We truly can’t say thank you enough!
This year, we made the decision to bring back Noche de Colores on tour to some of the cities where our largest support network is located. We organized gala events in Chicago and San Francisco to celebrate, reunite, share Common Hope’s story, and listen to your experiences.
Noche de Colores came to Chicago on June 13, at Loft on Lake with 75 supporters from the Chicagoland area. The event raised an impressive $40,000 and demonstrated the power of community.
The evening started with a jazzy performance by Manuel Reyes Music, setting the mood as guests explored the Guatemalan market and reconnected with others who support Common Hope, after a six-year break since the last event in Chicago. Throughout the night, attendees enjoyed a variety of finger foods, featuring American favorites as well as a hint of Guatemalan flavors.
A Warm Welcome from Dina Bair, Emcee
We are especially grateful to Dina Bair, an Emmy award-winning journalist and current co-anchor of WGN Midday News, for her incredible contribution to the evening. Although Dina's introduction to Common Hope has been fairly recent, her dedication to taking on opportunities that make a meaningful impact makes it seem as if she has been a supporter of Common Hope since the beginning. Thank you, Dina, for sharing your first-hand experiences and for adding powerful messages throughout the evening. Your insights and heartfelt stories truly resonated with longtime and new supporters in the room.
Bienvenida Jocelyn Skolnik
One of the evening’s most memorable moments was when Jocelyn Skolnik, Common Hope's new Executive Director, first appeared at a Common Hope event. Jocelyn delivered a touching speech about her upbringing in Guatemala, highlighting her spirit of generosity from a young age. Her sincere words and message about the impactful nature of small acts of kindness left a lasting impact.
“Common Hope is all about impacting the lives of those who need it most. Providing them with the tools and resources they need to build a better tomorrow. Whether it is through sponsoring a child, providing program funding, volunteering, taking a Vision Team trip to Guatemala, becoming a Pathway member — your act of kindness tonight as simple is it may seem to you — will mean the world to someone else.” -Jocelyn
Making Connections
The event was more than just entertainment; it provided a great opportunity for networking and making new connections. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and a shared commitment to making a difference. For many supporters in the Chicagoland area, promoting brighter futures through education is a personal mission that they actively pursue in their daily lives.
Common Hope is excited to have connected with Latino businesses El Giron Home + Apparel and La Malinche Coffee and Tea House. El Giron Home + Apparel, inspired by Guatemala, produces hand-made products in Chicago by Guatemalan owners Valeska Anleu and Manuel Girón. La Malinche Coffee and Tea House, owned by Héctor Aguirre and Yvette Valdez, is a colorful and brilliant coffee shop sharing a little piece of Mexican culture through stories and delicious eats.
Common Hope is grateful to have supporters who wholeheartedly believe in our mission. For those who missed out, don't worry—there's always next time. We cannot wait to return to the Windy City and be blown away by all the support and generosity of our Chicagoland Familia.
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