Introduction
Award Recipients
H.O.P.E. is a non-profit program in the Wenatchee Valley, dedicated to helping our kids pursue education through community supported scholarships.
Why no K in H.O.P.E.?
H.O.P.E. stands for Help Our Kids Pursue Education. The K is missing because H.O.P.E.’s goal is to bring kids who are left out into the picture, doing what we can to give the promise of education to local students who possess the foresight to appreciate its value but lack the financial resources to take the first steps.
Our Mission
The H.O.P.E. program supports students of Eastmont High School and Wenatchee High School wishing to attend Wenatchee Valley College, by providing tuition assistance in the form of $1000 scholarships, on the basis of financial need and academic achievement.
H.O.P.E.’s long term goal is that one day, any local high school student with financial need would be given the opportunity to pursue higher education thanks to the support of local citizens – locals who realize that a gift of tuition at Wenatchee Valley College is a gift not only to an appreciative student in need, but an investment in the very community that has invested in and supported us all.
The many generous local donors who have participated in the H.O.P.E. program value education. And they understand that higher education is a key way for our local students to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Increasingly, our global economy demands an educated work force with competitive skills, and a gift of tuition to a student in need is one that will pay dividends for a lifetime.
History
Beginnings
Leon McKinney, Founder
The HOPE program began in the Fall of 2004, when a team of community leaders and educators were approached by Leon McKinney to form a fund-raising effort to help the most financially needy students at Wenatchee and Eastmont High Schools pursue a college education at Wenatchee Valley College. The Event was also to honor teachers from each school district who have made a significant difference in the lives of students in the community.
Honorees
The first Honorees were Larry and Sherry Scheck whose efforts through coaching and the Arts amounted to a combined 60-plus years of making a difference. Their contributions included teaching, coaching, and Sherry’s founding of the Little Shakespearians. On behalf of so many local students, H.O.P.E. extends warmest thanks to these and many other generous local citizens who have made a positive difference in the lives of our young people.
81 Scholarships
H.O.P.E. is pleased to have awarded 10 scholarships in the first year, 15 in 2005, 28 in 2006, and 28 in 2007 for a total of 81 gifts of tuition to local students in need.
Executive Team
- Leon E. McKinney, chair
- Pat Malone, Finance and administration
- Greg Moses, Eastmont, team leader
- Ed Sand, Fund raising
- Ike Cummings, executive team, Tournament Logistics
- Jan Petrie, WVC foundation executive director, Hope Team member
Leon McKinney, Founder
Leon McKinney
Leon McKinney earned a BA in Education and a Masters in Music Education from Central Washington State University. After teaching music for four years at Pateros schools, he taught for 21 Years at Eastmont High School and served as the Director of Music for the Eastmont Schools. Since retirement from education, Leon has worked in insurance and investment, where he is a leading agent and mentor for New York Life. He is a Life member of Million Dollar Roundtable, an organization of the top five percent in the insurance industry of the United States. Twice Leon served as President of the Lutheran Church, and spent 12 years as board member of the NCW Community foundation and served as its Vice President. Leon was honored as the friend of the year of Wenatchee Valley College for the year 2006. Leon is married to Bonnie McKinney and they have four children: Jeff, Brent, Christy and Brian.
Donate
All gifts are made to the Wenatchee Valley College Foundation c/o HOPE and because of their 501-3c status these donations are tax deductible. Gifts are currently made in three ways.
I. INDIVIDUAL GIFTS CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY TO HOPE BY SENDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
PAT MALONE, 637 Briarwood Drive, East Wenatchee, WA 98802. Checks made payable to WVCF c/o HOPE. A receipt will be mailed to donor for their records. See automatic check plans below for procedure for individual automatic monthly contributions.
II. EMPLOYER PAY ROLL DEDUCTION PLANS
a. Educators from Wenatchee and Eastmont schools districts payroll deduction plans: Each school district has a form to set up these plans. Eastmont School District Payroll Deduction Form (MS Word, 28kb)
b. Business Payroll Deduction Plans: The Wenatchee World was the first business in the community to set up a payroll deduction plan for its employees this past year. Contact Leon E. McKinney at 663 2561 if interested in setting up this program for your business.
III. AUTOMATIC CHECK PLAN PROGRAM:
Contributions from any financial institution through an authorization form and implemented through Cashmere Valley Bank. All donations are then credited to Hope. This is a very easy way to automatically make contribution on a monthly basis. Cashmere Valley Bank Payroll Deduction Form (MS Word, 68kb)
Golf Fundraiser
2008 Recipients with Executive Team
On Friday October 10th, the H.O.P.E. Golf Tournament raised about eleven and a half thousand dollars. 38 golfers, representing Eastmont and Wenatchee High Schools, participated in an 18-holes scramble at the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club. In the most competitive event in the history of the H.O.P.E. cup, Wenatchee won by one point. The big winners were the kids who will receive scholarships in the Spring of 2009.
Sally and Dan Jackson were honored this year for their exceptional work in the Wenatchee School District over the last 30 years. Dan has headed up the WHS choral department, directed 15 broadway shows, and conducted several choral groups, including several US and European tours. Sally has been an outstanding teacher in the second grade, and has specialized in making a difference for at-risk kids.
Leon McKinney also handed out awards to the executive team that has been with the H.O.P.E. project since its inception. This group has now raised over $110 thousand in its first five years. Receiving small crystal mementos for their contributions on behalf of the community were Jan Petrie, Ed Sand, Ike Cummings, Greg Moses, Pat Malone and Mike Franza. A highlight of the luncheon was the personal thanks given by scholarship recipients from 2008, who have begun their education at WVC this fall.
Honorees, 2008
Luncheon
Jan Petrie
Ready to Golf