As we look forward to the 2026 Building Hope for Children Gala on April 12, our event co-chairs reflect on why Casa de Esperanza is so vital to our families and community.
Araceli & Johnny Martinez
What is it about the Casa mission that inspires your volunteer work on the Board of Directors and as a family?
We care deeply about the children at Casa, and it strikes deep in our hearts, knowing how helpless a child can be without the safety and compassion they deserve. Seeing Casa continually step in with genuine care and selflessness inspires us to stay involved. Being part of this mission allows our family to help create real, lasting change in a child’s life, and experiencing it firsthand becomes a lasting memory that continues to drive us to help.
What do you most hope gala guests will see and understand about Casa?
We hope guests see the true worth of Casa’s mission — that every bit of time, support, and resources they give has real impact. Casa provides safety, stability, and hope in a way that can completely change the direction of a child’s life. And even if all of that effort helps just one child have a good life, it is absolutely worth it
Julymar Morantes & Jose Delgado
What is it about the Casa mission that inspires your volunteer work on the Board of Directors and as a family?
Casa de Esperanza’s mission to “break the cycle of child abuse and neglect” continues to inspire us because it couples compassion with a clear, forward‑focused plan to help children and families thrive. Knowing the organization is expanding its impact—through new education initiatives, neighborhood‑based programs, and thoughtful support systems—strengthens our commitment as a family and as board members.
What do you most hope gala guests will see and understand about Casa?
We hope guests see how Casa’s vision—that “every child deserves a home that provides safety, health, permanence, and hope”—comes to life through its comprehensive approach to care. From strengthening community partnerships to building long‑term stability through targeted case management and expanded facilities planning, Casa is intentionally creating the conditions for families to truly flourish.
Armida Gallegos & Michael Johnson
What is it about the Casa mission that inspires your volunteer work on the Board of Directors and as a family?
We are continually inspired by the profound impact the Foster Care Neighborhood and its dedicated staff have on the safety and healing of such vulnerable babies. Over the past year, we had the privilege of visiting the neighborhood and spending time with three of the children most deeply affected by their early circumstances. Two of them are now thriving in a safe, healthy environment—receiving the care they need to heal physically and emotionally—and have since been welcomed into loving adoptive families. Moments like these reaffirm why we serve and remind us how transformational Casa’s mission truly is.
What do you most hope gala guests will see and understand about Casa?
We hope guests recognize and appreciate Casa’s remarkable history—its long‑standing commitment to protecting and nurturing children and its unwavering focus on high‑quality, compassionate care. Just as important, we hope they see how Casa continues to evolve: expanding its vision, strengthening its programs, and exploring new ways to meet emerging needs. Casa’s impact is not only rooted in its legacy but also in its forward-thinking approach to creating even more opportunities for children to heal, grow, and thrive.
