Last night was an amazing finale to a great season of Survivor. We have been cheering Lisa Whelchel on all season. HOPE is thrilled to have her as our Celebrating Women speaker in April 2013 and we are amazed and so proud at how she played the game, represented herself, and showed the world how tough she really is.
Of course we wanted Lisa to win, but we really feel that she already won. As a woman in transition she showed that it takes determination, knowing yourself, and believing in your self to succeed. Lisa made lots of parallels between the game of Survivor and life. At HOPE we see  women in transition everyday, and have tremendous respect for them as they overcome the real life challenges, puzzels, and obstacles they face each day. Except in real life their is no immunity. 
Thanks Lisa for a great season. We can't wait to meet you in "real life". Get your tickets now before they sell out. Our event is April 25th 2013 Gardner MA all proceeds to benefit women and children in need.

Lisa is still in it. She made it to the final four. Here at the House of Peace & Education we are thrilled. She has played the game with honor and been true to herself. This is what we teach the women and children we serve, and we are so pleased to see Lisa stick to her beliefs as well.
Last night our board members and the community gathered at a local restaurant to watch the show and drum up support. It was great to see the wonderful turnout and support for Lisa.
She has come so close to the end and now she will have some difficult decisions to make. I think if she can get to the end she will  have a compelling argument to the jury. She has not been a floater, she has played the game, she has stayed in because of her social skills, and strategy. Keep up the good work Lisa!!

At HOPE we are so excited to have Lisa Whelchel as our Celebrating Women speaker. Her inspirational story of overcoming transition and not losing herself in the process is a struggle many of us have faced. This theme in her life goes back to her early days as a child star and also can be seen in her current role on "Survivor", and as she goes through a divorce. I, for one, grew up watching her on "The Facts of Life". On that show Lisa was playing a part very different from who she is in her life, and who we see on "Survivor".  Blair would have no trouble in the sneaky side of "Survivor". Lisa is playing a great game this season, but seems to finds it hard to engage in the darker side when it comes to voting people out. Last night (Nov 28th) she had a hard decision to make; was she going to betray a friend, or "play" the game. I think that Lisa made the right decision and is staying true to her beliefs.


I have always been a fan of Survivor, but I have not had such a stake in someone winning before.

TEAM LISA!!!!

Christian Orobello
HOPE
Executive Director

Over a month after, some of us are still reveling in the success of HOPE's April 19, 2012 fund-raising event, Celebrating Women: An Evening with Gloria Steinem. The evening was enjoyed by over 300 ticket holders who gathered at Mount Wachusett Community College Theatre at the Mount to honor award recipients, Marcelle Cormier and Paula Mulqueen, R.N.; and to listen to guest speaker, Gloria Steinem, author, editor, and lifelong activist in support of social justice for woman and children. Ms. Steinem inspired us to "behave as if everything we do matters."

In addition to Ms. Steinem's address, Linda Patterson, a HOPE graduate turned board member shared her experience as a HOPE woman, emphasizing the importance of the organization's mission.

HOPE raised approximately $35,000, an amount that will directly support our work with at-risk women and children. Thank you to all of our generous sponsors and all who attended in support of HOPE.

Photos below by Latrice Cooper of Photography by Latrice.