A little friendly competition can go a long way, especially when every toss helps support children and families.
On Saturday, September 26, teams, sponsors, and volunteers gathered at The Sandbox in Derby for EmberHope’s Cornament for Hope. The tournament brought people together around a shared purpose: raising awareness about foster care while giving the community a fun, meaningful way to get involved.
For Charissa Wall, Associate Director of Development, who spearheaded the event for the second year in a row, that connection between fun and purpose was at the heart of the day.
“The goal for this year’s Cornament for Hope was to raise awareness about children in foster care and adoption case management, create an opportunity for our community to answer the call to action of supporting our children, and have fun.”
And a cornhole tournament offered an approachable place to start. By registering a team, sponsoring the event, or volunteering, participants turned a Saturday outing into an act of support for children and families across Kansas.
A Shared Mission, a Stronger Community
Events like Cornament for Hope create opportunities for people to connect with EmberHope’s mission in a personal way. Friends can form a team, coworkers can rally around a cause, businesses can invest in their community, and volunteers can give their time and talents to help make it all happen. Together, those contributions build something that reaches beyond the tournament.
“Every team that registered helped create financial support for EmberHope while also bringing friends, coworkers, churches, families, and community members together around a shared mission,” Charissa shared.
Sponsors helped make the event possible, demonstrating how local partnerships can strengthen support for foster care services, family support, and programs serving children and youth. Volunteers contributed their time to bring the event to life, while participating teams helped connect more people to the work EmberHope does every day.
Each contribution mattered. Together, they reflected a belief central to EmberHope’s mission: children and families thrive when a caring community surrounds them.
“Every team that played, every sponsor that invested, and every volunteer who showed up helped strengthen the circle of support surrounding children and families affected by foster care,” Charissa said.
Gratitude for Everyone Who Answered the Call
To everyone who participated, sponsored, volunteered, or helped spread the word: thank you.
Your generosity helped make Cornament for Hope a meaningful opportunity to gather, give back, and raise awareness. Whether you came ready to compete or simply eager to support a cause close to your heart, your involvement helped connect our community to children and families served by EmberHope.
As Charissa put it: “Thank you so much for your generosity and having a great time!”
That gratitude extends beyond a single Saturday. EmberHope’s work depends on people who choose to show up, share what they can, and help create opportunities for children and families to move forward with hope.
Find Your Way to Keep Hope Growing
The tournament may be over, but there are many ways to keep that spirit of generosity going.
A financial gift helps provide resources and services for children, youth, and families. Becoming a monthly donor offers dependable, ongoing support. Businesses, churches, civic groups, and community organizations can sponsor events, host collection drives, provide resources, or build lasting partnerships with EmberHope.
Collecting clothing, school supplies, hygiene items, luggage, or holiday gifts is another practical way to help. Giving your time as a volunteer can turn your skills and interests into meaningful service.
“There are many places for a person to fit in with our mission,” Charissa shared.
Will you be the one to take the next step? Whether you feel called to give, volunteer, foster, or bring others together, there is a place for you at EmberHope. Visit our Foundation page to explore ways to get involved and help strengthen the circle of support surrounding children and families.
