The Leo Seal Family Foundation makes a huge contribution to Hope Haven

Hope Haven is what is known as a “community based” organization.  The need for a shelter home was recognized by members in the community. The organizations was formed and established by members in the community.  The organization was and is staffed by members in the community.  The children and families we serve are members of the community and finally….most of our financial support comes from members of the community.

The Leo Seal Family Foundation is a shining example of community support.  We all know that there are children and families elsewhere in the world who are living far below the poverty line and need and deserve consideration and assistance.   What is far too often overlooked by well meaning people…is the need in their own back yard…in their own community.  Maybe it is just more “interesting” to give to far away charities in distant and exotic lands.

But there are children and adults who deserve our consideration and assistance…right here in our own little corner of the world.  That is why we appreciate the Leo Seal Family and our other local donors who provide the money that pays our bills, helps to feed and clothe the children in our home and assist the many many needy children and families…in our own community. 

May god bless the Seal family for their caring hearts.

The Diamondhead Dance club has been around for over 15 years now and is still dancing their feet off!  Our Director and wife Ann usually attend all of their "do's"  and recently went to their monthly get together to receive a $500+ donation from the Dance Club members.  Ruth Oliver who, along with her late husband Charle, are the heart and soul of the club and have held it together over the good times and the bad.  Membership in the club fell immediately after Katrina but has now started to rise again.

It has been a tradition of the club to raise funds for Hope Haven and we appreciate the members' loyality to our cause and their kind heart for children in need.  In the picture....Ruth Oliver presents a check to Terry Latham Hope Haven Director and his wife Ann.  

DIAMONDHEAD WOMAN'S CLUB

An organization with a history....and a heart.

The Diamondhead Woman's Club has been in existence for over 25 years and has a long and inspiring history of civic involvement and support to the local community.  

When Hope Haven opened the doors of it's first small shelter in Waveland...the Woman's Club was one of the first contributors and in 1997 they raised enough funds ($10,000) to pay off the mortgage of the home.  Since that time, the women of the club have made annual donations to Hope Haven that we have used to care for the children in our home.

One of the things that stands out about this Club is that the money they raise is donated to charity...not spent on themselves.  And in the case of Hope Haven, the women rarely get to see or meet the children they are helping to save. Yet, year after year they have planned, organized and worked for the welfare of those children.

As Thanksgiving rolls around, We at Hope Haven are thankful for many things. The Diamondhead Woman's Club is one of the things for which we are most thankful. 

MGM VOICE FOUNDATION STEPS UP FOR THE CHILDREN!

The MGM Voice Foundation has announced that it has awarded a grant of $20,000 to Hope Haven!  What is truly remarkable about this is that the grant is more than what our request was. 

The Beau Rivage Casino and Resort is the MGM property here on the coast and they have been longtime friends and supporters of our mission.  Sara Miller, is our local contact and she was almost as excited as I was when she called me with the news.  

This grant is very important to us as it comes at a time when many other funders have reduced their support to Hope Haven.

In addition to this grant, every year Beau Rivage employees adopt the children in our shelter home at Christmas...making their lives just a little bit better.

We thank everyone connected with the Beau and MGM.  

Hope Haven's Hero!











ASHLEY CALCOTE RAISES FUNDS FOR HOPE HAVEN FOR TENTH YEAR!

Ashley Calcote first came to Hope Haven as a shy little girl of about 4 years of age with toys that she had purchased for our children.  She had taken the toys from her own birthday and other donations from friends and relatives to provide toys to children who "needed them more than she did."  
This remarkable little girl has grown into a remarkable young woman...as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. 

She was recognized by the Governor and the State of Mississippi this last summer as the "Youth Volunteer of the Year" and she certainly deserves such recognition.

Now, in her tenth year of helping Hope Haven, she has organized several different fundraisers including this recent Car wash at Tire Kingdom in D'Iberville. 

How do you say thank you to someone who is so good????   We also would like to thank Ashley's mom and dad and the other student and adult volunteers who helped Ashley make this event a success.  Their support of Ashley's efforts are commendable and appreciated!

THANK YOU ASHLEY CALCOTE...MISSISSIPPI YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR...A ONE GREAT YOUNG LADY.

LADNER FAMILY OPENS NEW MINI STRIP MALL AND RAISES FUNDS FOR HOPE HAVEN John and Mara Ladner are the proud owners of a beautiful new strip mall located on Beatline Rd. just south of I 10.  It is entitled "The Warehouse District" and will house several different businesses including a great coffee shop that offers many different kinds of coffee from around the world. To celebrate their grand-opening, they brought out CPR 97.5 radio for a live broadcast and offered up pulled port and ribs that were soooooo tender and good that they were criminal!  In fact....they even had a special Red Cross volunteer nurse on standby in case anyone fainted from the pure joy of eating their ribs!  The Ladners kindly donated some of the leftovers to our shelter home as well as a cash donation and we greatly appreciate their efforts.  Prior to Katrina, they donated a spagetti dinner once a month to our shelter....which the kids and staff really enjoyed! Thank you Thank you  Thank You!

THANK YOU DUKES, DUKES KEATING AND FANECA

Hope Haven Receives a check for $5,400 from several of the staff members and their family at the law offices of Dukes, Dukes Keating and Faneca.   The money was raised via a crawfish boil held at Bayou Bluff Tennis Facility in Gulfport. This was a great event...and one that was literally "thrown together at the last minute". Several of the law firms staff members, Je 'Nell Blum and Haley Broom had bid on use of the site and on the services of a The Myles Sharp Band (featuring Rebecca Powers) at another charity event. Their time was running out to use the site and bands services so....they quickly put this event on for Hope Haven...and it turned out just great.    We would like to than all involved and we will post a list of the main contributors soon. We also thank the management of the firm....for allowing their employees to work on this charity event during "office hours." We also send a special note of thanks to Lori Lee Sawyer, who suggested Hope Haven as the beneficiary of the funds raised at this event.  WE SEND A GREAT BIG HOPE HAVEN HUG TO ALL CONCERNED AND THANK EACH OF THEM FOR CARING ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.  

HELP FROM AFAR....AND NEAR  

It is with great pleasure that we announce that we have received a $10,000 frant from the Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological Health via the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.  This is a highly competetive grant that focuses on assisting low income families and minorities who are attempting to recover from the affects of hurricane Katrina.  The funds will be used to help people with deposits on utility services or rental units. We will not be able to pay the full amounts for such items but we can contribute to the effort to make it easier for them.  The money will also be used to help low income families in crisis.