Celebrating 25 Years of Empowering Young Adults

For 25 years, Hopeworks has empowered young adults to unlock their potential through technology training, education, and career development. With a focus on positive transformation and community impact, we’ve helped countless individuals rewrite their stories and build brighter futures.

Become A Part of Our Story ...

1999
Father Jeff Puthoff and members of three churches in North Camden came together and organized the secular Hopeworks program in a row home on State Street.
2003
Hopeworks expanded its technology expertise to include Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in early 2003. This expansion was thanks to Matt Grove, a University of Pennsylvania graduate student who volunteered with the organization and had a passion for GIS.
2012
Hopeworks realized that for young adults to be successful, we also had to help young adults heal from the chronic stress and trauma they experienced. With the introduction of trauma-informed care in 2012, our completion rate quintupled, and our retention rate went up 12x.
2012
Hopeworks opened the CRIB, a residential program empowering young adults with stable housing, life skills, and financial tools to achieve independence.
2015
Hopeworks offered its first post-secondary scholarship to young adults who want to attend college or pursue post-secondary training. Hopeworks continues to offer this support to this day.
2018
Hopeworks began our first Camden expansion to Market Street, where we increased program capacity and could provide more support to young adults.
2020
We recognized that young adults about to enter the workforce didn’t have access to the internet or a computer at home to work. As a result, we opened The Cohen Technology Center for alumni, which offers a safe and comfortable coworking space in our office.
2022
We proudly opened a new location in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, expanding our geographical footprint and extending our services to a new community.
2023
Hopeworks doubled the size of its Camden space on Market St., continuing to meet the demands of the community, with a growing waitlist of young adults waiting to join the program.
2024
Hopeworks expanded our Philadelphia location with an additional 3,000 sq ft.
Join the Celebration!

25th Anniversary Reception

  • September 25th, 2025 at 6 PM
  • Collingswood Ballroom
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate 25 years of transforming lives and building brighter futures at Hopeworks! This milestone event will honor the incredible achievements of our young adults, the dedication of our partners, and celebrate the power of community. The evening will feature inspiring stories, an exclusive look at Hopeworks' impact over the years, and a chance to contribute to the next 25 years of creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

Help Us Choose the Official 25th Anniversary T-shirt!

Hopeworks trainees, interns, and alumni have submitted their unique designs to celebrate 25 years of impact and empowerment. Now, you have the power to select the exclusive design for our anniversary t-shirt! Explore the incredible artwork and cast your vote for the design that best represents Hopeworks' mission.

DEADLINE TO VOTE IS FEBRUARY 24, 2025