09/18/2026
What a special evening celebrating our 2026 LIGHT of HOPE Award recipients, Emma and Jesse Watters.
We are deeply grateful to Emma and Jesse for their continued support of Hope Through Education and their commitment to helping create greater opportunities for students through a values-based, academically excellent education.
It was an honor to have The Honorable Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, introduce Emma and Jesse during this special evening. We extend our sincere thanks to Secretary Duffy for joining us, and to America’s Presidential Tenor, Christopher Macchio, for sharing a beautiful performance with our guests.
The evening was made even more meaningful by our Hope students. A special thank you to Vanessa, a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, for sharing her testimonial, and brothers Michael and Julian of St. Joseph School, who opened the evening by leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
To everyone who joined us and generously supported Hope Through Education, thank you. Your generosity helps us continue providing students with the opportunity for a values-based, academically excellent education.
Congratulations once again to our 2026 LIGHT of HOPE Award recipients, Emma and Jesse Watters, and thank you to all who made this remarkable evening possible.