For twenty years, the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has stood beside families facing the unimaginable — providing financial relief, granting wishes, and building a community of hope around seriously ill children. Everything we do is for the kids.
The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley traces its roots to 2005, when community leaders, local business owners, members of civil service and local government, and the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity gathered for the inaugural Game of Hope Basketball Event. It was more than a fundraiser — it was proof that this community would show up for its children.
The response that day left a lasting impression on our Founder, Anthony Spano. He saw what was possible when a community came together with a single purpose, and he set out to make it permanent.
After two years of planning, organizing, and building the right team, Anthony Spano officially founded the Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley in 2007 with a group of community volunteers. From its very first day, the Foundation has been driven by one goal: to improve the lives of children facing chronic and terminal illness — through financial assistance, wish-granting, community grants, and unwavering advocacy.
In 2027, we celebrate twenty years of that mission. And we’re just getting started.