The 4th annual Festival of Hope
Thanks to all who attended and made contributions, the 4th annual Festival of Hope was our biggest and best festival yet!
OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER TO DATE!
We’re thrilled to announce that, together, we raised $53,186.89, more than doubling our goal of raising $25,000 for the mission of Center for Healing & Hope!
| Volunteer content writer and local ICU nurse Wendi Miller attended the festival and immersed herself into the experience to provide this vivid recap of some of the great things that took place. Enjoy! |
2024 marked the fourth and largest Festival of Hope yet, an especially fitting way to celebrate Center for Healing and Hope’s 25th anniversary! Perfect weather never hurts, with an occasional cool breeze kicking up to offset the evening summer sun. As the day progressed the sun began to set behind a distant haze. Temperatures became even more comfortable and folks began to settle in for a relaxed yet energetic final hour of music on the lawn. It turns out, moving the festival from 12:00pm-6:00pm, as has been the schedule in past years, to 5:00pm-9:00pm was a good call, with many past participants saying as much.
Gifts began trickling in by early July as announcements about the event and fundraising goal were sent to supporters. As the month progressed and Day of Giving approached, that trickle turned into a steady stream. Those gifts combined with the strong support of our excellent festival sponsors allowed us to reach our goal of raising $25,000 for 25 years of service as the festival was getting underway. The gifts didn’t stop there. Yes! Donations keep climbing, now $46,727 and counting. With the goal surpassed, the focus now shifts to raising as much money as possible for the organization. We are hopeful in doubling our goal, providing $50,000 in support for the nonprofit mission of Center for Healing and Hope.
Saca Los Tacos busted out helpings of hot, fresh quesabirria tacos to a nonstop line of eager customers. Hungry festival-goers munched Diana’s Dulces’ queso-coated ears of street corn and picked up dulces enchilados (think your favorite fruit candy coated in spice!). The bright blue Tropicana Ice Cream Shop truck poured chamoy-rimmed aguas lokas (“crazy drinks”), sippable while strolling through community vendors and Maker’s Market tents.
The Makers Market’s small, often Latino-owned businesses offered a full sensory experience. Shoppers found fragrant botanical-studded soy candles poured into Oaxaca pottery, all-natural skin and hair care, and make-your-own-bouquet fresh-cut flowers. Even canine attendees (I counted at least five) could find Love, Chewy pet treats and soothing sprays. After adding to their Dragon Dreams art collection, patrons could relax in the chair massage tent provided by Touch Matters Bodywork Massage.
Keeping the spirit of something for everyone, there were plenty of giveaways, no-cost activities for kids, and free resources to explore! After experimenting with face painting, kids of all ages tried both their hands at giant bubbles and gathered a zoo of balloon animals. Community vendors offered mini-games and activities for kids like a prize wheel, Operation game and free popcorn!
PaperPie’s literacy booth was a three-sided wonderland of extra-large interactive board books loaded with tactile elements, as well as intriguing chapter books for older kids. Formerly Usborne Books & More, PaperPie specializes in award-winning Kane Miller educational books. Rebekah Whirledge first encountered the Center for Healing and Hope in 2020 at Plymouth United Church of Christ. “There were 1,000 cars a day in and out, and I thought ‘I should raise money for them!’” said Whirledge, before launching an impromptu PaperPie fundraiser to facilitate the center’s massive daily Covid testing efforts.
The Community Foundation of Elkhart County camped around the corner to encourage ongoing education for high school and adult students. “People assume scholarships are just for high school students, but we have quite an impact on adults,” said Guy Fisher, ECCF CFEC program officer. ECCF’s CFEC’s more than three dozen funds are exclusive to Elkhart County residents. They awarded over $2 million in scholarships last year, including 50 adult scholarships.
CHH combined the Muchas Mochilas (Many Backpacks) back-to-school giveaway with this year’s Festival of Hope, presenting backpacks filled with school supplies, hygiene kits, resource folders for parents/guardians, and gift cards to pre-registered families at the festival’s outset. Many who came for the backpacks stuck around for the festivities.
While older siblings head to school soon, a new bilingual playgroup for children ages 0-5 starts August 31 at the Goshen Public Library. Grace Thompson, GPL’s development and community engagement manager, invited festival families to attend the new group promoting early literacy. GPL also surveyed Spanish-speaking families at their Festival of Hope booth to learn more about what programming they’d like to see at the library. Currently, the library hosts dozens of free activities for kids and families year-round: movie nights, chess tournaments, and tactile play during Family Slime Night – with hopes to continually expand.
Family-friendly brewpub Goshen Brewing Company held down its end of the festival, serving as the host and location sponsor for the third consecutive year. They served up their farm-to-table inspired menu of culinary creations alongside meticulously in-house crafted brews. Also on offer was Thirst Aid Kit, a pineapple and lime pale ale released in collaboration with the event. Guests that ordered the beer at were surprised with a complimentary CHH first aid kit. A portion of the sales of Thirst Aid Kit will be donated back to CHH.
Attendees and brewery patrons alike relaxed on the brewery lawn with a variety of distinct music. The colorful tradition and pageantry of the Ballet Folklórico Guadalupano group from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church kicked off the celebration in a whirl of spinning skirts. Jazz trio The Lost Luggage struck a chord with smooth, resonant vibraphone before headliners The Messengers’ soulful rock delivered.
| Excellent things happen daily at Center for Healing and Hope through YOUR continued generosity and support. There are many ways to make an impact! Reach out to CHH Director of Marketing and Development Daniel Tackett or Executive Director Missy Schrock for more information on how you can help, and be sure to come out to next year’s festival! Daniel – dtackett@chhclinics.org | 574-534-4744 ext. 202 Missy – mkschrock@chhclinics.org | 574-534-4744 ext. 206 |