A Year of Hope in 2026

At Hope Extreme this past semester there was a young student who used to cry and completely shut down whenever schoolwork felt overwhelming. Reading was especially hard, and frustration often left him in tears. But week after week, volunteers sat beside him, patiently helping him sound out words, celebrating every small victory, and reminding him that he was seen and valued. One afternoon, after finally reading a full page on his own, he looked up through tears and whispered, “I didn’t know I could do this.” In that moment, something in him shifted — not just his confidence, but his belief that his future could be different. This year he walks into Hope Extreme with his head held high and a smile that lights up the room. What started as a place where he once cried and shut down has become a place where he has found hope, courage, and a brand-new story. We are excited for more stories like this to be written in 2026!