Hello, and Happy Summer!
We hope you and your family had a wonderful Fourth of July and are enjoying a fantastic summer. It has been an incredibly busy—and incredibly rewarding—few months at Hope Is Everything, and we’re excited to share some of the highlights with you.
Annual Kayak & Canoe Race: A Record-Breaking Day!
Our Annual Kayak & Canoe Race in May was an overwhelming success! The weather certainly cooperated, providing perfect water levels thanks to some much-needed spring rainfall. This year, 60 paddlers of all ages joined us on the river, making it one of our best-attended races yet. We were also honored to have a documentary film crew on site capturing footage for a project featuring Elk Hill School, whose students and supporters entered an incredible 10 teams in the race. From the smiles on the water to the laughter at the finish line, it was a day filled with fun, community, and purpose. We wrapped up the day at Timberwood Grill North in Charlottesville, where participants enjoyed a delicious meal while we celebrated our winners and recognized everyone who helped make the event possible. As we begin planning for next year’s race, we’re looking for a few more volunteers to help us make it even bigger and better. If you’d like to be part of this special event, please visit www.hopecville.org or email us at info@hopecville.org. We’d love to have you on the team!
Our Annual Golf Tournament Continues to Grow
Just a few weeks later, we hosted our Annual Golf Tournament at the beautiful Devil’s Knob Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort—and what a day it was! With 14 teams registered, gorgeous mountain views, perfect weather, and outstanding hospitality from Wintergreen, the tournament was another tremendous success. Many participants even took advantage of the resort’s lodging to turn the event into a relaxing weekend getaway. Perhaps the most exciting part of the day was that more than half of our golfers were first-time participants. That tells us our mission is reaching new people and that this event has tremendous potential for continued growth. Every tournament gives us the opportunity to introduce Hope Is Everything to individuals who may be hearing about our work for the very first time. The encouragement, generosity, and positive feedback we received were truly inspiring, and we’re already looking forward to making next year’s tournament even bigger.
When Hope Can’t Wait
While our fundraising events are exciting, they ultimately exist for one reason: to respond when families need hope the most. This summer has brought several urgent requests for assistance, but two situations especially touched our hearts…Three young children had just entered foster care when their initial placement unexpectedly fell through. Fortunately, relatives were identified who were willing to welcome the children into their home—but they needed immediate help preparing for their arrival. Time was critical. Within just two hours, Hope Is Everything was able to respond. We met with the family and purchased three car seats, three cases of diapers, and a large supply of wipes—providing the essential items needed to help make the children’s transition into a safe, loving home possible.
A social worker from Orange Department of Social Services shared these kind words:
“Three small children had just entered care and their placement, where they had been only twelve hours, was disrupting. Relatives were finally identified, but they needed help getting things ready to take over caring for the children. As this was a time-sensitive need, the family scrambled to clear a bedroom while we scrambled to get things like beds and mattresses. We contacted Hope Is Everything to inquire about providing car seats, diapers, and wipes. That same day, Joe met us at a local Target where we picked out three car seats, three cases of diapers, and a large case of wipes. All the pieces came together, and the children were placed with their relatives a few days later. Thank you so much, Hope Is Everything.”
— Orange Department of Social Services
This summer, Hope Is Everything was contacted by two local agencies with an urgent request: help reunite a young mother with her daughter, who had been placed in foster care. A critical step toward bringing her daughter home was securing stable housing. But after falling behind on rent, the mother was at risk of eviction—a setback that could have delayed or even prevented their reunion. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to pay her overdue rent and provide a Walmart gift card to help meet the family’s immediate needs. This timely assistance kept the reunification process moving forward, giving the mother and daughter a fighting chance to be together again. Stories like this highlight the power of partnership. By working alongside local agencies, we can respond quickly to urgent needs, remove critical barriers, and help create life- changing outcomes for families when they need it most.
Thank you for helping us bring hope, stability, and brighter futures to families throughout our community. Every kayak paddled, every golf swing taken, and every donation made helps us respond when families need us most. Thank you for making hope possible.
HOPE FEST ’26!
Date: Sept 19, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Moose Lodge #1309, Waynesboro, VA
Enjoy an incredible lineup of regional talent, including:
- Trace Nixon
- Eli Cook
- Sweetwater Band
- Cody Purvis
Admission is just $25 per person, and every ticket purchased helps support the mission of Hope Is Everything.
This is an outdoor event, so be sure to bring your lawn chairs and pop-up tents to relax and enjoy the music. Food, beverages, and event merchandise will be available for purchase throughout the day.
Whether you’re coming for the music, the fellowship, or the opportunity to give back, Hope Fest ’26 promises to be an afternoon you’ll remember.
For tickets, details, and event updates visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hope-fest-26-tickets-1994695862019?aff=oddtdtcreator
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