2024 & Past Recipients

Each year Hope For Widows Foundation offers grant opportunities to widowed women in need.

2024 RECIPIENTS

2024 RECIPIENT – MARIA RIVAS-DIAZ

This grant means so much to me and my family. This fall the three of us will all be in college – my youngest starts the first year of culinary school, my eldest will start his sophomore year and I will be starting my first semester of grad school. The entire grant will go toward tuition. Thank you for helping my family close the gap to finance our academic goals. I’m so very thankful that Hope for Widows exists and supports hundreds of women who have had to work through so much grief – Maria Rivas-Divas

2024 RECIPIENT – JOHNETTE WICKER

I met my husband in 2014 after joining a dating app. We purchased our 1st home together in 2016 and married in 2017. He was diagnosed with cancer in Jan 2020, then the pandemic struck. Sadly, he passed away Sept 8, 2023. Although we attempted to prepare ourselves for the days when I would have to make life decisions without him, it has been a emotional, mental, and financial struggle to keep up our home in honor of his memory. It has felt so lonely since my husband’s passing and very overwhelming to manage small home repairs without him by my side. Some days I really felt like giving up on life until someone recommended Hope For Widows. It has been a tremendous help. I feel like GOD is finally hearing my cries just for someone to understand my grief and sadness as I navigate life without my amazing husband. He was my superhero. With support from Hope For Widows, I feel heard, I feel understood, and I feel blessed that there are people who can help me navigate life as a widow. Thank you Hope For Widows for your compassion, support, and understanding for grieving women.- Johnette Wicker

2024 RECIPIENT – SARAH SIHARATH 

Being selected as one of the recipients of the Hope for Widows Grant has been a wonderful surprise during this very difficult time in my life. It will help with some of the financial burden associated with the loss of my beloved husband. I am so grateful for Hope for Widows as it is exactly the name, hope for my sons and I future. Thank you for providing me with support and resources when I need it the most.- Sarah Siharath

2024 RECIPIENT -JORDAN RUSSELL

Being selected for the 2024 Hope for Widows Restoring Hope and Peace Grant is a tremendous blessing. I lost my husband (Casey) after a 3-year battle of brain cancer. During his battle, I had to leave my job to become his full-time caregiver and lost our apartment. I have severely struggled mentally and financially since his passing and have been left with a large amount of debt. This grant will go to getting our vehicles back up and running, getting set up to work from home, vet care for our pets, and other basic necessities/debts due. Finding Hope for Widows has helped me to feel less alone on this journey none of us ever wanted to be on, and to feel more optimistic that there can be a new life after a great death. I am very grateful for all who have shared their stories and all who have started this foundation for widows. – Jordan Russell

PAST RECIPIENTS

2023 RECIPIENT – KAITLIN RHODES

Words can’t describe how being awarded this grant means to me. This group is so special to me and reading everyone’s stories and struggles has helped me tremendously. The friends / hope sister friendships I’ve made along the way have helped answer some of my questions that only the ones who have been through this journey would understand. Since my husband and I were in the middle of remodeling our new home, I will put that money towards new windows and gutters to help my basement from leaking. – Kaitlin Rhodes

2023 RECIPIENT – GAYANN PULEO

Being selected as one of the recipients of the Hope for Widows Grant is a blessing. It will help with some of the financial burden accompanied with the loss of my beautiful husband. I am forever grateful and blessed and so very happy that I found this community. -Gayann Puleo

2023 RECIPIENT – KYRA NIETO

It is such an incredible honor and blessing to be chosen as one of the 2023 Hope Sister Awardee’s for the Restoring Hope & Peace Grant. The Hope for Widows Foundation has been such a Godsend for me, even prior to this generous grant. The social groups and pages have become part of my daily life and where I turn to for reassurance & support that I can’t get anywhere else. Several months ago, I also received one of the Sunshine Mail packages with such thoughtful and useful self-care items. The whole entire box was so perfectly handpicked and special to me. It was the “Sunshine” I so desperately needed during such a horrific time. My husband, Alfonso, was an amazing husband and father, and he was the sole provider for our family of 7. Between suffering my own grief and trying to be strong for my kids and help support them through theirs, it has been so hard to get back into the workforce. I am working 2 jobs now, one of them being at my youngest children’s school thankfully. But even with working so much, being such a large family makes finances extra tight. This grant is absolutely life changing and will help get us caught up with the house, utilities, groceries, back to school shopping and so much more. Thank you deep down from the bottom of my heart and my children thank you all too! We appreciate each and every person who made this all possible! -Kyra Niet0

2023 RECIPIENT – TAWANA PROCTOR – ROBINSON

Thank you so much. I am honored and pleasantly surprised that you selected me. I truly appreciate this Restoring Hope and Peace Grant and this organization overall. I appreciate my widow Hope Sisters. I will use it to help replace my clothes and belongings that were taken from me at my most vulnerable time as well as to aide in my journey while being a care giver for my mother. -Tawana Proctor-Robinson

2022 RECIPIENT – JENNIFER DUPRE

Jennifer Dupre from California. Congratulations! Jennifer lost her husband suddenly to a heart attack in March 2018. Jennifer shares: “

“Thank you Hope For Widows Foundation! It’s such a privilege, an honor to be awarded with this prestigious award….my heart is so full of Joy. After my husband’s passing I encountered so many emotions that drove me into a deep depression. My health also started to decline, in which my primary care physician decided that it would be best to stop working, and immediately placed me on permanent disability. I’m a small business owner, and since I’m unable to work, I don’t have any income coming in. I applied for Social Security disability benefits almost 3 years ago, benefits I’m entitled to, but still I’m waiting for approval. I’ve been depending on both of my kids during this time, my true Angels….Alasia (23) & Alonzo (21) to help support me. They’re working multiple jobs just to make sure we have shelter, food, and the necessities of life. Never did I imagine that I’ll be in this type of situation.

Being a recipient of this grant is truly a blessing. I’m truly grateful as this is an answer to my prayers. Plenty of nights I’ve cried not knowing where to turn to, who to turn to, or what to do. So worried about a place to live, having food to eat, just being able to take care of myself due to the unforeseen circumstances of life. But overall my faith is what’s been keeping me strong and fighting each and every day. I’ve never won anything before in my life! I’m truly humbled in receiving this :pray::skin-tone-4:. I’ll use the money to finally pay a few bills that have fallen behind, buy food, medication, and finally feel like I’m able to contribute to our household after all
of this time.

By the grace of God, I was led to Hope For Widows Foundation, and I can honestly say that they are absolutely a God sent. This is where I finally found my Safe Haven. These women are amazing, remarkable, caring, an answer to my prayers. I’m more at peace, knowing that I have sisters who are here for me, who will listen and understand the pain/grief that I’m experiencing, who love and support so selflessly. I’m truly blessed and am forever grateful to your foundation and the donors for this grant. I’m also blessed in the forever relationship that I have with my sisters. I love each and every one of you! Thank you again for allowing my heart to smile once again!” – Jennifer Dupre



2022 RECIPIENT – CHRISTIE PIPPIN HOTTEL

Christie Pippin Hottel from North Carolina. Christie lost her husband by suicide just a few short weeks ago in May 2022. Christie shares: ” Thank you for the start of hope. Community and hope are so important to this journey and every bit of support is a step toward peace. The other stories and sharing in the community provide a lighthouse in this storm. This is the hardest thing and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. To know others survived this is everything. Thank you for everything, Hope for Widows Foundation!”


2022 RECIPIENT – LILLIAN ALAMOS

Liliana Alamos from Texas. Liliana lost her husband to COVID Pneumonia in October 2021.

With all our hearts I would like to thank Hope for Widows Foundation for awarding me the 2022 Restoring Hope and Peace Grant. This means so much to me and my 5 children. This comes just in time for me, and my kids and I will be able to pay some past due bills and help my daughter out with her dual credit high school/college classes. Thank you so much. Thanks to all the sponsors and thank you for choosing me. I never would have thought I would be in this situation. My husband was a good hard-working man, and he loved his family. We had so many plans for our future. He loved fishing and we talked about buying our own boat and just being in the water with our kids. We have 4 girls ages 15, 14, 7, 8, and finally his proud moment when we were blessed with our son age 5. He passed away on October 25, 2021 from Covid Pneumonia. Now all those plans are just gone. I’m left to raise 5 children on my own. I just think of all the things that he will be needed . My 4 girls wedding, their graduation, my son whose left without a male role in his life. We were also about to have my 2 older girls Quinceanera right before he went into the hospital. All that was cancelled of course. Now living without him has been a challenge and our greatest pain. It’s been hard. He was the only one working for our family while I stayed home to care for our kids. Now financially it’s been hard. We all miss him so very much. But I am grateful that I found this Foundation. It has helped me so much. I have learned from all the beautiful woman who are so kind and, in my situation, as well. There is no right way of grieving so one day, one hour, one moment at a time and all these women we are all going through this together. The amount of support and uplifting each other is beautiful. Thank you to all. Thank you to this Foundation whom I don’t know where my sanity would be without y’all. Thank you for this grant for giving me and my children some relief during our most difficult time. I am so appreciative. Thank you thank you thank you thank you so many thank you’s.
-Liliana Alamos and children (Jennifer, Crystal, Alyssa, Vanessa, and Saul III)

2022 RECIPIENT – SANDIE SNYDER

Sandie Snyder from Minnesota. Sandie lost her husband to Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation on February 2021. Sandie shares: “At this difficult time, I feel so very grateful to have been chosen as a 2022 Restoring Hope and Peace Grant Awardee. As many know, this time is truly trying. Losing your best friend, the love of your life, only to be faced with the entirety of it all, the over abundance of business, paperwork, and finances.  I was losing my footing, but this grant will enable me to process my grief without my finances consuming my mind at all times. Such momentous relief!With this grant, I can make it. I can finally pull it together. With this grant, I will survive.Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” – Blessings to You,

Mrs. John Snyder

 

2021 RECIPIENT – ANGELA ARD

I never imagined when I married that my marriage would be cut short by the death of my husband. Then it happened and I was lost, no clue what to do and not quite sure how to maneuver through my new life. So, I did what so many do I begun the search to find help, through people, places, books, websites and more….to my surprise I stumbled upon a community, a community of women who all certainly have one thing in common, we’ve all lost our spouses. Hope for Widows Foundation and the amazing members have helped me push through some of my darkest days. In a matter of 8 weeks, I lost my husband, my son was murdered, and I lost my job.  I desperately reached out to HFW for job search assistance/leads, the admins were amazingly wonderful and so very generous to take the time to respond and even offer to share my resume. 

Losing a spouse is so very hard, losing a child 5 weeks later is unexplainable. Finding a safe place to go to, where I can ask questions, find answers, get encouraged and even find motivation to survive those minutes in time has been life changing, lifesaving, truly a blessing.

I’m surviving the lowest, hardest most painful days in my life. After 2 funerals, no life insurance, job loss the stress has been unimaginable, even affecting my health. Having to choose between paying the most basic bills, buying groceries, taking care of healthcare needs, or filling much needed prescriptions has made some days an emotional struggle to live. Receiving the HFW grant TRULY did what I believe it is intended to do, it gave me HOPE that better days are to come and gave me a WILL to live so hopefully I can be the strength for other women in their dark times.

Thank you Hope for Widows Foundation for caring about me, thank you for helping me to survive on so many levels. Thank you for being a safe, caring place to go to.



2021 RECIPIENT – TIESHA GIBSON-ROCK

Thank you so much to the Hope For Widows Foundation for awarding me with the 2021 Restoring Hope & Peace Grant. My life has been forever changed since I lost my husband in December of 2017. I have been suffering from depression as well as stress because of the financial strains that have been put upon me after he passed away. This past March, my community was hit with a EF4 tornado. While I did not suffer a total loss, my home was damaged. A portion of this grant will go towards paying my insurance deductible as this was an unexpected expense.

Thank you to all of the donors for believing and supporting this organization. This grant truly does give us “Hope & Peace”.


2021 RECIPIENT – BRIDGETTE TEICHROEB

Being a recipient of the Restoring Hope & Peace Grant is such an honor.  As a now solo mother of two young children (11 months and almost 3), income has been very fixed and limited.  My husband was the sole breadwinner for our family as it was our desire for me to stay at home with the kids until school age.  We had discussed and agreed that I would go back to school part time, while staying home with our boys, to finish my degree, with the long-term goal being opening a counselling practice of my own.  Since losing my husband I am continuing with our plan and my goals, with one change, however.  Instead of pursuing classes casually with time to spare, I am now trying to go as full time as is possible with limited funds and two children so I can have my degree sooner than later, given that the “slow and steady” route isn’t nearly as financially plausible long term now. I need my degree so I can financially support the same quality of life for myself and our children that my husband provided us. I don’t want our children to suffer just because I’m all they have.  I have zero intentions on finding another partner at any point, and that means I will be the sole financial support for our family for forever – a role I can take on, I just need a little education first.  As mentioned earlier, my husband was our sole provider, so trying to support our kids while finishing a degree feels like a financially insurmountable task that the Restoring Hope & Peace Grant has helped to lessen.  This grant will pay in full for my next 3 classes and the textbooks needed for them, meaning I don’t have to worry about having enough money saved until January 2022 classes.  To say that’s a huge relief would be an understatement.  I am smart, capable, headstrong and brave, but I also know the benefit of humbly accepting help when it’s so generously offered. I want to express my sincere gratitude again to the Hope for Widows foundation for selecting me, I assure you the money is being put to valuable use.

2020 RECIPIENT – MARGIE CASTRO



 

2020 RECIPIENT – ANN LEWIS

“Thank you so much to Hope For Widows Foundation for awarding me the 2020 financial grant. It has been extremely hard since my husband passed away unexpectedly in October of 2019 and then a couple months later the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

I am a waitress for a local restaurant and lost my job. The grant has helped me tremendously. My only car was in the shop and I was told I had to get a new transmission.

Thank GOD for this grant as it helped me pay my deductible from my warranty so I could get my car fixed and it allowed transportation for my two children. I was also able to pay a couple of my necessity bills since I have not been able to really pay any of them because unemployment does not cover everything that I need.

When I got the phone call saying I was going to receive the Restoring Hope and Peace 2020 Grant it was the greatest blessing ever. I want to say thank you to all the wonderful women in this Foundation, you are a true blessing. It really does help knowing that there are people out here that care and truly help. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful group than I can count on to get advice and just read stories and to know I am not in this alone. Thank you so much again Hope for Widows Foundation.” – Ann



2019 RECIPIENT – ELIZABETH (BETH) RYAN

Beth became a sudden widow by losing her husband Phil by heart attack in February 2017, her and Phil have two children, ages 12 and 17. In 2018 the unexpected happened, and Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer. Grief and breast cancer was not a combination that she ever imagined having to battle after the loss of her love. Beth had to leave her job to take care of her health and children She shares: “Cancer touched my boob, so I am kicking its ass!”

Beth shared she would not know where she be without the support of her Hope Sisters: “I have followed Hope for Widows Foundation since early on in my grief journey. It truly helps knowing that you are not alone in the struggle and the obstacles we face when we have lost our loved one. Having hope helps bring one to a peaceful place, but it is an ongoing challenge. I am thankful for groups like Hope for Widows Foundation, especially on social media, that can help when we face dark times.”