Our History

Hope Multiplied began as an organization in 2012 and set out to be the place where people’s greatest needs were met using people’s greatest passions. The organization was founded by a group of individuals who felt called to create a new model for philanthropy and service, one that focused on connecting with those in need before doing, understanding and listening before acting. Under our previous name, The Hope Association, our organization started with 25 volunteers and set out to identify the greatest needs in each community we visited around the DC area. 

From meeting with government officials to community activists and organizers, to doing needs assessments and independent research, our singular aim early on was to listen to those doing the work and invested in these communities and identify ways we could help out and make an impact. This research led to the creation and implementation of service events that began in Arlington and Washington DC in 2013. These events were one-time efforts partnering with current organizations serving these areas to fill a gap and meet a need on an individual level. These events included a holiday party for children with cancer and blood disorders and their families from the local hospital as well as a 5K race and fun run to raise money and awareness for children in need. We also established our Love Your City monthly event base where we identified various homeless communities in the DC area and put on monthly events, such as barbecues, job training and resume building, leadership development, and haircuts for the homeless as a touchpoint for this often overlooked and marginalized group. 

Eventually, as the organization grew its footprint, and 25 volunteers turned into 150, we began to create ongoing programs in addition to the one-time events in these neighborhoods to create more of a sustainable, ongoing impact in the areas we served. In 2016, we launched our mentoring and read aloud programs in South Arlington to combat the growing epidemic of at-risk children in the public school system there. Additionally, that year, we created and launched our own pediatric mobile health clinic serving Wards 7 & 8 as a collaboration and partnership with Children’s National Medical Center, providing access to healthcare for thousands of children in need in those neighborhoods. These programs and projects ensured an ongoing presence and footprint in these communities and allowed us to have a sustainable way to measure growth and progress for those we serve. 

Today, Hope Multiplied has over 300 active volunteers serving in 6 programs in 4 neighborhoods throughout the DC area, as well as a second mobile health clinic in Cairo, Egypt. We partner with several community groups, churches, and nonprofit organizations to carry out our work and mission. We continue to search for the next greatest needs that arise in our community and remain committed to being as flexible and malleable as possible in order to address the next greatest crises. We are confident that with our continued focus and commitment to putting those we serve first and at the forefront of everything we do, we will continue to find ways to make an impact for those most in need in the DC area and beyond.