When you think of the biggest moments from your life, what comes to mind? Take a moment to really think about them. Maybe some of the following moments came to mind: a milestone birthday, high school graduation, your wedding day, the birth of a child, an anniversary, a tragedy, or a spiritual decision that changed the course of your life.
Now, I’d like to ask you a second question. During life’s biggest moments, who was there with you?
Chances are, for many of the moments that came to your mind, you were surrounded by family—whether by blood or circumstance or choice.
Family are the people we live life with. They are the people who love us unconditionally and provide us with identity, belonging, and security. They shape who we are and are the ones who stand next to us during life’s most memorable moments—both the good and the bad.
This is because family is about more than blood and DNA. Family is more than the people we live with. It represents support, connection, and hope. At least, hopefully that is the case.
My wife, Kim, experienced this firsthand when she was adopted out of a hospital as a newborn. Her birth mother was unable to care for her. But the loving family that brought her into their home? They didn’t just provide shelter—they gave her hope and a future. Their love and sacrifice helped raise a brave, selfless young woman that I fell in love with—a woman who loves God and loves people with her entire being.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, we have the chance to share that same hope with children all over the world. You can help an orphaned child find a family who will love them, care for them, and stand alongside them during life’s most important moments.
Giving Tuesday is a global celebration of generosity—a day when people everywhere come together to make a difference.
This year, I invite you to join us in transforming lives. Together, we can change the way the world cares for orphans.
The Hope Effect
If you’re new here, let me share a little background. In 2015, with the incredible support of the Becoming Minimalist community, we launched a nonprofit organization called The Hope Effect. Our goal is ambitious: To change the way the world cares for orphans.
Why is this so important?
Because right now, millions of children worldwide are growing up without the love and stability of a family. In many developing countries, these children are placed in large institutions—what we often refer to as orphanages.
But research has shown us for decades that institutional care can have deeply harmful and lasting effects on a child’s well-being. In fact, dating back to the 1930s, studies have shown us unequivocally that institutional care can be incredibly hard on a child.
This is easy to see when we give it thought. Children raised in orphanages, with large child-to-adult ratios, miss out on the essential love, personal attention, affection, and nurturing environment that a family provides. This lack of connection can delay their development, limit their ability to learn, and leave scars that last a lifetime—nor does it provide an example for the child of how a healthy family functions.
Even more devastating is what happens as these children grow up. Many age out of orphanages, only to face a bleak and uncertain future. Children raised in an institutional orphanage are 10x more likely to end up trafficked in the sex industry, 40x more likely to have a criminal record, and 500x more likely to commit suicide!
But here’s the good news: There’s a better way.
The Hope Effect is working in multiple locations around the world to provide innovative, family-based care—ensuring that every child has the chance to experience the love of a family.
Surrounded by the love of a family, children like Verónica* are growing and thriving.
Verónica’s Story
At just a year old, Verónica was abandoned by her biological family. She was placed into an orphanage, where she remained for the next few years.
During this formative time in her life, Verónica was without the love of a family. While her basic needs—food and shelter—were met, she desperately needed the individual attention and personalized care only a family can provide.
Thankfully, earlier this year, because of your support for The Hope Effect, Verónica was welcomed into the warm embrace of a foster family. There, she began to flourish—reaching milestones, making developmental gains, and experiencing new “firsts” every day.
Take a look at this short video to see Verónica’s foster family share their experience, and witness her heartwarming transformation for yourself.
What a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact a family’s love can have. And today, on Giving Tuesday, you can help more kids like Verónica discover the kind of hope that only starts at home!
This Giving Tuesday, Hope Starts At Home
Join us today in changing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children. Giving Tuesday is our biggest fundraising day of the year. And I invite you to be a part of it.
This Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise $200,000 to help more children experience the love and stability of a family.
Thanks to a generous group of donors, every gift—up to $100,000—will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your impact. And because 100% of your donation can go directly to orphan care, you can be confident your support is making a real difference.
The Hope Effect is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible within the U.S. And if you have questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to connect.
Thank you for being part of this life-changing work. Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans… because hope starts at home.
*The child’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.
The Hope Effect event yesterday was grand in seeing Kim and Joshua Becker, Joe Darago, and the rest of the team along with the Zoom audience! All of you inspire me. You are changing the world one orphan at a time in one home at a time.
Thank you, Kim, for your life.
Thank you, Joshua, for loving her.
Thank you everyone for making a dream come true.
I hear you about family being about more than blood or DNA. One of my kids is biologically mine the other is adopted so I know my love for each child is not different because one is biological and one is adopted. Any difference in how they are treated is due to the fact that one is a girl and one is a boy. Because they have different interests, not because I would deny a child from having experiences that might not be considered appropriate for that sex child.
The fact that I treat each child as my own was made very real to me when I had taken my son to the doctor for an ear infection. Since it was an urgent care situation, the doctor was asking about family health issues. He was 6 days old when we adopted him. As I was answering his questions, I remembered my son was adopted so famy health history was totally irrelevant. Hmmm!
I will need to check more into the Hope Effect you shared about. Sounds like a great organization. For now, my charity of choice is the Gary Sinise Foundation. Having been in the Army there is a special place in my heart for veterans.