On October 20, 2011, about 100 people came together at Hope’s tree at Borough Hall to celebrate the launch of the fund. Read the full story here and see video of the event below:
Website currently under construction.
The Hope Reichbach Memorial Fund provides scholarships for Brooklyn-based students
who take internships in civic leadership and community organizing. We will continue
Hope’s legacy of progressive values and passion for Brooklyn in the following ways:
- Provide stipends to dedicated college students who embody the values Hope
stood for - Facilitate internships with Brooklyn organizations involved in local issues and
activism - Provide mentorship and a network of contacts to our students; enhancing their
career development - Create a new generation of leaders in Brooklyn
Hello, and thank you all for coming. I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you more about the goals of the Hope Reichbach Memorial Fund. After Hope died, we all came together to brainstorm the best way we could carry on her legacy. Since that first meeting in June, we have devoted ourselves to create a fund that embodies the values of active leadership and communal responsibility that was once instilled in Hope’s tireless pursuits. We’ve partnered with the Brooklyn Community Foundation because of their commitment to improving Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods and communities.
With your help, so far we’ve raised over 50 thousand dollars that will help underprivileged Freshman and Sophomore college students gain invaluable internship experiences in the place that was closest to Hope’s heart, Brooklyn. These stipends are intended to connect talented and dedicated students who have demonstrated interest in civic leadership and community organizing with Brooklyn organizations involved in local issues and activism.
Hope was the type of person who wanted to connect people from all different walks of life. With this Fund we wish to bridge gaps and overcome obstacles that inhibit students from making the connections they need to advance in a career path. Often the most rewarding way to make these connections is through an internship, but most are unpaid because of lack of funding. While some students of means are able to take full advantage of these opportunities, there are many qualified students from low-income communities who unfortunately miss out on worthwhile unpaid internships due to financial difficulties. With these stipends the Brooklyn community will find their talented and indispensable interns who consequently benefit by expanding their professional network. Ultimately, by continuing this Fund a new generation of Brooklyn leaders will graduate from these experiences.
In addition to this we invite these grantees to join our larger family through a mentorship program with those of us in the Steering Committee. As part of the Steering Committee, we look to strengthen the bonds of a network that Hope created and subsequently share the benefits of being connected with such an eclectic and talented group of people. We all come from different backgrounds but we all loved Hope. Although no one was more devoted to this borough, in this small way we will invigorate Brooklyn with Hope’s tenacity. Thank you again for taking the time to join us today, and for your continued support. Hope For Brooklyn.
Donate now by clicking here.
Donations to the Brooklyn Community Foundation for the Hope Reichbach Memorial Fund are tax deductible as provided by law.
A copy of the Brooklyn Community Foundation’s latest annual report is available from The Brooklyn Community Foundation, 45 main St. Ste. 409, Brooklyn, NY 11201, or by writing to the Charities Bureau, Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.