Fueling The Future With Every Spark
Hope Ignites New York helps motivated high school students rise above disadvantaged backgrounds. Our goal is to graduate young people who are physically, emotionally, and academically prepared for post-secondary education and a productive life, breaking barriers so they can become community-minded leaders.
Hope Ignites firmly believes that young people have the power to overcome adversity, realize their potential, and help transform our world. They create these successes when we remove obstacles, support and believe in them, and provide environments and opportunities that build on their strengths.
Our Mission
To nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others.
Our DNA
Academic Focus
We believe in the transformative power of education to develop lifelong learners.
Service & Community Engagement
We believe in the Jesuit-inspired, values-centered hallmark of building “persons for others.”
Family-like Setting & Sense of Belonging
We believe youth derive their energy and sustenance from exposure to nurturing environments.
Long-term & Comprehensive Commitment
We believe an enduring relationship with youth holds the most promise for attaining positive outcomes.
Faith-Based Values
We believe that a loving God cares about the life of every individual and we manifest this belief.
Voluntary Participant Commitment
We believe in the motivational power of self-selection into the Hope Ignites program.
Leadership
The Hope Ignites Detroit Board of Directors and team leadership collaborate to ensure mission fidelity, financial stewardship and transparency. Together, this group of professionals is committed to continuous learning, effective programming and outcomes, and improvement through impact evaluation and innovation.
Lena Washington
Executive Director
Laressa Bordenave
Director of Scholar & Alumni Services
Kevin Smith
Director of Academic Services & Residential Life
Board of Directors
Mike de Graffenried
BOARD CHAIR
Retired
Citibank
Hunter Milliner
TREASURER
Director, Accounting Advisory Services
KPMG
Sean Creegan
Director of Operations
Slate Path Capital
Jim Dezell
Senior Vice President
Lockton Companies
Raumert Hubert
Senior Casualty Risk & Fraud Consulting Leader
Traveler’s Insurance
Barbara Demosthene
Attorney
Lloyd’s America
Palmina Fava
Chief Integrity Officer & Global Head of Litigation for TMICC and General Counsel
Ben & Jerry’s
Jim Donohue
Digital Product Manager
Wells Fargo
Formeka Hayslett
Director, Client Advocacy for Reinsurance Solutions
Aon
Jessica Rawlins Smith
Chief Development Officer
The Innocence Project
Rod Patterson
Vice President and Director of Property Claims
Seneca Insurance Company
James Safonov
Healthcare Chief Technology Officer
The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Hope Ignites All
At Hope Ignites, we are a passionate team of individuals from all walks of life, united as One Team One Mission. The strength of our Network lies in the incredible potential within each person, and we take pride in creating a community where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.
Built into our DNA is a commitment to family-like settings fostering a deep sense of belonging. This means prioritizing authentic connections, truly listening, recognizing everyone’s experiences, seeking understanding and building trust. We believe that bringing together a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and differences within our teams and boards strengthens our ability to support the young people we serve.
Their safety, well-being, experiences, and opportunities are at the heart of our mission. As we invest in each scholar and team member, we are also working to build bridges of understanding and create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
STEWARDSHIP
We pledge to ensure your investment has the impact that it merits. Hope Ignites continues to enhance our Performance Management Tool, utilizing peer accountability and support across our fourteen affiliates and Headquarters.
This consistent evaluation allows us to assess our data-centric, outcomes-oriented programming. Our ability to generate real-time data gives us the opportunity to provide maximum transparency to our stakeholders.
Additionally, Hope Ignites adheres to AFP’s Donor Bill of Rights.
Hope Ignites and all 14 affiliates undergo an annual audit. This transparency enables us to demonstrate our sound stewardship of the resources invested by our generous donors.
