The new year has barely begun, but already, hope is growing and dreams are taking root at CeCe’s Hope Center.

Because of your support — and the incredible determination of the young women we serve — 2025 is off to a powerful, inspiring start.

Today, we want to give you a front-row seat to the extraordinary stories unfolding, the community rising, and the future we are building together.

JG’s Journey: A New Beginning

On January 2nd, JG walked into a brand-new future.

Accepted into a certification program to become an aesthetician, JG has balanced two jobs while stepping boldly into her studies. Now entering her seventh month in our 12-month program, she embodies everything CeCe’s Hope Center stands for: resilience, perseverance, and hope in action.

Her story reminds us that transformation isn’t sudden — it’s the result of countless small victories, stacked day after day.

And it’s happening because she believed in herself — and because you believed in her.

When a Community Comes Together: Acts of Generosity

At CeCe’s, we believe healing happens in community — and this past month, our hearts were overwhelmed by the generosity and compassion of our neighbors:

• The Youth and Youth Leadership of Cortina 2nd Ward created and assembled 20 Welcome Baskets for women entering our program.
  Each basket, thoughtfully filled with essential items, is more than just a collection of supplies — it’s a message: You are seen. You are valued. You are not alone.
• Rock Point Church blessed our program with generous gift cards, designed for celebrating the milestones each woman reaches.
  Every step forward — every graduation, new job, or new beginning — will now be honored in a tangible, empowering way.

Small gestures create ripples that lead to big waves. These acts of kindness will echo in the lives of the women we serve all year long.

Join Us at the Women Empowered Expo!

Want to see this movement of hope up close?

CeCe’s Hope Center is honored to be the featured nonprofit at the Gilbert Chamber’s Women Empowered Expo on January 31, 2025!

🎯 Event Details:

• Theme: “Let’s Thrive in ’25”
• Focus: Connecting, educating, and empowering business professionals — both personally and professionally.
• More Info: Learn more here

If you’ve ever wanted to get engaged, meet our team, or discover new ways to support this mission, this is the perfect opportunity.
We would love to see you there.

Laying the Foundation: Celebrating Our Board’s Leadership

None of this momentum would be possible without visionary leadership behind the scenes.
Our Board of Directors has been hard at work — laying the foundation for a future of even greater impact.

Here’s how they’re helping to build what’s next:

• Welcoming Dr. James Smith to the Board of Directors.
  As VP of Development with Easter Seals, Dr. Smith brings national nonprofit leadership expertise that will strengthen our mission and expand our reach.
• Launching our first Clinical Internship Program, thanks to Chuck Bongiovanni’s vision, and welcoming Dr. Jenny Dunaway as our inaugural intern.
• Capturing organizational knowledge through the work of Dr. Lori Wieters and Janie Scholes, ensuring our program structure is strong, sustainable, and ready for the future.
• Expanding partnerships and resources with the help of Scott September, who continues to forge powerful new connections for CeCe’s Hope Center.
• Strategically planning for growth, as Rene Lopez and Eric Bergman tour potential facilities for a future campus expansion — a critical step toward serving even more women in need.
• Strengthening our leadership bench, as Eddie Cook actively recruits future board members with the heart and skills to help lead our next chapter.
• Restructuring and refining our governance, under the guidance of James Miller, our Board Chair, to better meet the needs of a growing, thriving organization.

Each of these leaders is pouring their time, talent, and energy into building a foundation that will sustain CeCe’s Hope Center for years to come.

Their leadership today is shaping the futures of countless young women tomorrow.

Thank You for Being Part of This Extraordinary Journey

Every story of growth, every new beginning, every brave step forward — it’s happening because of you.

Your support, your belief, your commitment to building a future filled with hope is changing lives every single day.

2025 is just beginning.
And together — we’re just getting started. 💛

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

— Lea Benson, Co-Founder & CEO
CeCe’s Hope Center