December 23, 2009

A home and hope for at-risk girls

By Julie Filby

Five at-risk girls are getting a stable home, a Catholic education and hope with the opening last week of the first Girls Hope Home in the Denver metro area.

At noon on Dec. 16, Boys Hope Girls Hope dedicated the RaNae Magness Carpenter Girls Hope Home with a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new home provides a value-centered, family-like environment for five young women, age 10 to 18, whose families for various reasons are unable to provide a stable home life for them.

“Most of our scholars have experienced homelessness at some point in their young lives,” according to Mary Frances Tharp, executive director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado. “The opening of this Girls Hope Home is proof of the goodness in our community. People have given so much to make sure our scholars are cared for and educated.”

In addition to providing a home, the organization provides participants an opportunity for education through college.

The dedication celebrated three years of fundraising and two months of working around-the-clock to renovate the five-bedroom residence located in Foxfield. The $60,000 remodel—a combined effort of Boys Hope Girls Hope, HomeAid Colorado, builder Jan Knibbe of Camerata Homes and numerous volunteers—began in mid-October.

HomeAid Colorado is a nonprofit organization that builds homes for the temporarily homeless. Since its inception in 2000, they have built 26 homes or shelters in Colorado.

Renovations to the residence included new flooring, bedrooms for residents and staff, bathrooms, paint, electrical, plumbing, doors and trim, and landscaping.

The home was blessed by Jesuit Father Phillip Steele, president of Regis Jesuit High School and Boys Hope Girls Hope board of directors’ secretary.

“Father Steele and the Jesuit community has been a long-term supporter of our program,” Tharp said. “They have given their treasure, time and talent—and we are so thankful.”

Father Steele proceeded from room-to-room, blessing the house, praying for protection, peace and companionship for all who will live in and work in the home.

“We pray for the special scholars who move into this home,” he said. “Be their shelter, Lord, when they are at home, their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when we return.”

Four girls have been accepted into the program and are scheduled to move in next month, including 12-year-old “Franky” and 15-year-old “Aaliyah” (their last names have not been included for confidentiality).

“I’m thankful because Girls Hope has helped me do well in school and I wasn’t before,” Franky said at the dedication. “I get to be in basketball. I get to meet new people. And I’m thankful for the staff—they help me respect others.”

Young women living in the home attend Catholic schools in the Denver Archdiocese including St. Therese School, St. Pius X School and Regis Jesuit High School. Two single female house parents also live in the home.

Other speakers at the dedication included Bazi Kanani, 9News anchor and Girls Hope ambassador; Sean Coughlin, Boys Hope Girls Hope board vice-chair; Peter Simons, president of HomeAid Colorado board of directors; and Laura Brayman, executive director of HomeAid Colorado. Following the ceremony, the house was open and tours were conducted from 1 to 4 p.m.

The new girls’ home joins the Boys Hope Home that has been in operation since 1994. The national organization, founded in St. Louis in 1997 by Jesuit Father Paul Sheridan, currently supports 37 residences in 15 U.S. cities and four foreign countries.

For more information about Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado visit www.boyshopegirlshope. org/colorado, call 720.524.2061 or e-mail denver@bhgh.org.