A brushstroke on a community mural. A message tucked into a donated book. A story shared behind a microphone. At Hope through Housing’s 2026 An Evening of Hope, guests helped bring the Never Alone theme to life while raising nearly $900,000 to support residents across affordable housing communities.
The celebration invited guests to explore four neighborhoods, each representing a different way Hope through Housing walks alongside residents. At Welcome Home Way, guests created a community mural reflecting the importance of a home and the support that helps families remain stable. At Discovery Drive, they donated books and wrote messages of encouragement for young readers. Live Well Lane brought guests together through soccer and chair aerobics, highlighting opportunities for health and connection. On Opportunity Avenue, guests recorded testimonials at K-CORE Radio and experienced the kind of production work participants learn through CORE Academy.
Live music from Think: X kept the energy high. Stories shared during the program brought the evening’s purpose into focus.
Guests learned about Judy and her two sons, who spent about a year without stable housing, often sleeping in their car. An apartment at Villa Serena gave them a place to begin again. Their story underscored why support must continue after a family receives the keys. Having a home is the beginning. Having someone to turn to can help a family keep moving forward.
Lauren and Cristian’s experiences showed what that support can mean for someone trying to begin a career. Both had earned college degrees but struggled to find work in their fields because employers wanted experience. Through CORE Academy, they gained hands-on production experience with mentors beside them. Both went on to join National CORE’s marketing team as full-time employees.
The generosity of guests and sponsors will help make opportunities like these available to more people. Funds raised support programs that help children build reading skills and confidence, connect seniors with care and companionship and give residents access to career training. They also support individualized assistance for households working to establish and maintain housing stability.
“Never Alone is a promise to our residents that wherever they are in life, there will be people walking beside them,” Hope through Housing Executive Director Alyssa Cotter said. “The generosity we saw throughout the evening will help us continue creating opportunities for residents to learn, grow and thrive.”
Long after the music ended, the purpose of the evening continues in the communities Hope through Housing serves. Every gift helps staff and partners be there for residents as they work toward their next step—and helps ensure they do not have to take it alone.
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