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Hope For The Future Foundation
Outreach Discipline
Students involved in our programming know that “if they can dream it….they can do it.
Founded in 1998, Hope For The Future assists youth in 7th through 12th grade in setting and achieving long-term educational goals. Since 1998, we have visited 30 college campuses, and explored cultural sites significant to African-Americans in Illinois, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
Through our partnership with Heartland Community College, in the fall of 2004 we began offering Saturday Academy—focusing on national exam preparation, study skills, test taking skills, financial preparedness and other course offerings.
Mission
Providing opportunity for youth that foster higher levels of academic achievement, a sense of community awareness and positive character growth. A Hope For The Future…
History
John Rayford, Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Christian Church in Bloomington, IL, established Hope For The Future (HFTF) in 1999 as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. For the past 6 years, HFTF program initiatives have addressed the needs of mainstream and at-risk youth with an array of services that include: tutoring, mentoring, supplementary education programs and college tours.
Problem Statement
In 2000, Illinois ranked first among the fifty states in a state by state report card to evaluate systems of higher education; scoring highest in the areas of preparation for and participation in college. Though impressive, statistics identified persistent problems in increasing diversity among university campuses, noting that there is a significant racial and income gap with minorities and low income students less likely to be exposed to college prep curriculum. (Data Source: State of Illinois, Illinois, Board of Higher Education Annual Report, 2001)
Dream Builders
This component of HFTF serves as the primary vehicle for the delivery of social services to youth. The core of the program is promoting healthy school and home environments that maximize student success. As such, HFTF provides a myriad of services that address sexual abstinence, drug and alcohol use and future visioning. Students in the Bloomington/Normal Community have access to programming that includes:
- Rap Sessions that seek to find realistic solutions to the needs of students
- Presentations addressing abstinence, substance abuse issues and motivation
- College Preparatory Sessions with focus on goal setting, college application process and scholarship acquisition
- Mentoring that offers an array of activities which build resilience for overcoming adversities and promotes a sense of belonging and bonding among family, community and peers.
Parents and other family members of youth have the opportunity to take advantage of presentations and discussion sessions that include ‘Becoming an advocate for your child’, ‘FAFSA Completion’ and ‘Saving for College.’
Our Goal
To successfully move students in the Bloomington/Normal community through middle school, high school, and college completion.
Our Vision
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Our Purpose
To provide Hope For The Future…
Hope for youth – to teach them that they can dream and make those dreams a reality
Hope for their families - that their children will continue to grow and flourish. With each new generation surpassing the last with stronger faith and higher education levels.
Hope for our communities – where youth of today become the strong men and women of
tomorrow.
Saturday Academy
In Partnership with Heartland Community College (HCC), Saturday
Academy provides supplementary education programs that address
academic deficiencies and skill building with courses that include
- Test taking strategies
- Anger management
- Language arts
- ACT preparation
- Study skills
- Career Profiling
Courses are designed for HFTF students and facilitated by the HCC faculty.
Community Service
Students take advantage of life-changing opportunities to impact their
communities. We partner with charities that assist individuals and families whose basic needs are challenged.
College Tours
We believe that “If you can dream it, you can do it”. For many students and families, visioning is essential. Annual college campus visits place students in an environment where they are poised to achieve their dreams.
Invest in Your Community
Hope For The Future (HFTF) needs your help to impact even more
individuals, families and communities. In an economy of increased demand for limited resources, donors are faced with making decisions that will result in greater community impact for dollars invested. HFTF offers programs that are comprehensive, life changing and sustainable.
We are seeking individual, schools, corporate and foundation partners who will join us in extending our reach to more young people and families. Be a part of a growing number of good-hearted supporters who continue to hope for a better future for our children, families and communities. Join us in providing Hope For The Future.
Selected Accomplishments
- Since 1999, over 400 youth have experienced life-changing situations from the impact of Hope For The Future programs.
- Working partnership with local college gives youth access to a variety of services each month.
Collegiates
Forty Five HFTF students are currently enrolled in at the following Universities:
- Alabama A & M University, Huntsville, AL
- Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL
- Claflin University, Orange, South Carolina
- Cowley College, Arkansas City, KS
- Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
- Grambling State University, Grambling, LA
- Hampton University, Hampton, VA
- Heartland Community College, Normal, IL
- Howard University, Washington, DC
- Illinois State University, Normal, IL
- Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
- Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
- Lincoln University, Lincoln, IL
- Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO
- MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL
- Parkland College, Urbana, IL
- Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
- Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
- University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
- University of Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
- Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
- Xavier University, Xavier, LA
Mt. Moriah Christian Church - A Hub of Hope to a Hurting World! Calling All People to a Safe Place in Christ Jesus.
Mt. Moriah Christian Church | 510 E. Washington Street | Bloomington, IL | 309.827.6644 ext 1 | (Fax) 309.820.2244 | Contact Mt. Moriah
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