Latest news with #HopeFoundation
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Food truck joins Hope Foundation, creates experiences for people with disabilities
DES MOINES, Iowa — Millie the food truck just joined 'The Hope Foundation', a non-profit focusing on creating inclusive social experiences for teens and young adults living with disabilities. Katie Hoover and Alicia Karwal lead the foundation, and they're the reason the 'MillieMovement' and 'Cups of Kindness' exist. They met in college when they were studying to become special education teachers. Now their mission is expanding. 'We love that all abilities are able to work,' says Hoover. 'We have some students that have a diagnosis of autism. We have some students that have a diagnosis of Down's syndrome and some that don't have a diagnosis. But they found their place and wanting to learn and be part of our kindness village.' Karwal adds, 'They are capable and able to work and be contributing citizens. We need to wrap around them and provide that support so that they can have these gainful employment opportunities.' 'We didn't expect it to be life changing': Hoover, Bergman say banning phones was just that The unemployment rate tells the story. It's nearly twice as high for people with disabilities. That's something Mindy Toyne wants to change for her 17-year-old son Koen, who loves Godzilla. 'They're my emotional support to help me control my feelings,' he explains 'I bring them to work because they help me stay calm and focused.' Mindy says, 'If somebody else has something that they like to wear or if it's a mannerism that they might not be allowed to embrace in a typical work place, they can go ahead and feel safe and supported while focusing on working on your eye contact, working on your social skills, and not worry about also making a cup of coffee or preparing the muffin or the ice cream float or whatever it is.' Volunteers are part of the 'Millie Movement'. They are kindness curators who work alongside young people like Koen. It's changing their lives, and the world, one cup of kindness at a time. 'We're just hoping that a lot of learning can come out of it and that the community can be kind and experience a feel good takeaway,' says Toyne. 'It's a bit of an experiment in the social aspect for all of us at the same time, but hopefully a good reminder of how to treat each other, whether you have special needs or you don't.' None of this would be possible without the support of local businesses; from Toyne's business In Any Event and BDI Signs, to La Barista, The Outside Scoop and Court Avenue Brewing Company donating food. This Saturday is Millie's first 'real' outing. You'll find her and the 'Cups of Kindness' crew at the Iowa Craft Brew Festival at Water Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ryan Tubridy says there is a ‘whole other world' waiting for Joe Duffy as Miriam O'Callaghan pays tribute
The veteran presenter announced yesterday that he is set to leave RTÉ Radio 1 in June. Working at the broadcaster for 37 years, he presented the flagship lunchtime show Liveline for 27. Former colleague Ryan Tubridy reacted to the news on Instagram, sharing a black and white photo of them posing together with the caption: "I love to talk to Joe.' 'Good man! One of our greatest broadcasters and thoughtful with it,' he continued. 'There's a whole other world waiting for Joe Duffy, here's to the next chapter.' RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan said her colleague Duffy will be the 'busiest man in the world' as she paid tribute to the Liveline host ahead of his departure from RTÉ. Ms O'Callaghan, who was speaking ahead of an annual lunch in Dublin for the Hope Foundation today, a charity that works with vulnerable children in Kolkata, India, said the national broadcaster will be 'a poorer place without him'. She said she was surprised to hear the announcement yesterday afternoon, learning about Duffy's departure while she was conducting an interview for RTÉ's Prime Time. 'He's going to be the busiest man in the world. I mean, he's got lots of big plans. I think RTÉ will be a poorer place without him, he's a brilliant broadcaster and he's also a lovely guy,' she said. "He always sends cards – if you've ever had anything go wrong in your life, Christmas cards. He's a really good guy.' She was speaking ahead of the annual lunch for the Hope Foundation, an organisation she has been involved in for 'about 20 years' after getting to know the founder Maureen Forrest. "I've always been very conscious of how lucky I am that I have eight healthy children who live in a country where they've had a very safe upbringing, and therefore I always very sensitive to children growing up anywhere else where their lives are far more dangerous and far more difficult.' Hope's international operations CEO Maura Lennon said the organisation works with some of the most disadvantaged children in Kolkata, delivering education, healthcare, vocational training and child protection programmes. "Over the last 25 years, we've impacted on the lives of over 3.3 million people in Kolkata, but there is lots more to do and we are hugely committed to fulfilling our mission,' she said. Duffy announced the news at the end of his show on Thursday. "After 37 wonderful years here in RTÉ, and 27 years presenting Liveline, it has been an incredible honour and privilege to be part of a programme that relied entirely on trust: the trust of our listeners,' he said. "People felt they could pick up the phone, ring Liveline, and share their lives, problems, stories sad, bad, sometimes mad and funny, their struggles, and their victories. "I never took that for granted, not for a single minute. RTÉ has been a great place to work. Public service has always been at its heart. "And now, after many happy years, I've decided the time has come to move on. I would like to thank you the listener for tuning in each and every day, it has been an honour to sit in this seat and hear your stories.' Tubridy left the national broadcaster in July 2023 when he stepped down from his role presenting The Late Late Show. His departure came in the wake of a payments scandal, which saw RTÉ face huge public scrutiny after it was revealed that it had made underdeclared payments to him. The presenter, his agent Noel Kelly and several senior RTÉ executives and board members were called before an Oireachtas committee Following his departure from the broadcaster, Tubridy joined Virgin Radio UK, where he hosts The Ryan Tubridy Show from London on weekdays and Sundays. The show is also syndicated, broadcasting on Dublin's Q102 at the same time. He also hosts The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy podcast.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘He's going to be the busiest man in the world' – Miriam O'Callaghan pays tribute to Joe Duffy ahead of RTÉ exit
Duffy, who hosted the flagship lunchtime show since 1998, announced his exit yesterday after almost four decades at the national broadcaster. Many have paid tribute to the veteran presenter's contribution to RTÉ and public life throughout his 37-year career, with Tánaiste Simon Harris describing Duffy as a 'national institution' and RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst saying Duffy's Liveline 'doesn't just have its fingers on the pulse, it is the pulse of the nation'. He is set to reveal what the next chapter of career might hold for him on the Late Late Show tonight, when he will reflect on some of his most memorable moments on air. Ms O'Callaghan, who was speaking ahead of an annual lunch in Dublin for the Hope Foundation today, a charity that works with vulnerable children in Kolkata, India, said the national broadcaster will be 'a poorer place without him'. She said she was surprised to hear the announcement yesterday afternoon, learning about Duffy's departure while she was conducting an interview for RTÉ's Prime Time. 'He's going to be the busiest man in the world. I mean, he's got lots of big plans. I think RTÉ will be a poorer place without him, he's a brilliant broadcaster and he's also a lovely guy,' she said. "He always sends cards – if you've ever had anything go wrong in your life, Christmas cards. He's a really good guy.' She was speaking ahead of the annual lunch for the Hope Foundation, an organisation she has been involved in for 'about 20 years' after getting to know the founder Maureen Forrest. "I've always been very conscious of how lucky I am that I have eight healthy children who live in a country where they've had a very safe upbringing, and therefore I always very sensitive to children growing up anywhere else where their lives are far more dangerous and far more difficult.' Hope's international operations CEO Maura Lennon said the organisation works with some of the most disadvantaged children in Kolkata, delivering education, healthcare, vocational training and child protection programmes. "Over the last 25 years, we've impacted on the lives of over 3.3 million people in Kolkata, but there is lots more to do and we are hugely committed to fulfilling our mission,' she said.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A CT woman went to a war zone 19 times to help children. Now she's doing the same for kids here
A Connecticut woman has made 19 trips to Ukraine to help sick, orphaned and dying children. Now, Anna Kobylarz has opened a non-profit in Connecticut to help supply kids here — from infants to teens — with clothing and personal care items. The Anna Kobylarz Hope Foundation's new 'Butterfly Closet' provides clothing, hygiene products and other essentials through referrals from partnership agencies. 'The Butterfly Closet was founded with the goal of ensuring that more children in our community have access to clothing and basic essentials such as diapers and hygiene products,' Kobylarz said. 'But it's about more than just providing items — it's about restoring dignity, lifting spirits, and letting these kids know they are seen and valued.' The Butterfly Closet operates out of a small 1,000-square-foot warehouse at 322 Ellis St., New Britain. The program provides a pretty butterfly box of items to those between infancy and 18-years-old who have been referred by agencies throughout Connecticut. They are not set up yet for individual requests from the public, Kobylarz said. 'We're getting requests from organizations who work directly with children,' she said. The boxes are filled with underwear, shorts, sweat pants, shirts, a hoodie, a pair of shoes and hygiene products. In some cases a toy may be included. Diapers are available too. 'There's a huge need,' Kobylarz said. 'We're looking to grow. In a time when many struggle to pay rent, bills and buy food, some necessities can fall through the cracks, she said. While kids 'amazingly' understand their parents' situation, that doesn't solve the problem, she said. Kobylarz said they are looking for money donations to buy new clothes, gently used clothing items, volunteers and community partnerships. The more items they have, the more kids they can help, she said. To contact Kobylarz on any of these matters text her at 914-441-6062 or email her at akobylarz@ As for her ongoing work in Ukraine on behalf of children, Kobylarz is planning a 20th trip. 'The war should stop now,' but the bombing has gotten worse,' Kobylarz said. Putin says he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine In Ukraine she's helped raise money from the United States and abroad to build a children's medical center as part of the City of Goodness, an orphanage and place for displaced moms to live. In addition to tireless fundraising Kobylarz has rocked the babies, played with the children, fed them, and changed them as an all-around volunteer. The three-story medical center, one floor for rehabilitation, one for medical treatment and the other for hospice care, opened in October. There is also a focus on raising money to continue to pay medical staff, buying more equipment and purchasing a much-needed ambulance. 'This war breaks your heart into pieces,' she has said.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fundraiser helps local families cover medical bills
CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) — The 13th annual Wine for Hope fundraiser brought a packed crowd to Waypoint 4180 in Canfield. The event, hosted by the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, raises money to help local kids and their families cover medical expenses. First News morning anchor Josh Frketic served as the master of ceremonies. 'We've been very fortunate of these individuals that just give back. People just keep giving back that don't really want the recognition but they do it because of the kindness of their hearts, for families and children and just in general the community itself,' said founder Anthony Spano. Each year, the foundation honors someone making a difference in the community with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year's winner was Bernadette Bilick. The Hope Foundation is already planning for the future. The group will celebrate 20 years in 2027. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
