Thank you to all who supported us - 2015 Benefit Dinner and Costume Gala

Our 6th Annual Benefit Dinner and Costume Ball, the “Twisted Carnival”, dedicated to supporting the nonprofit’s youth development program and numerous outreach activities, was a success!  Thank you to the Event Committee:  Cam Francis, Deanna Santana, Jamie McCullough, Jessie Baratta, Julie Busch, Laura Leszinske, along with Eric Zeps and many youth and adult volunteers for working so hard to create an amazing night.

(Photo Credit: Menka Belgal, see all night’s photos here)

Diane Wilkinson Catering provided a stellar dinner and assortment of appetizers.  Youth participants greeted and served the attendees in the most professional manner, gaining real life experience.  The “Rock Monsterz” entertained guests and Southern Wine & Spirits, Wine Warehouse and Madrona Vineyards provided the wine and Placerville Brewing Company provided the beer.  Thank you all!

(Photo Credit: Menka Belgal, see all night’s photos here)

There was a silent and live auction, a dessert auction, dancing, and a fun photo booth provided by Martell O’Neal/KellerWilliams (see photos here). “Good Day Sacramento” television personality Mark S Allen emceed the event in his usual spirited and fun fashion.  Hayley Lehtola, past H4H Youth Board President, told her story of how her involvement with Hands4Hope has impacted her life from the time she joined as a young high school student to how she lives her life now as a college student at UC Berkeley.

Due to the generosity of attendees, the live and silent auctions, in addition to our Fund A Need, Hands4Hope raised just over $30,000!

Thank you to our Platinum and Gold Sponsors - Wells Fargo, US Bank, El Dorado Disposal, Seafloor, Blue Shield of Ca., El Dorado Hills Town Center (A Development by The Mansour/Nagle).  Thank you also to our event Table Sponsors - Fergerson Financial, KMAX-TV/CW31, Romo Incentives Group, Tech Shop, and Western Sign Company for making this event possible.

Thank you to our raffle and auction donors (listed below) for providing amazing items that brought in over $15,000 to support Hands4Hope’s life changing programs:

Anne Rhea	El Dorado Hills Fire Department	Lava Cap Winery	Sacramento Zoo
Anisha Belgal	El Vaquero	Leszinski Family	San Francisco 49'ers
Art Haus Cinema	Esquire IMAX Theatre	Mama Ann's Deli	Sienna
Asante Spa	Fine Arts Museums of San Francsico	Madrona Vineyards	Sierra Nevada Recreation Corp
Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa	Fit Ride	Mark S Allen	Silva Family
Bassett Family	Funderland	Morris Law Group	Snooks
Bill Wild	Golden Gate Park	Museum of Natural History Los Angeles	Sugar Bowl Corporation
Blue & Gold Fleet	Granite Arch	Outhouse Collection	The Melting Pot
Brice Station	Granite Bay Golf Course	Peterson Family	The Rink
Buckendorf Family	Harvey's Casino & Hotel	Pham Family	Time Out Spa
Cache Creek Casino Resort	ICE by Donna Burke	Pier 39	Timeless Home Gallery
Chantom Vineyards	Ideal Impressions	Placerville Brewing Co	TraVigne, St. Helena
Charles Mitchell Winery	Ironstone Winery	Purple Place	Urban Wax
Crystal Basin Winery	Jessie Baratta	Rainbow Orchards	Weiner Family
David Morris Law	KidzGear	Relish Burger Bar	Wells Fargo
Doug & Julie Busch	Laughs Unlimited	Sacramento Republic FC	Whole Foods

Hands4Hope’s 2nd Annual School Supply Drive serves 394 students with essential school supplies for this year.

Youth Participants getting bags ready to go hand out fliers door to door in El Dorado Hills based neighborhoods.

Hands4Hope hosted their 2nd Annual School Supply Drive to benefit children in need in El Dorado and Sacramento Counties with essential school supplies for the 2015-2016 school year.  The drive collected 2298 school supplies that helped 394 El Dorado County students, grades Kindergarten through 12th.  This is 100 more local students served than last year.

Hands4Hope youth leaders & volunteers worked with local businesses, agencies and community members to collect items such as: backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, scissors and other school supply items.

The 2nd Annual School Supply Drive was led by Kelly McMillen, H4H School Supply Drive youth intern and Oak Ridge Senior, who was mentored by Nicole Craine, H4H Youth Development Coordinator.

Youth participants and Adult mentor at our Table Event at the Office Max in Placerville.

“All of the students were incredibly thrilled to be getting new backpacks and supplies. It was an awesome experience to see how excited kids were about the small supplies like a brand new pencil or binder. It made me realize how lucky I am to have school supplies that are easily accessible,” McMillen explained. “ At the end, right before we packed up, a second grade girl came in. She picked out a new blue backpack, gave me a giant smile, and proceeded to do that for every single thing she got. That experience was extremely humbling and gratifying for all the work put into the collection and distribution. She and all the other kids were so grateful for even the simplest pencil topper,” continued McMillen.

Youth Participant assisting an elementary school student pick out her school supplies.

Thank you to the community members who participated in this drive for bringing joy and confidence to local students this year.  Thank you also to the following local businesses and agencies: El Dorado Hills Library, Cameron Park Library, re: Visions, Placerville Library, El Dorado Hills CSD, California Welcome Center, Hangtown Skate Shop, Blue Shield of California, El Dorado Disposal, DST, Gift of Kids, USA Stars Soccer Academy and Ethos Soccer Club.

Please Consider Hands4Hope In Your Year-end Giving! Thank you!

Hello Hands4Hope Families, Friends, and Ambassadors!

As 2014 comes to a close, I’m sure you join me in thinking, “where has all the time gone!?” As we each reflect on this year – with our families, at our jobs, and in our communities – I’m proud to share some of the amazing accomplishments the Hands4Hope youth, leadership teams, families, and friends have achieved:

• Partnered with 15 local schools to engage 400 students in service learning projects which included: clothing and toiletries drives, fundraising projects benefiting the needs of local agencies and serving the less fortunate. Hands4Hope Clubs completed 26 projects during the 2013-14 school year, all to improve the lives of others.
• Planned, prepared and served 3,255 meals to homeless on the streets, to senior residents living in low income housing developments, and to mentally challenged women at a local shelter.
• Mentored children bi-weekly at a transition home for recovering moms and their children, where they built positive relationships with the children and served as positive role models demonstrating good and caring behavior.

“Hands4Hope provides an opportunity for youth to see and participate in the needs of others that they may have never seen or may never see and experience. Their efforts have produced many solutions to many of the social ills that plague our society.”   Ron Sachs, Job’s Shelter of the Sierra

To learn more about the many accomplishments of Hands4Hope youth, please watch our most recent video: http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org.

The commitment from our youth and families is the foundation of Hands 4 Hope; none of these results could be achieved without YOU, your imagination, creativity, passion, and support! I am deeply grateful for your many contributions.

Our numerous youth-led programs also depend on resources and funding. As you consider making your final tax-deductible donations for the 2013 year, or perhaps consider donations in a family member’s name as a holiday gift that keeps giving, please put Hands4Hope at the top of your list. Please donate directly through our website today: http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/donate/. We are happy to supply a Certificate of Donation for those dedications. Checks are also gratefully accepted.

For a little as $20, your donation can fund a blanket, hand-made by our youth, to keep someone warm this winter. A donation of $50 allows our youth to prepare and deliver 25 meals to someone who otherwise would go hungry. A donation of $100 funds a “youth in action,” allowing a youth member to participate in our service learning and outreach programs for one year. And, a generous donation of $400 provides a scholarship allowing a youth member to attend our H4H leadership camp next summer, providing an at-risk youth to experience something that could change their lives forever.

I know this time of year is especially difficult to find the extra money in your household budget to give to local nonprofits, even those you love like Hands4Hope! My only ask is that you make every effort to support our organization by donating today at http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org and in doing so, support the more than 1200 youth involved and the thousands of community members who benefit from our programs.

Thank you for your support and commitment as we continue to develop programs that directly benefit our community, as well as the people we serve. We are making a difference every day, and that is something worth investing in!

Warm wishes for a happy & safe holiday season,

Jennifer Bassett

Jennifer Bassett
Founder/Executive Director
Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference
916.919.5695
www.hands4hopeyouth.org

Empowering youth to make a positive difference in the world around them through Exploration, Action, and Leadership.

2014 Blanket Making Party: 102 Blankets warm blankets made for those in need in our community.

Last Friday, we hosted our annual Blanket Making Party at Oak Ridge High School, where youth and adult volunteers alike made "no-sew" fleece blankets.  These blankets are distributed to the homeless, during the cold winter months, through our homeless outreaches and given to our partner agencies who help the homeless. 

A total of 102 blankets were made in this one night! 

We also had a local soccer team make an additional 20 more to contribute to the cause!

Thank you all who attended and assisted!

Hands4Hope Youth Board Welcomes New Board President

Last May Hands4Hope Youth Leader Haley Latola, Senior at Oak Ridge High, was named the Hands4Hope Youth Board President for the 2014-2015 year. Haley gladly accepted and has been hard at work with Hands4Hope staff and peer Youth Leaders to kick off the 2014-2015 Hands4Hope Club Year. Haley's family has recently been given the opportunity to move to Sicily Italy.  Haley will be leaving her position as Youth Board President in October to seize the opportunity and prospect of adventure in Italy!  We are so grateful for Haley’s dedication to Hands4Hope, as well as her countless hours of service to the community! It is with a heavy heart that we say arrivederci to Haley.

We are excited to announce that there is a member of our current Hands4Hope Leadership Team who is ready and willing to step into the role of Youth Board President, and work in tandem with Haley until her departure next month. Hands4Hope is thrilled to announce Chieme Ohanele, a Senior at Oak Ridge High, as the new 2014-2015 Hands4Hope Youth Board President. 

Along with Chieme’s appointment to Youth Board President, the other three Youth Board positions have been appointed as follows: Youth Board Vice President -Noopur Khachane (Senior at Mira Loma High); Youth Board Secretary-Danielle DiOrio (Senior at Ponderosa High); Youth Board Treasure-Jasmine Lyon (Junior at Folsom High). 

We are confident that the new Hands4Hope Youth Board Leadership Team will work together to successfully lead the Youth Board and provide outstanding peer leadership, as well as invaluable contributions from a youth perspective to the Hands4Hope organization as a whole.

Team Hope will be back in session on Wednesday September 17th.

Team Hope is the Hands4Hope afterschool program for the students in elementary school.  Team Hope meets once per month to discuss upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.  The meetings are fun and allow for members to explore ways to give back to the community, plan group outreach projects and volunteer in the community.

Team Hope's first informational meeting will be held on Wednesday September 17, 2014 from 3:30pm - 4:30pm at the Hands4Hope Youth Center, located at 877 Embaradero Dr., El Dorado Hills (next to the El Dorado Saloon).

For more information about Hands4Hope, visit www.hands4hopeyouth.org or call 916-294-7426.

For information about Team Dream and Team Inspire, our school club programs for middle school students and high school students, visit www.hands4hopeyouth.org, click on Get Involved, School Clubs.

Volunteer Spotlight: Riley Peick

Riley is one of our college-aged interns, assisting Hands4Hope this summer.  Riley Peick currently lives in El Dorado Hills for the summer and will be returning to Saint Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri) in the fall to continue his studies in Business.  

Riley moved to California the middle of his sophomore year of high school and attended Sacramento-based Jesuit High School until graduating. Wanting to continue his Jesuit education, Riley decided to attend Saint Louis University. This is where his passion for service really kicked off!  Joining a learning community called Micah, he was able to find a permanent service site and a lot of other fun and rewarding service events, much like Hands4Hope has.

"I got to go on a service learning trip to Honduras in January that was focused on microfinance and poverty alleviation for those living in extreme poverty. Already wanting to become an economics professor one day, this trip added to my desire to learn more about economic development and use my business degree for something beneficial to help the world's 3 billion people who live on less than two dollars a day!" exclaims Riley.

As Riley returned home to El Dorado Hills, he wanted to continue his service work and asked to intern with Hands4Hope for the summer​.  "I chose to volunteer at Hands4Hope because it reminded me a lot of what I had done in college. I love to help plan service experiences and Hands4Hope was a perfect fit for me," says Riley.

Riley ​is in the process of leading Hands4Hope's first School Supply Drive and has done a phenomonal job!  "Riley has taken his summer internship with Hands4Hope to another level! His commitment to service and the youth involved with Hands4Hope is evident through his continued and tireless efforts.  Riley has been an instrumental leader in the 1^st annual Hands4Hope School Supply Drive. As a result of his commitment, coordination and planning we are confident that many students in El Dorado County will be prepared and ready for the 2014-2015 school year!" explains Nicole Craine, our Youth Development Coordinator. 

Mikan, our Outreach Coorindator, further adds "Riley’s enthusiasm and willingness to not just help, but to take on the responsibility of handling details, has made our summer events much more successful.  We’ll miss him when he returns to school!"

Thank you Riley for all your hard work and commitment to Hands4Hope!

A heartfelt perspective from one of our youth...

 Education and serving my community are two of my biggest passions. My freshman year I joined a community service club at my school called Hands4Hope. Little did I know the complexity (I will try to not be too confusing) and value of this organization that has made a huge impact on my life. This organization is unique in that it is completely youth driven and provides the highest level of service learning where youth work and communicate directly with adults to start projects, drives, and outreach opportunities. Since joining Hands4Hope around three years ago, I have put in over 350 hours, and have learned so many valuable skills.

Starting out, I was very shy and uncomfortable, but nevertheless, I signed up for my first outreach, which was a daycare for kids while their homeless or low-income parents shopped around for warm clothes and food in a churches’ warehouse. It is so easily forgotten how much we take for granted, and I was, and still am, constantly reminded how lucky I am to have a roof over my head and food to come home to. Since this experience, I have become so passionate about helping others, especially children, because some of us were not as lucky as others in the “birth lottery.”

Hopefully it is okay for me to not focus on just one experience or one project, because I have truly been humbled by the variety of opportunities, and each one I find equally important. Each outreach and meeting slowly raised my confidence in myself and brought out skills I never knew I had. The first time I had to engage a large group of children in Project Birthday, where we throw birthday parties for children who cannot afford one, I found that I have the ability to lead. For a year, I have been mentoring kids in a shelter for single mothers who have had drug and alcohol problems. Here I found my ability to empathize. 

The way I can find time with four AP classes, a job, and leadership positions in school clubs, to cook a meal once a month for the homeless and mentally disabled women at the Sister Nora’s House, has showed me time management and organization. Visiting and entertaining the elderly at a local home has taught me patience. By leading monthly meetings with about 20 elementary school kids to brainstorm ways to raise money for the community, I learn from their innocence and honesty. 

The homeless teen I had the honor meeting and serving at a youth shelter; the one that has pretty much raised herself and her siblings for years. She has taught me what it means to be independent and strong. My pen pal, Birungi, from Uganda reminds me everyday how lucky I am to go to school and her passion to become a doctor inspires me. Now you know what I mean by the humbling opportunities I have had with Hands4Hope, and the list does not stop there. 

A few years ago I would have never dreamed I would be secretary of the high school Hands4Hope club, service hour coordinator for the National Honor Society, treasurer of the Hands4Hope Youth Board, or president of the Team Hope elementary school Hands4Hope club, but here I am. I am always encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and I feel that I have grown so much as a person because of it.  When asked why I volunteer so often, I say that by volunteering I receive more than I can ever give. It may sound selfish, but it is true. I am forever in debt for the priceless things these people have taught me and I will continue volunteer for the rest of my life. 

-Haley Lehtola