Some children don't have the same opportunities as others. They face barriers which limit their potential. But they have inspiring grit, motivation, capacity and promise. These are our scholars and collegians. You are providing access to the education and opportunities so they thrive!
BHGHCO nurtures and guides motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others
Boys Hope Girls Hope was founded in 1977 by Fr. Paul Sheridan, S.J. As an educator in St. Louis, MO, he had seen the potential of too many young lives extinguished by negative factors: underfunded schools; families distressed by poverty; and neighborhoods shattered by drugs and violence.
Established in 1993 in Colorado, BHGHCO began a Residential program with the opening of the Boys Hope home. The Girls Hope home opened in 2010. The Residential program's main education partner was Regis Jesuit High School (RJHS). In 2013, BHGHCO implemented the Academy program, at Aurora Central High School (ACHS).
In 2018, in response to community needs, BHGHCO transitioned out of the Residential program and provides Academy programming at RJHS and ACHS, serving more scholars and collegians than ever!
In 2020, we serve over 100 scholars and collegians. That is a 200%+ growth from 2010! During the pandemic we serve our scholars mainly remotely but do small, in person activities.
Eveli began with Boys Hope Girls Hope while at Aurora Central High School in 2013. During her freshman year a teacher mentioned that there was an opportunity she thought she should investigate. She was given information about a meeting that would introduce her to the program. She applied quickly thereafter, and the rest is history.
Eveli says being in the BHGH program was a big change for her. At that point in her high school career she was not heading in a good direction and she was not giving it her all. She was careless and had little regard for her GPA. BHGH changed how she saw things and provided experiences that made a difference for her.
Looking back, she says aside from the scholarships BHGH both provided and helped her attain, she appreciated the tutoring and the introduction to volunteering. She remembers being taken to college campuses for tours and realizing that is what she wanted so much.
After graduation, Eveli attended Community College of Aurora on an Aurora Gives scholarship. She was excited that the class sizes remained roughly what they were at ACHS and she had wonderful professors and instructors.
Graduating with an Associates degree this year, she is investigating her next opportunities - maybe nursing, maybe something else in the medical field.
Her advice for other scholars is that no matter what happens in life, keep going. Even if it's tough. Keep pushing.
