The Hope Campaign 2022
Two years ago I was inspired to honour my dad’s 10-year anniversary of his death by suicide by bringing hope to the community in some special way. After a meaningful conversation with my dear friend Kathie Powell in the Summer of 2020, the Hope Campaign was born!
In November of 2020, which marked the anniversary month of my dad’s death, Kathie and I designed and sold black hope tees in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association. We raised $5455 for their suicide support services. This was a successful first year of the Hope Campaign!
Last year we partnered with Kaleo Collective and designed and sold new hope tees; they were buttery soft white long sleeve shirts with our new hope logo. We raised $6215 for counselling services for the single mothers and children of Kaleo Collective. We were honoured to bring awareness to, and support such a beautiful local charity in Edmonton! After wrapping up our campaign in 2021, without much thought, I knew that Little Warriors was going to be our recipient for the following year. I didn’t know why, but I felt convicted in my decision. When this happens, I know it’s God who plants those ideas in my heart.
Little Warriors is a specialized, intensive, trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment centre focused on helping children who have been sexually abused, as well as their families. I nearly immediately reached out to my dear friend and the Founder of Little Warriors and the Be Brave Ranch, Glori Meldrum. I let her know that we would be choosing her organization as our Hope Campaign recipient for 2022 and that we would be raising the bar to $10,000 as our goal. The previous two years our goal was $5000, and we demonstrated a capacity to reach and surpass that goal both years. I knew that $10,000 was possible and had no idea what was in store for us when the time actually came!
I also knew that I wanted to do something different. Although selling shirts was a lot of fun, I wanted to create more of a sense of community and connection for this year’s campaign. The idea of a brunch was born after I witnessed the power of the Be Brave Luncheon and other successful events in Edmonton that brought people together for a powerful cause. I wanted to bring people together to learn about Little Warriors, break bread together, forge new friendships and connections, and experience the power of community in one room. I imagined our brunch being held on my dad’s anniversary, November 26th, and hosted at my favourite local restaurant, Central Social Hall.
Within two hours of the Hope Campaign launching, a good friend of mine reached out and offered to donate the full amount of our campaign goal - $10,000! My jaw nearly hit the floor at this person’s generosity. They prefer to remain anonymous, although it would be my greatest honour to celebrate this individual publicly for their generosity, kindness, and support. Sure enough, they donated the $10,000 within 24-hours!
After a meaningful conversation with this individual and Glori Meldrum, we decided to raise the bar to match the $10,000 donation. $20,000 was our new goal! I am still in awe of how this campaign has unfolded over the past month. We also received so much support from local companies in our community who graciously agreed to sponsor our campaign including Lipstick Empire, Hillberg and Berk, The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre, Intelligence House, All Insurance Ltd, Flowpoint Environmental Systems, and Red Leaf Wellness.
As I reflect on the success of our campaign so far, it is clear to me why God guided me to select Little Warriors as our campaign recipient this year. Not only is this world-class facility changing so many lives for the better, there is a lot more work to be done! Child sexual abuse has increased 1400% since Covid and there are not enough beds or funding available to work with all of the children who need support right now. Little Warriors needs our support to help with their expansion; including adding 40 more child beds through the development of a new building, and developing an adult treatment facility on the Be Brave Ranch for adults who experienced child sexual abuse. In order to accommodate the growth and ever-growing demands for their services, they need donations more than ever!
The money raised through the Hope Campaign will not only help children heal after abuse, it will help them to become healthier, happier, and more equipped adults. We will save lives and prevent more suicides. My dad was a child sexual abuse survivor who sadly succummed to his struggles with addiction and died by suicide in 2010. Those who have been sexually abused in childhood, are at 2-3x higher risk for suicide because of the significant impact of their trauma.
If we reach our goal of $20,000, we will be helping 12 children receive year-long intensive, trauma-informed treatment at the Be Brave Ranch. What this means is that 12 children’s lives will be forever impacted and changed by their experience at the Be Brave Ranch.
This campaign represents hope for children and their families; hope that their trauma and abuse does not have to be a life sentence of suffering; hope that their future will be healthy and meaningful.
On November 26, 2022 we are hosting a Hope Brunch in support of Little Warriors. It would be our honour to have you attend.
Here is what is included in the purchase of a general ticket:
A beautiful meal including tapas, brunch, and dessert at Central Social Hall Downtown
Your generous donation to Little Warriors
One raffle ticket entered into our draw for a chance to win some incredible prizes
Mirror photo booth by Event Crasherz
Live music by Rebecca Miketon
A powerful keynote address by Keith Faria
A live painting by the incredible Giselle Denis
Discounted hope campaign tees for sale
An experience that will be one for the books!
Grab your Hope Brunch tickets here!
If you are unable to attend or don’t live locally to the Edmonton area, alternatively you can donate directly to Little Warriors here!
One of my favourite bible verses is, Romans 8:25, “So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment.”
This anticipatory hope represents the possibility of healing for so many children. And with your help, we can create opportunities for hope and healing for a dozen or more children at the Be Brave Ranch.
Be sure to follow our hope journey on our Instagram page @griefandtraumahealingcentre and learn more about our Hope Campaign here.
Thank you so much for your support in spreading hope and healing throughout our community!
“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.” - Mother Teresa
In Love and Service,
Ashley Mielke, Founder
Blog Written by Ashley Mielke
Ashley Mielke is a Registered Psychologist and Founder and CEO of The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre. She is also a sought-after international speaker, trainer, and thought leader on grief and a business consultant for heart-centred psychologists who are seeking to grow and scale their group practices. Ashley is also a second-year doctoral student in the Doctor of Psychology degree program at California Southern University.
Ashley co-authored a book titled, Postpartum Grief, she is a frequent media contributor, and she has been featured in Edify Magazine, Huffington Post Canada, Canadian Funeral News, Canadian Living, and Edmonton Lifestyle News. And in 2021, she was honoured to be named as one of Edify’s Top 40 Under 40.
Ashley is also a wife, mother to a beautiful 5-year-old boy, an avid hockey player, and the assistant coach of her son’s U7 hockey team. She loves Jesus, Starbucks, lacing up her skates, and being of service to others; all of the things that make her feel most alive!
Ashley found her passion early in life following a difficult childhood overshadowed by her father’s substance abuse and eventual suicide. Surprisingly, Ashley came to discover that her darkest and most painful period of life, was in fact, the very catalyst that uncovered her “WHY” for being: to serve others and create a safe space to explore life’s most challenging questions.
Ashley is a heart-centred and purpose-driven leader who instils hope and healing through her story of resilience. Ashley’s greatest empowerment comes when she is able to connect with others and help them find the resilience of hope that can empower them—the hope that can only be found in the midst of great challenges and journeys through grief.
To connect with Ashley click here.