Every Child’s Hope (formerly Evangelical Children’s Home) was founded in 1858 as an orphanage for children whose immigrant parents had died from cholera outbreaks. Although it no longer is an orphanage, caring for vulnerable children is still central to its mission. Each year, the nonprofit—with more than 200 staff members across the state—helps more than 1,400 young victims of child abuse by addressing the emotional trauma and mental health issues resulting from abuse.
One of its most vital programs is Steppingstone, which helps young people ages 16 to 21 transition safely and successfully to independence. The program provides housing, employment services, education counseling and life skills training, and supports its young people as they embark on lives in the workforce.
“Many of our young people come from the foster care system, but because of difficult circumstances, they cannot return home to their family environment,” says CEO Michael Brennan. In these situations, teens and young adults may find themselves with nowhere to live, sleeping in a car, a park or ‘couch hopping,’ Brennan explains. Although ECH doesn’t have a physical shelter, it has a transitional community group home for eight young men in North County (where adult supervision is 24/7) and 10 apartments on its 34-acre campus, also in North County. “We rarely have to turn anyone away,” Brennan says. The former serves as a halfway point between foster care and moving to an apartment, while the campus apartments allow for more independent living.
Brennan says the average stay at both is around 12 months and while there, residents learn how to seek and interview for jobs, how to budget and pay bills, and even how to cook. While a youth’s family situation may be difficult, Brennan says ECH promotes contact with blood relations and tries to help nurture family connection. “It’s so important for long-term success,” he says.
And guidance doesn’t end there. Once young adults are ready to transition to the outside world, ECH finds them permanent housing and pays their rent while they get on their feet. As they achieve success and independence, that monetary support is gradually reduced. “We can never replace a family, and we wouldn’t ever try,” Brennan says, “but like a family, our graduates often come back and see us and then we know we’ve made an impact. That’s a powerful thing.”
On April 7, Every Child’s Hope hosts its 30th annual dinner auction. This year, to mark its ‘pearl anniversary,’ the event—dubbed An Evening of Pearls & Polka Dots—will include ‘A Pearl of a Raffle’ with pearl earrings, necklaces and bracelets among the prizes. All proceeds from the raffle will provide rent stipends for homeless and at-risk youth in the Steppingstone program. “Each ticket costs $100, and we hope to sell out and raise $12,500,” says Sharon Fenoglio, ECH chief advancement officer.
The 30th annual ‘Extend a Caring Hand’ dinner and auction, An Evening of Pearls & Polka Dots to benefit Every Child’s Hope, takes place April 7 at The Ritz-Carlton. Pictured on the cover: CEO Michael P. Brennan and board president Shari Smith with program participants. For more information, call 314.427.3755 ext. 232 or visit everychildshope.org.
Cover design by Allie Bronsky | Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
