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Founders of the Hope CommUnity Center
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(Building Community since 1972)
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In the early 70’s, “With hearts as wide as the world,” Sisters Ann Kendrick, Cathy Gorman, and Gail Grimes came to Apopka to
work with the poor and neglected. They are Roman Catholic Nuns who belong to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. They also belong to the poorest of the poor. For over thirty years they have made known the goodness of God through their love of the poor.
The Sisters say “We didn’t do anything by ourselves. People have come together to help themselves!”
They continue to say " We
ourselves have been transformed, receiving as we give,
and learning as we teach. Our world view, our faith,
our strategic planning have been a thirty seven year history
of collaboration and bridge building." This is how
community is built.
Some accomplishments:
- They raised $1.2 million to help build the Hope CommUnity Center.
- They helped form Homes in Partnership which has moved thousands of families out of labor camps and into home ownership and rentals.
- They opened a Community Trust Federal Credit Union for farmworkers to save and establish credit.
- They created Pennies for Power which is a youth credit union designed to help children organize and save their money.
- They created a Rural Law Center for basic legal services and education.
- They created Community Health Centers which provide medical and dental care for thousands of the working poor.
- They helped establish a farmworkers association.
- They fought for better treatment of farmworkers and for better education for their children.
Awards and Recognition:
- 2008-2009 Disinguished Citizens of the Year Award given by Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty Recognizing to the Notre Dame AmeriCorps Team
- Central Florida Citizens of the Year 2008 Award
- Opus Prize of $100,000 was awarded in 2006.
- Papal award in 2005.
- Honorary Doctorates in Humane Studies were awarded by Rollins College in 2005.
- Amnesty International Peace Award 2002
- Mexican Counsel's Award for Services to Orlando Farmworker Communities 1996
- Ann Vamper Helping Hands Award from National Federation of Community Developed Credit Unions 1994
- Orange County Citizen's Award for Pennies for Power Youth Credit Union 1993
- Development of Peoples Award of the National Campaign for Human Development 1990
- Florida Bar Foundation's Medal of Honor 1988
- Catholic Committee for Urban Ministry Award for Service to the Poor 1980
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