at the open house, something just clicked for Angela and she knew she wanted to volunteer at New Hope. She has volunteered throughout her life and New Hope is a good fit given her connection through Numotion. Since November of 2017, Angela has been involved in a lot of activities and is...

23 Apr - What New Hope Means to Me

Posted at 14:37h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

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by DG Saladin, NHI Team Leader When asked to write a blog post for New Hope of Indiana, I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Searching for ideas on what to write about, I conducted an informal survey at Castleton Day Service asking, “What does New Hope mean to you?” I surveyed anyone who wanted to participate assuring them that there were no wrong answers to this question. The answers were varied and spontaneous. I heard responses like: New Hope is “a good place.” New Hope is “family.” New Hope is “music.” New Hope is “a place to help me with healthy choices.” New...