Principal Baez and Mr. Shum,

Our daughter Princess will be culminating her time at Eagle Rock Elementary soon and we are thanking the people and programs that have been part of growth here since kindergarten.

For the past few years, one of those programs has been Kids Hope and we would like to formally acknowledge their role as a vital mentoring resource for our daughter, in strengthening her academics, in providing a safe space for her character to blossom and ensuring that respect, optimism, collaboration and kindness were reinforced in everything they did with her.   

Princess was referred as a mentee to Kids Hope in the middle of 2nd grade, by a wise and caring teacher who saw that her unique life circumstances warranted an additional school-based option for a nurturing mentor.  

COVID delayed those plans for more than a year and a half and, like many children who struggled through remote learning, Princess was hopeful for re-connection to school.

The mentor that Sarah Dornbos found for our daughter was so ideal in many ways.  Gail Castro role modeled cultural and ethnic pride and introduced her to civil rights icons that were not mentioned often in class.  She patiently guided Princess through math homework and encouraged deeper critical thinking about what she read.  Ms. Castro and our daughter played handball as they talked through how to deal with classmate drama.   

In short, that once-a-week relationship after school for the past few years gave our daughter a chance to envision what she could grow into as a person of color, to view academics less stressfully and to find hope in navigating friendships.

We as parents have felt deeply the impact of Kids Hope for our daughter.  Their dedication to providing mentorship through universal values of compassion and non-judgmental support for children is so needed in this world.

As we continue to personally and intimately express gratitude to everyone at ERE, we wanted to be sure that our admiration for Kids Hope was evident to more than just them.    

Thank you for reading this and for your commitment to making Eagle Rock Elementary a truly holistic learning environment.

Connie Wong and Heng Lam Foong

Participating in the Kids Hope USA program has been a truly positive and heartwarming experience for our entire family. It has made a lasting impact not only on my son, Danny Serrano, but on all of us. Danny experienced a very difficult early childhood. From the age of 2 to 5, he was placed in multiple unstable environments under DCFS care. When I was finally able to bring him home at age 6, we were eager to give him the love, support, and stability he had missed.

That same year, we were introduced to Kids Hope, and it was exactly what Danny needed. The program provided him with the consistency, care, and meaningful connection that helped him feel safe and valued. His mentor became a positive role model, someone Danny could count on, something that had been missing in his life for far too long.
Kids Hope gave him more than just attention; it gave him the space to grow, heal, and start believing in himself. We are forever grateful for the encouragement and love he received through this program. It brought a sense of hope and healing into our home that we will always cherish.

My son would come home from mentoring beaming with joy, always excited to tell me about his mentor sessions, how much fun he had making slime, or working hard on his reading so he could earn a pizza party with his friends. As he grew older, I watched his pride grow, too, especially when he applied for and became a junior mentor. He loved helping Crystal and Sarah, and would often tell me how much it meant to him to feel needed and to give back to the very program that once poured so much into him.
My son has attended every Kids Hope event and has truly loved every moment. From the wonderfully themed parties to the unforgettable summer camps, each experience has brought so much joy to his life. Kids Hope consistently goes above and beyond, investing a great deal of time, effort, and heart into everything they do to make each moment meaningful and memorable.

One of the most touching things for me as a parent has been seeing the joy on Danny’s face when he received awards for reading or playing basketball. Moments like that made him feel seen, valued, and proud of his accomplishments. As a mom, there’s nothing more beautiful than witnessing your child believe in himself.

The 6th-grade dinner was especially special. Watching him take pride in dressing up, excited to enjoy a nice evening with friends and mentors, was such a heartwarming moment. It meant so much to see how far he’s come and how deeply connected he feels to the Kids Hope community. These are memories we’ll always treasure.
As Danny has said many times with such emotion, “I’m going to miss Barry and Sarah and Crystal so much.” These words reflect just how deeply he’s connected with the people who have poured into his life. He even told his mentor, Barry, “This isn’t goodbye, it’s the beginning of a long-lasting friendship.” That simple statement speaks volumes about the impact Kids Hope has had on him. It’s not just a program to Danny, it’s a family, a place where he’s felt seen, supported, and genuinely loved.

-Stephanie Brooks

Dear prospective parents: 

I am writing to share with you my heartfelt gratitude and enthusiasm for the incredible impact Kids Hope USA has had on my family. As a single mother, I faced numerous challenges, especially when it came to providing the emotional and moral support my young son needed. I cannot emphasize enough how pivotal Kids Hope USA has been in transforming our lives, particularly through the influence of my son's mentor, Andy.

During my son's early school years, he struggled significantly. His frequent calls to me at work, often due to misunderstandings and difficulties in school, were a constant reminder of his need for additional support and guidance. Enter Kids Hope USA and the wonderful mentor Andy. The program provided my son with a wise, moral, and patient mentor who showered him with love and attention beyond what I and his brother could provide.

Andy’s influence on my son was profound. He felt valued and cherished, not just as a student but as an individual. My son eagerly shared the lessons he learned from Andy, and their friendship played a crucial role in molding him into the remarkable man he is today. The confidence and sense of worth instilled in him by Andy and the Kids Hope USA program were instrumental in his development.

Today, my son is a proud college graduate and serves our country with honor as a policeman. Reflecting on those difficult early years, I am filled with immense gratitude for the unwavering support of Kids Hope USA. The joy, peace, and stability this program brought into our lives are beyond words.

Here is a link to a video we made during my son’s time in the program on Vimeo. I wish I could fully convey the depth of our appreciation and the life-changing impact of Kids Hope USA. This program was truly a blessing, filling our family with joy and peace, and providing the essential support that led my son to where he is now.

Thank you, Kids Hope USA, for being the beacon of hope and love that my family so desperately needed. Your dedication to making a difference in children's lives is evident and deeply appreciated.

With heartfelt thanks and warmest regards,

Vindy Duran

P.D. Mi primera lengua es español así que aunque ahora ya hablo y escribo mejor el inglés, le adjunto lo que escribí en español por si traduje algo incorrectamente. Muchas gracias por su atención.

Español:

Estimado futuros padres-

Le escribo para compartir con usted mi más sincera gratitud y entusiasmo por el increíble impacto que Kids Hope USA ha tenido en mi familia. Como madre soltera, me enfrentaba a numerosos retos, especialmente cuando se trataba de proporcionar el apoyo emocional y moral que mi hijo necesitaba. No puedo enfatizar lo suficiente lo fundamental que ha sido Kids Hope USA en la transformación de nuestras vidas, particularmente a través de la influencia del mentor de mi hijo, Andy.

Durante los primeros años escolares de mi hijo, tuvo muchas dificultades. Frecuentes llamadas de la escuela al trabajo, a menudo debido a malentendidos, eran un recordatorio constante de su necesidad de apoyo y orientación adicionales. Aquí entra Kids Hope USA y el maravilloso mentor Andy. El programa proporcionó a mi hijo un mentor sabio, moral y paciente que le colmó de amor y atención más allá de lo que su hermano y yo podríamos proporcionarle.

La influencia de Andy en mi hijo fue profunda. Se sintió valorado y apreciado, no sólo como estudiante, sino como persona. Mi hijo compartía conmigo siempre con entusiasmo las lecciones que aprendió de Andy, y su amistad desempeñó un papel crucial en su formación como el hombre extraordinario que es hoy. La confianza y el sentido de valía que le inculcaron Andy y el programa Kids Hope USA fueron fundamentales en su desarrollo.

Hoy, mi hijo es un orgulloso graduado universitario y sirve a nuestro país con honor como policía. Reflexionando sobre esos difíciles primeros años, estoy lleno de inmensa gratitud por el apoyo inquebrantable de Kids Hope USA. La alegría, la paz y la estabilidad que este programa trajo a nuestras vidas están más allá de las palabras.

Aquí hay un enlace a un video que hicimos durante el tiempo que mi hijo estuvo en el programa: Estimado Sr. Báez

Le escribo para compartir con usted mi más sincera gratitud y entusiasmo por el increíble impacto que Kids Hope USA ha tenido en mi familia. Como madre soltera, me enfrentaba a numerosos retos, especialmente cuando se trataba de proporcionar el apoyo emocional y moral que mi hijo necesitaba. No puedo enfatizar lo suficiente lo fundamental que ha sido Kids Hope USA en la transformación de nuestras vidas, particularmente a través de la influencia del mentor de mi hijo, Andy.

Durante los primeros años escolares de mi hijo, tuvo muchas dificultades. Sus frecuentes llamadas al trabajo, a menudo debido a malentendidos y dificultades en la escuela, eran un recordatorio constante de su necesidad de apoyo y orientación adicionales. Aquí entra Kids Hope USA y el maravilloso mentor Andy. El programa proporcionó a mi hijo un mentor sabio, moral y paciente que le colmó de amor y atención más allá de lo que su hermano y yo podríamos proporcionarle.

La influencia de Andy en mi hijo fue profunda. Se sintió valorado y apreciado, no sólo como estudiante, sino como persona. Mi hijo compartió con entusiasmo las lecciones que aprendió de Andy, y su amistad desempeñó un papel crucial en su formación como el hombre extraordinario que es hoy. La confianza y el sentido de valía que le inculcaron Andy y el programa Kids Hope USA fueron fundamentales en su desarrollo.

Hoy, mi hijo es un orgulloso graduado universitario y sirve a nuestro país con honor como policía. Reflexionando sobre esos difíciles primeros años, estoy lleno de inmensa gratitud por el apoyo inquebrantable de Kids Hope USA. La alegría, la paz y la estabilidad que este programa trajo a nuestras vidas están más allá de las palabras.

Aquí hay un enlace a un video que hicimos durante el tiempo que mi hijo estuvo en el programa: Kids Hope 2012 en Vimeo. Desearía poder transmitir plenamente la profundidad de nuestro agradecimiento y el impacto del cambio de vida de Kids Hope USA. Este programa fue realmente una bendición, llenando a nuestra familia de alegría y paz, y proporcionando el apoyo esencial que llevó a mi hijo a donde está ahora.

Gracias, Kids Hope USA, por ser el faro de esperanza y amor que mi familia necesitaba tan desesperadamente. Su dedicación a marcar la diferencia en la vida de los niños es evidente y profundamente apreciada.

Con mi más sincero agradecimiento y mis más cordiales saludos,

Vindy Duran 

I am writing this letter to express the impact that Kids Hope (KH) has had in my son’s and my life.

My son, Joshua Perez, was introduced to KH in 2016 and sadly ended the program in 2022, due to him culminating.

Since the first day, Joshua joined the program, he absolutely loved it. He was blessed to have been paired up with several mentors, during his time at ERE. While Josh was in the program, he was able to meet new kids, be part of all the fun activities that KH coordinates, like the Christmas Party and the End of the year Celebration at Cristian Assembly and most importantly, Joshua felt like he belonged to part of a special community.

Joshua would look forward to his weekly meetings with his mentor. They would meet for an hour and Joshua always had lots of fun during his weekly meetings at KH. Joshua loved going and spending time with his mentor playing sports, finishing school work and playing board games. I am thankful as to how KH has blessed my son and I.

As someone who has personally experienced KH with my son, and my sister and her 3 children (my nephews and niece were also part of KH). I can personally attest to the high value of keeping KH within the ERE community. Not only has it been impactful to hundreds of students, but also to me as a parent. Because of KH, we have been a part of an amazing community.

The impact KH program makes with children and  our community is nothing short of amazing. ~Irena Perez

All three of my children had mentors through Kids Hope my oldest son started in 3rd grade, my younger kids started in K and TK. They all looked forward to their weekly meetings with their mentors. The program exceeded my expectations and it was something they very much looked forward to each week. They attended every event in addition to mentoring so our whole family could enjoy the celebration and “extras” that Kids Hope provided. This program is so important as kids have an adult friend outside their family and friends their age. Both of my sons had the same mentor from beginning to end. I’m grateful for them sticking with the program, even during the pandemic. - Hilda S