Hope Hall Unveils “Raising Our Hope” $1.5 Million Matching Gift Challenge

Published November 21, 2011 09:43

Hope Hall

Sister Diana Dolce, Hope Hall’s Executive Director, Founder and Principal announced a $1.5 Million Matching Gift Challenge thanks to an anonymous donor. Board of Trustee members, staff, volunteers and high school students were on hand for this important announcement.

Hope Hall launched a $4.2 million High School Expansion Capital Campaign to fund the building and operation of a high school in January 2009 at the height of the economic downturn. To date, a total of $2,610,496 has been pledged.

The Capital Campaign Committee has done a phenomenal job thus far. The $1.5 million Matching Gift has now energized the committee and our board to continue working towards completion of our capital campaign.  Sister Diana Dolce, Hope Hall’s Executive Director stated, “Every student, faculty and staff member is extremely excited about this wonderful opportunity to have every contribution matched by the anonymous donor up to $1.5 million. By June 2012, we hope to celebrate two major achievements: reaching our campaign goal and graduating the first-ever senior class from Hope Hall.”
“Hope Hall is positively impacting students and our community. We are happy to report that 100% of our high school students have passed the New York State Regents English, US History and Science exams, more than 90% of former Hope Hall students have graduated high school AND by June, 100% of our present seniors will be ready for college and/or careers proving that the Mastery in Learning© Curriculum works. We would like to partner with the school districts in Rochester and across the nation to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to achieve academic success,” remarked Dorothy Pecoraro, Hope Hall Board of Trustees Chair.

Dixon Schwabl is to be applauded for their support of the Raising Our Hope Campaign. Dixon Schwabl partnered with our development and marketing staff to produce the campaign creative (print and electronic). Hope Hall is truly appreciative of their contribution to our mission. Don’t miss your chance to help Hope Hall continue to raise expectations, raise awareness, and raise hope while raising funds. Step up to support an educational model that works and make your donation count twice, with a tax deductible contribution to Hope Hall’s Raising Our Hope Matching Gift Challenge. Visit raisingourhope.org or contact Shaunta Collier-Santos, Director of Development by calling (585) 426-5824, ext. 4 or by emailing shaunta.collier@hopehall.org today!

About Hope Hall
Hope Hall is a private, non-denominational, not-for-profit school for students in grades 3-12 who learn differently. Our students represent more than 19 school districts in the Greater Rochester community. Greater than 60% of our students struggle with the challenges of Auditory Processing Delays, ADD, ADHD and some forms of Autism.
Hope Hall is unique because it works with children who are learning disabled in an environment that is racially, economically and academically diverse. It is the only school in the country that utilizes the Mastery In Learning © Program. Mastery in Learning© is unique because it uses multi-sensory teaching strategies with smaller class sizes, giving each child the ability to learn in their own way.
Hope Hall incorporates strong services and support for children and their families, including Linda’s Cupboard, a food pantry for Hope Hall families. Since more than 80% of Hope Hall students live at or below the poverty line, we realize that our families are struggling to make ends meet.
Hope Hall opened the new high school in September of 2010, adding grade eleven to grades three through ten. This school year (2011-12), grade twelve was added. With the new high school opening, Hope Hall implemented an innovative Career Development and Occupational Studies Program that offers financial management, ethical business practices, social entrepreneurship, career exploration, job shadowing and internships as well as hands-on woodworking skill development. Every student gives a minimum of 10 hours each year in volunteer services as part of his or her service learning and citizenship requirement.
Hope Hall is often compared with the Norman Howard School and the School of the Holy Childhood, but differs in the following ways:
 Hope Hall is classified by the NYS State Board of Regents as a regular education (not special education) school.
 Hope Hall has a 12 to 1 student/teacher ratio.
 Hope Hall’s target population is students with specific academic challenges stemming from central auditory processing difficulties. The Norman Howard School works with students who have average to above average IQ’s but experience a variety of academic and emotional challenges. School of the Holy Childhood focuses on developmentally disabled children.
Hope Hall gives students the enough time and the right environment to achieve academic success. For more information, please visit our website at www.hopehall.org.

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