New Hope of Indiana | Our Stories

For over forty years, New Hope of Indiana has been committed to supporting individuals and families, encouraging them to live their most independent, fulfilling lives. Through services for individuals with disabilities, counseling for families in the child welfare system and advocacy efforts, New Hope of Indiana is making an impact in our communities every day.

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Our Stories

25 Jun - Zeller, Speak!

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Greetings, my friends! Ah summer…when the days are long and the nights are stuffy. I hope you are enjoying the weather as much as I am! Don’t forget to use your sunscreen and drink lots of water during the summer and be sure you do not leave pets or children in the car alone please. There are many exciting things going on this summer! Individuals in Day Services are doing a lot of gardening and have even harvested some of the results already. Some are participating in the Helpings of Hope Gardens and others in Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. We have also developed a...

22 Jun - New Programs Beginning Soon

Posted at 21:14h in Food Truck Program, News 0 Comments

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Many young adults with disabilities have a difficult time transitioning from high school into adulthood. Unfortunately, services for these individuals are often limited and resources can be difficult to find. New Hope is committed to creating innovative programming that will meet the needs of these young adults. Our new Transition Services Program will consist of two programs: AIM: Achieving Inclusion and Meaning and the Food Truck program. Both of these new programs will be community-based and will offer skills-training in several areas to better prepare participants for living independently in adulthood. AIM is designed for young adults with disabilities who are...

22 Jun - “40 Years of Hope” Quilt Revealed

Posted at 21:00h in 40th Anniversary, Events 0 Comments

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On Monday, June 25th, we enjoyed a good old fashioned ice cream social at our main offices on Payne Road as part of our 40th Anniversary celebration. It has been tradition over the years for staff and clients to make a decorative quilt to commemorate certain points in New Hope's history. This year, New Hope associates from each program contributed quilt squares featuring our six core values: Service, Dedication, Wisdom, Integrity, Creativity and Reverence. Lynn Feldman, Director of Supported Living and 40-year New Hope associate, is a talented seamstress and quilter. She quilted each square together beautifully in honor of...

22 Jun - Thank You to Our Dedicated Board Members

Posted at 18:12h in News, Service Spotlight 1 Comment

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June 30th marks the end of service for three long-time New Hope Board Members, Dr. John Bloom, Tami Mantsch and Donna Cameron. We are so grateful for their contributions to New Hope over the last several years! John came to New Hope after his neighbor, Susan Robinson, introduced him to the mission and invited him to learn more about what NHI is all about. He most recently served as Vice Chair of the Board. Tami is the mother of former New Hope client, Holly. As a strong advocate for her daughter and individuals with disabilities, Tami brought a unique and...

22 Jun - Volunteer Highlight: Bill Ray

Posted at 17:48h in Volunteer Highlights 1 Comment

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One of the most popular and memorable annual events at NHI for the past twenty years has been the Friends of the Fox trips to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in May. Friends of the Fox was started by race driver, Stan Fox, who sustained a traumatic brain injury in the Indianapolis 500. Following his recovery, he wanted persons with disabilities to experience the Speedway “up close and personal” and started, the Friends of the Fox Foundation. After Stan passed away, Bill Ray and another friend, Ron Kucer, were determined to continue the Friends of the Fox legacy. The IMS provides...

22 Jun - Client Profile: Marcia Carithers

Posted at 17:41h in 40th Anniversary, Client Profile 0 Comments

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This month we are highlighting another individual NHI has served for 40 years: Marcia Carithers. Marcia also has the honorable distinction of being the oldest individual we serve at 86 years! When she lived in the residential facility, Marcia was on A Pod, later called Alpha Hall. She was one of the lucky few to have her own bedroom. When the group home program was started, Marcia moved to the Laboure home and resided there for several years. She was able to move into her own apartment, which she really loved. In recent years, she has lived in a couple...

13 Jun - Service Spotlight: Godfrey Onuchukwu

Posted at 14:14h in Service Spotlight 3 Comments

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Ten years ago, Godfrey Onuchukwu was looking for a new employment opportunity and was referred to New Hope by a friend; he has never looked back. Godfrey is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) in the Supported Living Program and his primary site is McCollough. Throughout the years, Godfrey has worked in multiple programs and sites and is devoted to the individuals he serves. He really enjoys accompanying individuals out in the community to parks, ball games, out to eat, and to special activities. At Christmas time, Godfrey took a client to multiple stores so the individual could purchase just the right...

13 Jun - Mission Minute: Associate Financial Assistance (AFA) Program Launch

Posted at 14:09h in Mission Minute, News 1 Comment

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by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration We are very pleased to announce the highly anticipated Associate Financial Assistance (AFA) Program will begin on July 1, 2018! Thanks to you, our compassionate New Hope associates, board members, St. Vincent Health, the Daughters of Charity and New Hope, the funds needed to begin the AFA Program were raised. Some of you may remember the $34.77 Program that existed when New Hope was a part of St. Vincent. Named in honor of the Daughters of Charity who started St. Vincent Hospital in 1881 with only $34.77, that program provided interest-free loans to St....

29 May - A Note from Allison: Summer Changes

Posted at 18:30h in 40th Anniversary, A Note from Allison, Food Truck Program 0 Comments

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Happy summer, friends! The month of May is always exciting in Indianapolis, but this one has been especially exciting for New Hope of Indiana! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To everyone who sponsored, attended, planned, donated to, created for and bought at New Hope’s first annual Silver Cup Celebration on May 3rd! What a great celebration it was! Starting with the New Hope choir singing Lean on Me, to our wonderful new video and prescient remarks by Dr. Rick Gunderman, all being emcee’d by WTHR 13’s Anne Marie Tiernon, our community really got to see and feel what...

29 May - Remembering Our Friends

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Jerilyn “Jeri” Hogan July 20, 1962 - April 23, 2018 Jerilyn or Jeri was a very happy person, who smiled and enjoyed being with people. Prior to moving to Laboure group home in 2006, she lived at the Frederic Group Home. Despite ongoing health issues, Jeri was a trooper and did not let her health bring her down. In recent years she attended Castleton Days services and really enjoyed having her nails done, listening to country music, dressing up for parties and special occasions, and of course, socializing. She also liked to go bowling, attend the monthly Kiwanis...

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...

29 May - First Annual Silver Cup Celebration a Success!

Posted at 13:18h in 40th Anniversary, Community and Corporate Partners, News 0 Comments

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Thank you so much to all of our friends and donors who contributed to make New Hope's first annual Silver Cup Celebration such a success and helping us raise over $72,000 in sponsorships and donations. With Pearson Ford's generous $10,000 matching contribution, $20,000 will go directly to the purchase of a van for the new Transition Services Program. The remainder of the funds raised will help us make an impact in the lives of those we serve. Thank you to St. Vincent for presenting this event as our Platinum Sponsor and to all the other sponsors: PNC, Pearson Ford, Insperity,...

23 May - Becoming a Part of Something Bigger

Posted at 19:00h in Community and Corporate Partners, Food Truck Program, News 0 Comments

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John Pearson's Number One Reason for Investing in New Hope [caption id="attachment_19931" align="alignleft" width="300"] John Pearson of Pearson Ford and his son, John.[/caption]New Hope of Indiana is a place that makes its way into the hearts of its visitors. Whether they come for a special event or for a quick visit, it's the people that make a difference. For John Pearson, the people served through New Hope's diverse services are the reason he continues to invest in programs like the new Transition Services Program coming this fall. "It's an emotional feeling rather than a sense of responsibility," Pearson says. It isn't...

23 May - Zeller, Speak!

Posted at 19:00h in Food Truck Program, Zeller, Speak! 0 Comments

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Greetings, my fine friends! I have GREAT news! Our food truck has arrived and we will be open for business before you know it! We're still working on naming the truck so watch your email for a chance to vote on your favorite name! We will be serving mac-n-cheese with all kinds of toppings like barbecue, hot chicken, veggies, bacon, etc. It's making my mouth water, just thinking about it! This will be the first food truck in the nation to have individuals with disabilities both prepare and sell the food. We will be teaching basic culinary skills in food preparation, customer service...

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...

11 May - Service Spotlight: Pam Givens-Horne

Posted at 19:10h in Service Spotlight 0 Comments

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Pam Givens-Horne has worked at New Hope of Indiana since June of 1988 when she began work as a skills trainer in Beta Unit, serving people with traumatic brain injuries. Pam has stayed at New Hope for 30 years because she genuinely enjoys what she does every day, especially getting to serve those with disabilities. Over the years, she has found ways to help those she serves live their best lives by taking them to the race track, going to see shows at Beef and Boards, and even visiting Disney World! Pam now serves New Hope's clients as a Team...

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 - Zeller, Speak!

Posted at 13:46h in News, Zeller, Speak! 0 Comments

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Greetings, my friends. Remember when you left high school and you had to figure out what was next? There were lots of options to think about: work, attend college or trade school, move out of state, join the Peace Corps or VISTA. There were lots of choices. Too often for students with disabilities who are exiting high school, there aren’t a lot of choices. That’s why I am excited to tell you about a NEW program New Hope of Indiana is starting in August 2018! Our new program is specifically designed to offer those students exiting high school, another choice in the...

24 Apr - Remembering Our Friends

Posted at 13:42h in Remembering our Friends 0 Comments

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Thom Green 11/30/1966 - 3/25/2018 Thom moved into the NHI residential facility in 1987 and resided on Beta Hall, which served individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Thom was valedictorian at his high school in New Albany, but was in a car accident soon after which resulted in the brain injury and other health issues. When the residential facility was being downsized for closure, Thom moved to the Dunlap Supported Living home and later to the 74th Place home, where he resided for many years in his bright red bedroom. Thom’s sense of humor was very apparent as he loved to tell jokes and...

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...