Annual Golf Tournament Scheduled

When Brian Boycan, senior development officer with HOPE International, visited Rwanda in July along with HOPE president Peter Greer, he met a woman named Clementine who was growing her wholesaling business with the help of the organization.

"Clementine started in 2012 with a group loan of $1,000," recounted Boycan. With that loan, Clementine bought Irish potatoes in bulk and resold them in smaller quantities. Since then she has expanded her line to include flour and tea, and her most recent loan of $45,000 will help her to continue to grow the business and build a home.

Helping enterprising women like Clementine through microfinance and savings groups are ways HOPE helps change narratives. HOPE also teaches farmers to be good stewards of the land. Jeff Rutt, who founded the organization 25 years ago, was recently in Ukraine. He said that HOPE has been helping farmers there with expenses and focusing on relief, restructuring, and rebuilding. Since the invasion, he noted, "the needs are great and the opportunities to help are incredible."

HOPE is at work in 17 countries helping create financial solvency through sustainable businesses. According to Boycan, the organization has served 2.4 million people since its inception.

Paige Snyder, events planner with HOPE, added that aiding those 2.4 million translates to $1.5 billion in loans. To help enable HOPE to continue its mission, Snyder is working to plan this year's golf tournament, which will take place on Friday, Sept. 16, in three locations. A round will begin at 1 p.m. at Heritage Hills Golf Course, 2700 Mount Rose Ave., York. Two rounds will be held the same day at Iron Valley Golf Club, 201 Iron Valley Drive, Lebanon, beginning at 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. The third location will be Turf Valley Resort, 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City, Md., at 10 a.m. Those wishing to register may do so at http://www.hopeinternational.org/golf by Friday, Sept. 2. Those who would like to sponsor the event may call 717-464-3220, ext. 485, or email psnyder@hopeinternational.org.

Boycan noted that HOPE is extending its reach by expanding its HOPE Partners Network, as well as by training workers at other Christ-centered organizations in countries such as Kenya and Uganda. "We are trying to be good stewards and grow in a wise fashion," said Boycan. "These organizations are already in countries, (and they have) networks and infrastructure in place," he explained.