From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who attended Noche de Colores, Our Future in Bloom on May 9, 2024. The evening was extra vibrant and colorful thanks to some of our longtime friends, and new friends that make up our Common Hope Familia. Each year, our community comes together for Noche de Colores to make a difference and promote hope through the power of education. The funds raised during the night are vital for our education, family development, healthcare, and housing programs in Guatemala. At this year’s gala, our community led with hope and raised an astonishing $312,000. This reinforces our belief that we are truly stronger together.
Social Hour
This year, we introduced a new feature to our event - a silent auction! We carefully selected a range of items to inspire some friendly competition, all in the name of supporting a fantastic cause. Our auction items featured a variety of exciting options, including international travel getaways, unique local artwork, fitness packages, and beautifully handcrafted products from Guatemalan artisans.
The lumber exchange was alive with energy as Salsa del Soul filled the air with their vibrant Latin rhythms. Our signature Guatemalan market was revamped with new products, but we kept your favorite items like Felix's coffee and Edwin's chocolates!
Program
After everyone took their seats for the main program, we enjoyed a family-style sit-down dinner, reflecting the importance of family in Guatemalan culture as we welcomed new and old Common Hope supporters.
The room was full of warmth as friends, staff, and board members spoke throughout the night. Sandra, the Visitor Experience and Sponsorship Manager in Guatemala, visited Minnesota to share exciting updates about sponsorship and traveling to Guatemala. “Student sponsorship is a powerful support that we are proud to say often results in incredible stories of success,” shared Sandra. Sandra introduced One of Common Hope’s most exciting success stories involving our friend and former student, Edwin Orlando Taj.
We were honored to welcome a very special keynote speaker and former student, Edwin, who made the incredible journey from Guatemala to Minnesota for Noche de Colores. His story continues to inspire us and serves as a testament to the transformative power of education. During his trip, he had the opportunity to meet the couple who sponsored his educational journey. Now, as a successful business owner of La Trufa Chapina, Edwin's story is a powerful reminder of the impact that education can have on changing lives.
Dr. Steve, an honored guest of the night, celebrated a major milestone with Common Hope by completing his 70th trip to Guatemala. During these trips, he has been providing volunteer dental work at our clinic. Many thanks to Dr. Steve for his dedicated service!
An Auction and Special Appeal to Remember
The U.S board wanted to kick off the night with a competitive start and an opportunity to double hope by matching up to $150,000 during the special appeal. Thank you to the board and all who participated in the special appeal for your commitment to students and families in Guatemala! The special appeal served as the perfect warm-up for the auction, offering unique packages and experiences for bidding.
Guests eagerly held their paddles, anticipation filling the air as they prepared to participate in a live auction. The items up for bid included exciting opportunities such as trips to Guatemala and Tuscany, Italy, the chance to have dinner with Jocelyn Skolnik, the new Executive Director of Common Hope, as well as unique artwork, and much more!
Thank you to all who participated!
Executive Director Announcement
After a successful auction, a special message from Jocelyn Skolnik, Common Hope’s first Guatemalan Executive director was shared.
"Thank you for your support. I hope you all enjoyed this colorful night. Together, we will witness our organization flourish.” -Jocelyn
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