Community is an Art

Hope House Foundation celebrated its thirty-second Annual Dinner on June 24, 2010. Donors, staff, honorees and people we serve filled the Waterside Marriot and celebrated “Community is an Art.”

The Hope House community would not be possible without the support of our friends and donors. This year we honored our longtime friends and supporters: Brian Blanchard, Norma Dorey, and Ed and Christel Lewis.

Brian Blanchard received the 2010 Jeff Miller Award. The Jeff Miller Award is named after Jeff Miller, who served as board president for several years and who brought forward thinking and strong business support to Hope House. This award acknowledges community members with leadership, integrity, imagination and optimism.

Brian has been involved with Hope House for over ten years. He began as the agency’s IT then moved across the country to work for Microsoft. Since relocating, Brian has continued to support Hope House in numerous ways including lending his expertise to all computer, network and software related items. Due to Brian’s recent efforts Hope House has installed an internal intranet which streamlines many daily tasks, in addition to creating new databases for services and administration, and creating and launching the online job applications program.

The 2010 Community Award recipients are Norma Dorey and Ed and Christel Lewis. Norma Dorey is owner of Changes Hairstyling & City Spa and Jake’s Place. She believes in “keeping it local” and you cannot get more local than Hope House! She is an active member in the community and advocate for Hope House. Norma has supported Hope House since the early 90’s and continues to with prize sponsorship, Friends of Stockley donations and hosting twice-yearly fundraising events in honor of Hope House.

Ed and Christel Lewis are the parents of a woman served by Hope House. They have been long time supporters of Hope House and the team where their daughter, Lisa, lives. “We support and promote Hope House whenever we have the opportunity because everyone deserves their own home.

The Lewis’ have become a vital part of their daughter’s team. They volunteer for team cookouts, donate to team events and even make sure that everyone at the team receives a Christmas present. Their support extends even further; supporting the Drive for Affordable Housing and helping Hope House secure affordable vans for use at teams through their Harrisonburg Nissan dealership.