Anaheim, Calif. – Award-winning nonprofit housing developer National CORE celebrated 30 years of Believing in Hope at their annual An Evening of Hope Gala on October 21st at the Hilton Anaheim. This year’s celebration commemorated National CORE’s 30th anniversary and the children, families, and seniors they have been serving since their founding in 1992. An Evening of Hope: 30 Years of Believing in Hope raised more than $1 million, directly benefitting the important work the Hope through Housing Foundation does in National CORE communities to help children and teens achieve academic success and to improve the financial and social well-being of families, including providing much-needed afterschool programming, teen clubs, middle-school mentoring, scholarships, financial education, workforce development, and one-on-one financial coaching.
“I am incredibly proud of all National CORE has accomplished over the last 30 years, serving as a leader in the affordable housing industry and as a beacon of hope for our residents and communities. My vision for the future is to continue to innovate the industry and go above and beyond for the families we serve.” commented Chairman of the Board and Founder Jeff Burum.
This year’s celebration highlighted key individuals and organizations who have supported National CORE’s efforts to address the housing affordability crisis and Hope through Housing’s mission to break the cycle of poverty. Special recognition was given to this year’s honorees:
- The County of Orange as Community Partner of the Year for their unwavering support as National CORE substantially expands its footprint in the county, providing 600 high-quality apartment homes for families, seniors, and individuals who have experienced homelessness.
- Century Housing as Corporate Partner of the Year for being a key financial partner, providing funding for countless National CORE communities throughout its history and demonstrating commitment to National CORE’s mission to provide high-quality affordable housing and programs and services that meet the needs of residents.
- John Seymour, III as the I Am Hope award recipient, in recognition of his advocacy for National CORE’s residents and the affordable housing industry, assisting the organization in the creation of more than 4,000 affordable and supportive apartment homes, providing children, families, and seniors with safe, stable housing and strong supportive services.
- California State Treasurer Fiona Ma as this year’s Daniel R. Fauske Founders’ Award honoree for her strong advocacy for affordable housing and issues that impact residents and communities across the state.
- Steve PonTell, National CORE CEO and President, as the Legacy award recipient, in recognition of his vision, leadership and commitment to National CORE’s mission, residents, and the communities it serves.
The An Evening of Hope Gala featured stories of life transformation, offering a retrospective of the organization’s past and its vision for the future. Show-stopping performances by Bling Divas Entertainment and A. Ray “The Weeper” Fuller Jazz Combo entertained the 1200 plus guests in attendance.
“It is our sponsors, our partners, and our volunteers who make our work possible, and we are so grateful for their support,” said Hope through Housing President Greg Bradbard. “Each day, we show up ready to empower our residents to believe in a brighter future — whether it is a single mother rebuilding her life after a history of abuse and drugs, or a high schooler becoming the first in her family to attend college and ultimately pursuing her Ph.D. at Harvard.”
As students and families continue to recover from the pandemic and adjust to the post-pandemic job market, Hope through Housing has found that its educational and economic empowerment programs and services are more important than ever.
“This has been a historically difficult time for students and families,” said National CORE President/CEO Steve PonTell. “The majority of our households are led by single parents who work tirelessly to make a better future for their children, and these past few years have thrown hundreds of obstacles in front of them and their kids. But with the help of our sponsors and supporters, we’ve been able to continue fighting every day to keep our children and families on track.”
To help Hope through Housing build bright futures for children and youth and create pathways for economic empowerment for families, please visit www.hthf.org.
###
About National CORE
National CORE, based in Southern California, is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. National CORE manages nearly 10,000 affordable, senior, and market-rate units in California, Texas, and Florida. National CORE’s strength is in its ability to offer partners an array of in-house capabilities that navigates the complexities of planning, developing, building, managing, and providing supportive services. For more information on National CORE, please visit www.nationalcore.org.
Media Contact:
Jill Van Balen
jvanbalen@nationalcore.org
(909) 204-3434
Recent Comments