October arrived! And with it the most fun event of the season — a race against adorable, silly, and fun zombies that will make sure to chase you till the end.

The Run for HOPE… and Your Life is a fundraiser organized by Hope Services to support its Life Skills and Vocational Trainer Center Scholarship Fund. These scholarships go to people living in our community struggling with life skills and vocational training, so they can attend any of the certification programs offered by the center and start their path to a professional and more independent life.

📍 Crews Lake Wilderness Park, Spring Hill (Pasco County)
📅 Saturday, October 25
🕗 8:00 a.m. sharp!

We are calling volunteers of all ages to become zombies on that morning. Hope Services will provide make-up. FREE T-shirts and participation medals are provided for all registered participants, plus great prizes for the first three winners of every category.

We are proud to recognize Anna Smith and Kathryne Walters as the recipients of the Dineen Paris Scholarship and the Rotary Scholarship, respectively. Both earned nationally recognized certifications, paving the way for rewarding careers in their chosen fields.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the New Tampa Rotary Club for generously sponsoring Katherine’s journey. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the donors who make the Dineen Paris Scholarship possible.

Congratulations to Anna and Katherine on this outstanding achievement!

This year’s Dineen Paris Scholarship was awarded to Anna Smith, a bright young woman referred to Hope Services by her high school social worker. As graduation approached, there was concern that Anna did not yet have a clear plan for her future.

Anna expressed a strong interest in pursuing a career in culinary arts and was excited about the Hope Services Culinary Program. We assisted her with a referral to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and helped her through the initial application process. Unfortunately, due to transportation challenges, Anna was unable to attend the required in-person VR appointments.

Without the generosity of Dineen Paris and the Hope Scholarship Fund, Anna’s journey may have ended there. 

This story is a true reflection of Dineen’s legacy. She had a deep passion and a heart for helping young women become confident, independent, and prosperous adults. She would have absolutely loved Anna and been proud to see the bright future ahead of her.

Kathryne Walters was the 2025 recipient of the New Tampa Rotary Club scholarship. 

She enrolled in the Basic Retail Certification Program and excelled throughout the duration of the curriculum.

At graduation she received her National Certification   that will allow her to begin a professional career journey.

Recently, we received a message from a grateful parent that touched our hearts:

“Yesterday, Kathryne came home and said she made a friend. This has not happened since she was a small child, if ever. … Her having an opportunity to develop social skills at the level she calls someone a friend is as important as every other skill she is learning over the course of the class.”

For Kathryne, this wasn’t just a friend, it was a milestone. At Hope Services, we believe that friendship is a life skill, just as important as any certification we teach. Thank you to the Rotary Club of New Tampa for making stories like this possible.

A wonderful time was had by all at the Hope Services fundraiser held on Sunday, September 28 at Culver’s in Zephyrhills. Thank you to everyone who came out and participated!

If you missed it, no worries! We’re doing it again the next two Sundays. Join us October 5th and 12th between 12 PM and 3 PM, and be sure to purchase gift cards — 15% of all sales during that time will be donated to Hope Services.

As Culver’s says, “There is no limit to how much heart you can put into the community.” So come relax, enjoy a delicious meal, and support a great cause. We will be more than happy to welcome you!

He may be quiet, and you may not have had the chance to get to know him yet — but take a moment to reach out and say hello to Jim.

Jim joined the Dream Team prior to Dance Your Dream, and, despite his quiet nature, he quickly became an incredible help. From set-up and clean-up of the dance to loading and unloading all our decorations back into storage, Jim has been there every step of the way.

Beyond the event, Jim has been a generous donor and has shown up with a willing heart — helping clean the center and even assembling furniture for us.

Jim recently experienced the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Cindy, in July 2024. Together they raised a blended family of nine children, and now Jim enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even in the midst of his grief, Jim continues to serve with a gentle spirit and eagerness to help wherever needed.

Please join me in congratulating Jim Wills as our Volunteer of the Month for October 2025.

Congratulations, Jim!
Cindy Bray
Founder/CEO