As 2024 comes to a close, we take a moment to celebrate all that God has done through Kids Hope USA this year. Staying true to our mission – that every child matters to Jesus – we’ve worked to equip churches to create life-changing, one-on-one mentoring relationships in their local elementary schools. This year, we celebrated 30 years of ministry, connecting kids to hope through caring, consistent mentors that show up – just for them.
From launching new programs to hosting impactful events like the Thrive Regional Conferences, we’ve stayed focused on the heart of our mission: building relationships that make a difference.
A Community Built on Faithful Support
Kids Hope USA’s story is only possible because of you – our mentors, directors, prayer partners, donors, pastors, and supporters. Whether you’ve been part of this journey for years or are just beginning to explore how you can make an impact, we’re grateful for you. This milestone of three decades is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the dedication of our community across the nation.
Stories of Impact
The real impact of Kids Hope USA is found in the stories of transformation. Year after year, we hear countless stories about how mentoring relationships have a lasting positive impact in the lives of adults and students. Here is a great example of a recent story:
“One of our mentors, Doug, has a quirky student with some special needs. But Doug found out his favorite color was green, and he loves cars. So, Doug intentionally drove his old green Mustang to the school, talked with the administration and the teacher…and they took him outside into the parking lot to sit in Doug’s car and take pictures! The student was beyond excited. It’s this kind of attention to kids’ uniqueness and then being intentional to make a connection that makes an incredible mentor and builds such special relationships!”
By the Numbers: 2024 Highlights
This year, we celebrated the launch of 87 programs (41 brand new partnerships, 25 partners that have added another partner school, and 21 middle school NEXT programs). Each of these programs brings dedicated volunteers into schools to meet with students once a week for an hour. During the 23-24 school year, volunteers spent a total of 578,084 hours mentoring students across the country. This school year, we expect to surpass this number!
In July, we surveyed 82 teachers representing 158 Kids Hope USA students. These results reaffirmed the power of mentoring.
- 100% of teachers said students look forward to meeting with their mentors
- 99% agreed that mentors are valuable members of a student’s support team
Through nearly 750 active programs in 34 states, Kids Hope USA touched over 17,000 lives in 2024. We look forward to the future of the organization and all the lives that will be positively affected in the coming years!
New Initiatives in 2024
This year brought exciting additions to our ministry:
- Thrive Regional Conferences: Over 275 mentors, directors, pastors, and prayer partners joined us for one-day events in Chicago and West Michigan, leaving encouraged, connected, and inspired.
- Kids Hope USA Prayer Guide: Published in October, this 30-week devotional resource complements the roles of mentor and prayer partner with encouragement, strength, and perspective to support the mentoring relationship. This guide is available for purchase on Amazon!
Gratitude for Supporters
This year, we feel so grateful to each one of our supporters. Donors help fund our mentoring programs, making it all possible. Volunteer mentors and prayer partners meet with students each week and pray for these relationships. Pastors and directors cast vision, oversee mentors, and keep things running smoothly. Schools work alongside church partners and support mentoring relationships. We acknowledge your incredible faithfulness and look forward to continuing the journey with you!
Looking Ahead
As we look toward 2025, we are prayerfully expectant for program growth, increased donor support, and many, many more students connecting with mentors!
Stay updated with Kids Hope USA by following along on social media, learning more about our mission and sharing your interest in starting a program in your local elementary school.
Together, we’re committed to walking in one-on-one mentoring relationships. Thanks for continuously supporting Kids Hope USA. One Student. One Mentor. Together!