Three Biola University students are making a difference in the local homeless community this month through a nonprofit organization they started out of their dorm room in January 2015. To date, students Courtney Price, and Susie and Nancy Jacobson, have raised $250,000 of support for their organization, Hopeful Horizons Outreach.

“We are a tax deductible, nonprofit organization based in Orange County that is inspiring ordinary people, to do extraordinary things,” says Price, 19, president of the nonprofit. “Hopeful Horizons Outreach is a multi-branch non-profit organization, that is 100 percent Christian based and established, to make a difference and further God’s kingdom.”

This month, their organization included a friendly competition with the women living in their residence hall, Alpha Hall, to gather supplies for their local homeless community outreach. The Alpha Hall residents are competing to see who can bring in the most supplies between the East and West side of the hall.

Price and the Jacobsons placed bins on each side of the residence hall for students to fill with items such as toiletries, water bottles, fast-food gift cards, and packaged food items. When the competition ends, Hopeful Horizons will partner with a local church and Alpha residents to package and distribute the items to the homeless community.

In addition to the bins on campus, the members of Hopeful Horizons have set up bins in nearby cities including one in Corona, one in Anaheim, and two in Los Angeles. At the end of the month, the Biola Alpha Hall dormitory filled five bins.  

October’s homeless outreach is just one of the projects Hopeful Horizons has organized and raised support for in the past year. Price started the organization when she witnessed her former high school, Trinity Christian School, struggle financially to the point of close. As an Orange County resident, Price saw a need and wanted to do what she could to help it.

“We are basically family,” said Price, in regards to Trinity Christian Schools. “This school needs funds in order to continue to further its education and ministry. Without our help, numerous staff members will lose their jobs and many students will lose the bonds they've formed and a safe place to learn in a Christian environment.”

Out of the $250,000 raised, Hopeful Horizons Outreach has donated $22,150 to Trinity Christian Schools. The Hopeful Horizons Outreach mission statement is, “Bringing together ordinary people, to do extraordinary things, to change this world and further God’s kingdom.”

Aside from their support of the local high school, other efforts include raising money for sustainable needs in impoverished communities across the United States and Mexico.

Hopeful Horizons Outreach’s next goal is to reach $100,000 to bring food and water resources, clothing, building supplies, and Bibles to the poverty stricken areas in Mexico.

Written by Olivia Bersin, iBiola intern. For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist, at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.