Planning our first event was exciting and scary at the same time. We were so excited to take the next step for Hope After Polygamy in establishing itself as a nonprofit and give out the first Hope After Polygamy Scholarships. We were all in new territory as founders of this nonprofit, but our hearts were in it to give what we could and make it all come together. We’d teeter into worries wondering if anyone would even come, you know all the worries you have when planning a big event. As founders we do not take any income from the nonprofit, so we have each been juggling our personal day jobs while establishing and planning the event. So to say the least, we were very nervous about it all coming together. We were certainly not prepared for the insurmountable support that came in that night. We over sold our event, having to close our ticketing, and we made enough to give each of our scholars $500 or more to begin or continue their journeys into their education after polygamy.
We know this was just a start, and we are already back at it embracing more ways to raise funds so that we can invest in those who have lost so much from the system of polygamy. We know that this nonprofit could not have succeeded thus far without the support from so many, so we want to extend our thanks to all of our supporters! We have spent a year now immersed in the nonprofit world learning what it takes to succeed, and we are eager for the challenge. We have been making strides, but this is still only the beginning. We are counting on you and your communities to continue to reach out to us and help connect us with anyone who you feel would be interested in being a part of our mission.
As of this event we have awarded 1 GED scholarship and 6 higher education scholarships. That is 7 people who will continue their educational journeys outside of polygamy thanks to you!
