Tonight I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd annual Hope Center for Kids Guild Expresssions of Hope 3rd Annual Gala at the downtown Hilton in Omaha, Nebraska. The event started at 6PM with hors d'oeuvres then the dinner and program at 7:30PM. There were around 800 people, marking the largest crowd and doubling the audience since last year's gala. This was amazing news for the Hope Center for Kids, meaning more donations and funding would come their way. It was an honor to be recognized along with the Governor, mayor of Omaha and many other influencial people in Nebraska. 
With Nicole Panneton, Mrs. Nebraska 2010.
The evening was a touching one. We heard testimonials from kids who have attended the Hope Center. Shocking facts that Nebraska has the highest millionaires were capita but also the highest rate of poverty in the African American community is not something Nebraska should be proud of. North Omaha is where a large majority of this poverty lies. And the Hope Center is there to help bring up the statistics and change the gangs, drug rates and high school drop outs. Out of kids that utilize the Hope Center, 80% of them attend college and 92% graduate high school. This blows other statistics of them in the same demographic out of the water!
With the mayor of Omaha.
The entire focus at the Hope Center is simple; it's purely "Hope." The mission of the Hope Center for Kids is to break the cycle of hopelessness for Omaha's inner-city youth by providing tangible hope through faith, education, employment and collaboration.
At cocktail hour.
Michael and I before the program.
This is a program I am excited to get more involved with. Hearing the success stories that the Hope Center has made for inner- city kids going through countless struggles is truly inspiring. To sit back and not help is something none of us can do. No matter how small the task is, volunteering to give back not only helps our society but impacts lives.
With more people from cocktail hour.
Please visit the Hope Center for Kids Website and discover more about this amazing nonprofit organization and see how you can help!
All the best,
Belinda Wright
Miss Nebraska USA
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