After 13 years, Hope in Style shines brighter than ever

Attendees who have long come to the annual Hope in Style event would notice only modest changes throughout the years. The heart of the benefit is always seeing boys and girls who are in the care of Baptist Children's Homes (BCH) shop for new back-to-school clothing, which they wear as part of the program.

The amount of time and effort staff and volunteers invest in making sure the subsequent year is better than the last largely goes unseen. This is exactly what the team prefers.

“We don't want the spotlight,” shares BCH's Karen Slate. “We want the children to feel seen and cherished—and most importantly, we want the Lord to be seen by everyone in attendance.”

Since the first Hope in Style in 2012, Karen has coordinated the benefit with the help of a team of volunteers, many of whom have been on the planning committee since the inaugural event. That continuity has resulted in success, which means an exceptional event-day experience for the audience, affirmation for the children BCH serves, and much-needed funding that empowers the nonprofit to care for vulnerable lives.

For 2025, Hope in Style welcomed its largest audience with nearly 350 people in attendance at the Greensboro Country Club on August 23. With this year's contributions, the event has raised a lifetime total of $1,210,000.

“I'm in awe of what God has done year after year,” Karen reflects. “He's brought together the most incredible volunteers. Their selfless efforts remind us that when God's people come together, lives are changed and hope shines.”

Written By Blake Ragsdale, Vice President of Communications