EmberHope

🌿 Volunteer Opportunity This Week at Our Newton Campus! Looking for a meaningful way to spend your morning? Need volunteer hours? Join us at our EmberHope Newton Campus and help make a lasting difference for the children, youth, and families we serve. 📅 Tuesday, August 11 – Thursday, August 13 🕣 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. We'll be working together on a variety of landscaping projects, including: -Weeding flower beds -Trimming trees and bushes -Edging walkways -Spreading mulch Whether you're volunteering on your own, bringing the family, or organizing a group, we'd love to have you! Projects are suitable for volunteers ages 8 and older. A few things to bring: ✔️ Closed-toe shoes 🧢 A hat and sunscreen 💧 Plenty of water to stay hydrated 🧤 Your favorite gardening tools, if you have them (we also have tools available on-site for experienced volunteers). Can't make it this week? We also host Second Saturday volunteer opportunities and are happy to coordinate another day that works for you. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e6dXqHk3 Questions? Contact Virginia Lewis at vlewis@emberhope.org or 913-295-8070. Thank you for helping us create a beautiful, welcoming campus where hope can continue to grow. 💚 And tag a friend you'd love to volunteer with! #Volunteer #VolunteerOpportunity #GiveBack #ServeWithPurpose #CommunityImpact

Every child deserves to know they are loved, supported, and encouraged to dream big. Today, we're celebrating sons and daughters everywhere, and also recognizing the parents, caregivers, foster families, relatives, mentors, and community members who help children grow into confident, resilient young people. Happy National Sons & Daughters Day! 💜💛 #NationalSonsAndDaughtersDay #EmberHope #LeadingTheChange #ChildrenFirst

🎉 Congratulations to Our Outstanding Leaders! 🎉 Today, we're proud to celebrate seven members of the EmberHope leadership team who have been recognized in the Wichita Business Journal's National Nonprofit Day Showcase. This annual feature highlights nonprofit professionals whose leadership is making a meaningful difference in our communities. Each of these leaders plays a vital role in advancing our mission and strengthening the services we provide to children, youth, and families across Kansas. Their unwavering dedication, expertise, and compassion help create brighter futures every single day, and we couldn't be prouder to see their work recognized. 💜 Congratulations to: • Dee Nighswonger | President, EmberHope Connections https://lnkd.in/enQRwfzd • Lori Gonzales | President, EmberHope Youthville https://lnkd.in/eHys_uDk • Marty Kramer | President, EmberHope Foundation https://lnkd.in/ecVzQGZV • Brian Voth | Chief Information Officer https://lnkd.in/eZvVEveP • Erica Case | General Counsel https://lnkd.in/eC_HjDSw • Marty Helget | Vice President of Foster Care https://lnkd.in/enwyevd7 • Lance Muran | Chief Financial Officer https://lnkd.in/ethUccMB Thank you for leading with integrity, compassion, and purpose. Your dedication strengthens our mission every day, creating opportunities for children, youth, and families to thrive. This recognition is so well deserved. Congratulations—we're honored to have you representing EmberHope! 💜 #NationalNonprofitDay #WichitaBusinessJournal #EmberHope #Leadership #KansasNonprofits #ServingWithPurpose #ChangingLives

A new school year brings fresh opportunities, new friendships, and big dreams. At EmberHope, we know that having the right supplies, and the right support, can make all the difference for children and families as they begin a new school year. Throughout August, we're celebrating National Back to School Month and the incredible community that helps students start strong. Here's to a year filled with learning, growth, and hope. 💜✏️🍎 #BackToSchoolMonth #EmberHope #LeadingTheChange #EducationMatters #TraumaInformedCare

The backpacks are packed, and our hearts are full. ❤️🎒 Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, nearly 850 children and youth served by EmberHope will start the school year with brand-new backpacks filled with the supplies they need to succeed. From crayons and notebooks to headphones and graphing paper, every backpack was packed with purpose. These efforts were only made possible by generous donors, dedicated volunteers, local churches, businesses, and community partners. To everyone who donated, shopped our Amazon Wishlist, volunteered, or helped spread the word: thank you. Your kindness is helping children walk into the classroom feeling prepared, confident, and supported. Read the full story and see how our community came together to make a difference: https://lnkd.in/eAzdTR4y #PackedWithPurpose #BackToSchool #EmberHope #CommunityImpact #TogetherWeCan #HopeStartsHere

✨ Staff Spotlight: Meet Lynne Hall! ✨ This month, we're shining the spotlight on Lynne Hall, Relative Support Worker II. With more than 13 years of working with children and families, Lynne is passionate about the power of kinship care and helping children stay connected to the people who matter most. Read on to learn what inspires her, what she loves most about EmberHope, and why she believes meaningful work starts with strong relationships. 💜 How long have you been at EmberHope and/or working in children & family services? I started EHC in October 2025. I previously worked for Youthville in 2012 and moved to SFM on July 1st , 2013, for the contract change. I have worked in child welfare for roughly 13/14 years. 💛 What do you love most about your job and the work that you do at our organization? I am passionate about KINSHIP. I truly feel children belong with "family" or "like family" if they cannot be with a parent. Kinship placements often lead to more stable, supportive, and culturally connected environments for children. Sometimes small changes make big differences, and I am proud to be a part of this. 💜 If someone were considering joining our team, what advice would you give them? Kinship is about stability, belonging, and maintaining family bonds. Your role is to help locate, support, and sustain kinship placements. Kinship prioritizes placing children with relatives or close family friends when possible, as this can reduce trauma, preserve cultural identity, and strengthen family connections. We often think outside the box. Our department is very supportive and family oriented. We have great staff and wonderful leadership that allows us to make both small and big impacts. 💛 Over your tenure at EmberHope, what is one of your favorite memories or achievements? It is difficult to pinpoint one specific moment, but it always gives me a sense of accomplishment and or joy to see child(ren) reach permanency. This is often through reunification or adoption. 💜 What makes EmberHope a great place to work? Meaningful work, supportive leadership, and opportunities for growth makes EHC a great place to work. 💛 Feel free to share a fun fact about yourself or something someone might not know about you! Can't carry a tune but love to put on a concert in my car! ---- Inspired by Lynne's story? Join a team that's making a difference every day. Explore current career opportunities and find your place at EmberHope by visiting www.emberhope.org/careers 🌟 #EmberHope #StaffSpotlight #KinshipCare #WorkThatMatters

Parents come in many forms, but the impact of a loving, committed adult lasts a lifetime. Today, on National Parents' Day, we're celebrating the foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, biological parents working toward reunification, and every caring adult who chooses to show up with patience, grace, and unconditional love. Thank you for creating safe places, encouraging healing, celebrating milestones, and reminding children that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved. Your influence reaches far beyond today. Happy National Parents' Day from all of us at EmberHope. 💜 #NationalParentsDay #EmberHope #FosterCare #Adoption #KinshipCare #FamilySupport #HopeStartsHere

Every day, EmberHope employees make a difference in the lives of children and families. This week, they extended that impact even further by rolling up their sleeves during our first-ever employee blood drive. With more than 20 employees donating blood, our team helped support a critical community need while demonstrating the compassion and service that define EmberHope. Read more about the event and why we're already looking forward to hosting another blood drive on our website: https://lnkd.in/gEsqTcuv #EmberHope #GiveBlood #CommunityImpact #EmployeeWellness #WichitaKS #ServingOthers #SaveLives

Earlier this week, members of EmberHope's Development and Executive Leadership teams had the opportunity to tour Hope Estates as construction continues to make incredible progress on our Newton campus. Seeing the townhomes, duplexes, and triplexes take shape is an exciting reminder of what's to come—a community designed to foster connection, belonging, and hope for generations. We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our partners, donors, and our friends and neighbors throughout Newton and Harvey County. Your encouragement and investment are helping turn this vision into reality. Want to learn more about Hope Estates and the impact it will have? Visit: https://lnkd.in/gEvPiH6g #HopeEstates #EmberHope #BuildingHope #HopeLivesHere #NewtonKS #HarveyCounty #CommunityPartners #TogetherForGood #FaithInAction #CreatingConnection

🌟July's Staff Spotlight: Becky Greenlee | Lead Program Training Specialist 🌟 Every person has a story that shapes why they do this work, and for Becky Greenlee, that story began with her own adoption. Read Becky's story below to learn more about why she loves working at EmberHope! --- 💜How long have you been at EmberHope and/or working in child welfare? I began my child welfare career in 2007 with United Methodist Youthville, supporting Kinship and Case Management teams through every step of the adoption process. As someone who was adopted as a child, it was especially meaningful to be part of helping other children find the loving, permanent families that once changed my own life. In April 2024, with both excitement and a few nervous butterflies, I was grateful to return "home" to Youthville—now as a Program Training Specialist for EmberHope Connections. It has been a rewarding opportunity to come full circle, supporting and equipping those who make a difference in the lives of children and families every day. 💛What do you love most about your job and the work that you do at our organization? From my super-supervisor to my teammates and the many other teams I have the privilege of working with each day, I truly can't imagine a better group of people to be around. Anyone who knows me knows I love connecting with others and feel right at home speaking in front of a group, so this role has been an incredible fit. Not only do I get to work within my area of expertise, but I also have the opportunity to provide meaningful support to all of EmberHope's programs and staff. Fair warning, though—being born in the 1900s gives me plenty of hilarious stories and references to share whenever I'm in front of a crowd! 💜What makes EmberHope a great place to work? I’ve had many great experiences here. At the same time, no one has great days all the time. Work can be stressful, and life outside of work can be just as challenging. One of the beautiful things about building genuine connections is that the support you give often comes back to you. The people you helped feel a sense of belonging may be the very ones who encourage you during moments of uncertainty or help lift you up when you need it most. This organization is committed to building meaningful connections, not only between children and families, but among staff as well. 💛Feel free to share a fun fact about yourself or something someone might not know about you! With my Psychology degree, a minor in Sociology, and many hours of professional training and experience, I've met the qualifications and have been approved to sit for the Human Services–Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) exam, offered nationally by the Center for Credentialing & Education. It's a goal I've been working toward, and I'll be studying throughout the coming year. ---- Ready to find your next career at EmberHope? Explore our current openings and apply today: https://lnkd.in/g8PpMv6H