Fueling the Future
With Every Spark

Ken’s story of resilience is extraordinary. The son of Cuban immigrants, he faced homelessness and attended 17 schools by age 15. Introduced to Boys Hope Girls Hope at a local camp, Ken excelled at Regis Jesuit High School and graduated from Creighton University as his family’s first college graduate. His journey includes earning a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis and advocating for the underserved. Named to Denver Business Journal’s “40 Under 40,” Ken’s achievements highlight how encouragement and perseverance can change lives.

Born in a Nepalese refugee camp and raised amid poverty and uncertainty, Apshara Siwakoti carried an unshakable belief that education was her way forward. At age nine, her family resettled in the U.S., and she later joined Hope Ignites Colorado, where mentors helped guide her path. With her mother’s encouragement and her own relentless drive, Apshara excelled—earning top grades, mentoring younger students, and seizing every opportunity. She graduated from the Colorado School of Public Health with a master’s degree and now works as a project coordinator doing prevention science research. She hopes to go to medical school in the future.

Memo grew up collecting recycled materials in Guatemala City’s dumps, facing severe hardship to support his family. With vital support from Boys Hope Girls Hope in Guatemala, Memo excelled academically, graduating with a degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering. His accomplishments include a TEDx talk on water purification and becoming a plant supervisor at a multinational cement company. Memo’s journey not only transformed his life but also inspired his family, including his younger brother, Daniel, who grew up alongside Memo at Boys Hope Girls Hope and recently earned his college degree in Architectural Engineering. Reflecting on how support and perseverance shaped his path, he says:

When Anissa Gilbert’s single mother faced financial difficulties, her educational prospects seemed uncertain. Fortunately, through Boys Hope Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, Anissa and her sister found refuge in the Residential program, which provided the essential support they needed to pursue their dreams. With this support, Anissa excelled academically and graduated from Duquesne University with degrees in Business Administration, Information Systems, and Marketing. Today, Anissa is a Vice President at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh. She attributes much of her success to the foundational support she received from Boys Hope Girls Hope. Reflecting on her journey, she says,