FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2005

HEALTH FAIR COMES TO HOPE COMMUNITY ON NOVEMBER 12

Hope Community, Inc. has partnered with Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Senior Health Partners and North General Hospital to hold a comprehensive Family Health Fair for Hope tenants. The event will be held Saturday, November 12, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Ortiz-Wittenberg residence, located at 171 East 109th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues.

The Family Health Fair is open to all tenants living in the Ortiz-Wittenberg complex, the Carlos Rios Seniors Residence, Old Harlem Road, the Jennie A. Clarke Residence and other Hope Community buildings in East Harlem. “We want to provide parents with the necessary resources to make informed choices about medical care and nutrition,” explained Carmen Vasquez, Hope’s Community Relations Manager.

If you are interesting in attending the Health Fair, please contact Carmen Vasquez at (212) 860-8821, Ext. 162 or email: cvasquez@hopeci.org.

HEALTH FAIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE

Teddy Bear Clinic (for Children 2 to 8 years old)

Adolescent Health Counseling:

• Pregnancy Prevention and Birth Control
• Prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs)

Free Presentations/Workshop:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Nutrition (Asthma, Diabetes, Obesity, High Blood Pressure/Hypertension)
• Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence & Domestic Elder Abuse
• First Aid & Emergency Assistance

Free Screenings/Testing:

• Cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Glucose blood sugar
• Glaucoma
• Prostrate Cancer

Free Flu Shots!
Free Door Prizes and Giveaways
Light refreshments will also be served!

ABOUT HOPE COMMUNITY, INC.

Hope Community, Inc. is a nonprofit housing development agency founded in 1968 which is committed to building better communities and enriching the lives of the people who live and work within East Harlem. To date Hope Community, Inc. has rehabilitated and/or developed 72 buildings, and creating over 1,200 units of affordable housing for local residents.  Hope Community, Inc. also provides community-based social service referrals and assists in the development of tenant organizations to help ensure that residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community. For more information about Hope Community, Inc. call (212) 860-8821.

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For Immediate Release
September 12, 2005

Reflecting on a Legacy; Honoring a Memory
East Harlem’s Hope Community Hosts a Memorial for its Founder
the Reverend George Edward Calvert

WHO/WHAT:  An educator, organizer, and community leader , the Reverend George Edward Calvert was a vital figure in East Harlem for 46 years.  Among his many contributions he is responsible for the creation of the not –for-profit housing organization Hope Community, Inc.” and the “Church of the Living Hope, Inc.”  on East 104th Street in El Barrio.  His vision, sermons and community dialogues stirred the hearts and spoke to the conscience of the neighbohood.  His message of Hope inspired men and women to seek spiritual solutions to life’s problems. His willingness to serve symbolized the celebration of human dignity, and the importance of combating poverty at every opportunity.

In 1968 Rev. Calvert organized local residents to fight the rapid deterioration of East Harlem’s housing stock by rescuing buildings that had been abandoned by their landlords. From these volunteer beginnings grew one of New York City’s largest and most successful community development organizations, Hope Community, Inc. Rev. Calvert served as Hope Community’s executive director from 1968 to 1994, a period when the organization renovated dozens of buildings and hundreds of affordable apartments, created community murals such as the “Spirit of East Harlem” that greets passers-by on the corner of 104th Street and Lexington, organized thousands of block parties, and provided employment and opportunities for scores of neighborhood residents.

Rev. Calvert also played an active role in the social life of East Harlem, counseling youth groups, organizing sports activities and summer plays, and advising college-bound students, while contributing to local Democratic Party activities. He enjoyed singing tenor in his church choir and the Cantico Nuevo Chorus.

Today, Hope Community Inc., in partnership with the Briarwood Group, recently completed the construction of 14 three-family homes located at East 119th Street under Phase I of the Cornerstone Program, and have begun construction of an additional 111 units of moderate and middle-income cooperative housing under Phase II of the program.

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For immediate Release
July 15, 2005

Poetry, Songs, Coffee & Roses Grow in Spanish Harlem
Hope Community Hosts Poets, Music, Song and Savory Flavors in its Garden

WHO/WHAT: Poets, artists, tourists and more gather at the beautiful, vest pocket park garden located in the heart of "El Barrio” where a mural of the “Spirit of East Harlem” stands at the corner of 104th & Lexington as witness to the diverse beauty, struggle and soul of a community facing change.   Every summer, for the past six years, the sounds of poems & music mingle with the aroma of coffee, tea and pastries creating a special summer setting for literary learning and enlightenment.  An oasis of creative flavors, “Poetas con Café” brings a community together to express their poetic soul through the open mic process while inspiring the neighborhood with poems from featured artists, Americo Casiano, one of the original Nuyorican poets who will be joined by the NuyoRican Jazz Ensemble and Mariposa.

WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, July 23rd @ 2 – 5 p.m., Modesto Flores Garden, 104th & 103rd Streets NE side. Free & open to the public

Subsequent Dates: Saturday, August 20, 2005 & Saturday, September, 24, 2005

This event marks the sixth year in Hope Community's Poetry in the Garden Series, “Poetas con Cafe” highlighting the restoration and revitalization work that Hope is championing in this community.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104th street.  From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing “one building at a time” was born.  Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem.  To date they have rehabilitated or developed 72 buildings creating 1, 350 affordable homes for residents of East Harlem through a variety of government sponsored programs and private initiatives.  In addition to housing, Hope Community provides community based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping over 5,000 residents an ensuring the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

Americo Casiano, Jr. is a prolific poet whose poetic works are "dialogues of the Self: playful, tough-spirited, ironic, sentimental, urbane, raw." (Charles Lynch, African American Critic & Writer) Listen to "...Americo's work carefully. It reflects community life, fighting the drug scourge, the experiences of driving a livery cab in New York, and struggling for justice...his work celebrates who we are -- a multi-racial, multi-skilled community of working people." (the Late Richard Perez, activist & founder of the National Puerto Rican Congress) The core of the NuyoRican Jazz Ensemble is formed by pianist Arturo O’Farrell, bassists Andy Gonzalez, drummer Phoenix Rivera, Afro-Cuban bata percussionists Gene Golden, Steve “Skip” Burne and Izzy Perez . This lively ensemble provides a swing that fuses words, jazz and Afro-Cuban drumming, while promoting cultural affirmation.

Mariposa was born Maria Teresa Fernandez and is an award winning Nuyorican poet from the Bronx. She is the author of Born Bronxeña: Poems on Identity, Love & Survival and has published articles and poetry in the Centro Journal, Urban Latino Magazine, New York Newsday, El Nuevo Dia, Hunt's Point Alive! The Vieques Times, NYU's Brownstone Magazine and Conciencia Magazine, AHA! Hispanic Arts News, Resistance in Paradise: 100 Years of U.S. Colonialism, Drum Voices Volume 23, What's Up Magazine and Def Poetry Jam's Bumrush the Page. A freelance writer, actor, educator, visual artist and human rights activist, Mariposa has performed at over 100 colleges and universities throughout the United States; major NYC venues including the Nuyorican Poets Café and the Joseph Papp Public Theater, as well as the Institute for Puerto Rican Culture and the Nuyorican Café in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa; and the 2001 Essence Music Fest in New Orleans where she, in the words of Susan Taylor, "mesmerized an audience of 5,000." Mariposa's poetry has been featured on the acclaimed HBO documentary "Americanos: Latino Life in the US", produced by Edward James Olmos. In March 2002, Marisposa performed in V-Day Harlem as a member of the Vulva Choir in Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues at the Apollo Theater, which was co-produced by Rosie Perez and featured Selma Hayek, Lauren Velez, Rosario Dawson, and Sweet Honey in the Rock, Eve, Amie Lauriex and others.

This event was funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant received from The NY State Council on the Arts.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2005

HOPE COMMUNITY RECEIVES HOUSING MANAGEMENT AWARD
FROM CITY HOMELESS SERVICES AGENCY

Hope's Jennie A. Clarke Residence Receives DHS' "Excellent" Rating

On June 28, 2005, Hope Community, Inc. received a performance award from the city’s Department of Homeless Services for its management of the Jennie A. Clark Residence.

The Department of Homeless Services just released performance ratings of agencies providing shelter and housing services to homeless families. Among those awarded a top rating was the Jennie A. Clarke Residence, a Tier II shelter for homeless families located at 179-192 East 100th Street in East Harlem.

“The success of the Jennie A. Clarke Residence is a direct result of the working partnership between Hope Community and Women in Need (WIN),” explained Jacoby. “I think it is quite significant that Hope and WIN were the first East Harlem agencies to receive such an acknowledgement from the city. Hope is honored to accept such an award and we thank the city for its recognition of our efforts.”

WIN provides residents with a comprehensive range of social service programs designed to help them become self-sufficient, while Hope Community delivers high-quality property management services and carefully tracks expenditures to ensure that project budgets are not exceeded. Hope’s maintenance staff keeps the buildings in pristine condition and provides proactive maintenance support to enhance the residents’ quality of life. “I think the combination has served us quite well,” added Jacoby.

Hope Community also plays an important role in assisting families to move from the Jennie A. Clarke Tier II shelter to the Ortiz-Wittenberg apartment complex, which Hope specifically designed for homeless families. Over the past year, a number of households were moved to the Ortiz-Wittenberg residence with lots of support from the Community Relations department to help them to make the transition to permanent housing. Some of the first to move from Jennie Clark to Ortiz-Wittenberg are also applying for and receiving places in Hope’s other East Harlem buildings, thereby making the return journey from homelessness to stable, long-term housing.

Since 2003, the City’s Performance Investment Program has ranked facility performances to payment rates. This year, 12 percent of all shelter facilities achieved excellent ratings this year; 41 percent received very good and good ratings, 20 percent received satisfactory ratings; 25 percent need improvement; and 2 percent were deemed unsatisfactory. Hope Community ranked in the “excellent” category, with a score of 8.06 out of 10.

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New Gallery, New Director, New Hope for East Harlem
"Garavatos:" Open Space Scratchings from Spanish Harlem Corners

WHO/WHAT: "Garavatos," Spanish for "scribble-scrabble scratchings" is the theme of this exhibit featuring murals, photography, canvas paintings, digitally generated art, collages and sculpture unveiled at the newly opened Ortiz-Wittenberg Gallery where Spanish Harlem poets, artists, musicians and politicians will be on hand to welcome Hope Community's new Executive Director, Bill Jacoby.

Housed in one of Hope community's new economically integrated housing complexes where open spaces embrace a rapidly growing community, this exhibit of various artistic disciplines parallels the diverse neighborhood where it is showcased.

WHEN/WHERE:
Wednesday, December 1 @ 6 - 9 p.m
171 East 109th Street
between Third & Lexington Aves.

Roger Cabán, former Chair of Hope's Board and the head of its program services committee will serve as curator for the new gallery. He points to the Ortiz-Wittenberg facility as part of the organizations' mission to embrace the arts while beautifying its open spaces. "We have been fortunate to have the goodwill of the community and its artists with our poetry series, ‘Poetas con Café' at the Modesto Flores Garden as well as our Cinema Series for Seniors at our Carlos Rios complex. It is our belief," he underscored, "that strong communities can be enhanced through the fostering of the arts and cultural activities of its people. As a cultural incubator for the area, Hope Community is conducive to the revitalization of Spanish Harlem."

"Bill Jacoby mirrors Hope's commitment to community," reported Carmen Vasquez, Chair of Hope's board. "After an extensive search for a new director, Jacoby's philosophy in grassroots community building, fostering strong coalitions coupled with his experience in Latin America provided a perfect fit for present needs and future goals.

Hope Community Inc., in partnership with the Briarwood Group recently completed the construction of 14 three-family homes located at East 119th Street under Phase I of the Cornerstone Program, and have begun construction of an additional 111 units of moderate and middle-income cooperative housing under Phase II of the program.

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For Immediate Release
August 20, 2004

HOPE COMMUNITY HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hope Community, Inc. has named William Jacoby as Executive Director for the organization. Mr. Jacoby has more than 25 years of experience in housing management and development, program and business development, and fundraising. As Executive Director, Mr. Jacoby will direct the identification and development of all new real estate development projects, including the provision of affordable housing and market-rate apartments. He will provide executive oversight of all departments of the organization and will work closely with senior management in the development and execution of a new business plan and real estate development strategy over the next five years. He will also develop relationships with local organizations and external partners, and explore ways in which they can collaborate with Hope on specific projects.

Mr. Jacoby has extensive experience in senior management of community development organizations, excellent people management and communication skills, a demonstrated record in organizing and closing deals, and expertise in strategic and operational leadership of non-profit organizations. Mr. Jacoby's depth and breadth of experience is impressive and spans across continents from Latin America to North America. He has held senior leadership positions in numerous organizations, including Community Housing Innovations, Strategies for International Development, Direct Global Power, Jacoby & Associates, Besicorp Group, Albany Community Development Agency, Albany Local Development Corporation, New York State Department of Social Services, and Health and Welfare Planning Association in the United States. He also has international experience, having served as a Community Development Specialist for the U.S. Peace Corps in Peru.

Mr. Jacoby holds a J.D. from the Duquesne Law School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an M.P.A. from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. He is fluent in Spanish.

Hope Community, Inc. was founded in 1968 when a grassroots group of neighborhood residents banded together to preserve their block on East 104th Street. Converting an abandoned tenement into eight units of affordable housing, Hope's founding Board members paved the way for decades of community development work in East Harlem. Today, thirty-six years later, Hope's management portfolio includes approximately 75 buildings with 1,400 residential units. In conjunction with the provision of affordable housing, Hope also organizes community events that bring East Harlem residents together to appreciate the rich array of cultures that are prevalent in this neighborhood and foster a sense of pride and ownership of their community.

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For Immediate Release
December 18, 2003

Hope Community Celebrates
44 Units of Supportive Housing in East Harlem

(New York) – Hope Community, Inc. (Hope), a not-for-profit community development corporation (CDC) in East Harlem, will host a ribboncutting ceremony on Thursday, December 18, 2003, at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Ortiz Wittenberg Residence, which will provide 44 new apartments for low-income and formerly homeless families. The event is sponsored by Lettire Construction, the contractor on the project.

Construction of the Ortiz-Wittenberg Residence was made possible through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) 85/85 Program. The 85/85 Program is jointly administered and funded by HPD and the New York State Housing Financing Agency, which provided more than $8 million in the form of a 35-year mortgage. The Ortiz-Wittenberg Residence is located at 171 East 109th Street, between Third and Lexington Avenues. Twenty-three (23) apartments (six one-bedroom, eleven two-bedroom and six three-bedroom) are reserved for formerly homeless families who must be referred from the shelter system by New York City HPD's Homeless Unit. The building will feature interior and exterior community space, as well as a counseling facility, which will provide links to supportive services.

"HFA is committed to providing financial resources that give formerly homeless New Yorkers access to permanent housing," said Jerome M. Becker, chairman of HFA. "Affordable housing is the cornerstone of a strong community. This loan represents a partnership with Hope Community; it is an investment in the future of New York City that will generate positive social and economic benefits for resident families and the East Harlem community for years to come."

Constructed by Hope Founders HDFC, the building is named in the memory of two dedicated members of the East Harlem community, Quintina Ortiz and Morris Wittenberg. Founding Board members in 1968, Tina and Morris served Hope across four decades.

The ribboncutting ceremony will also include the unveiling of "35 Years of Hope: Homage to Quintina and Morris," by Gabriel de la Mora. A Mexican national who moved to New York City in 1996 to pursue a career as a full-time artist, de la Mora received the Fulbright Scholarship and the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Scholarship in August of 2001 to pursue a Master in Fine Arts at Pratt Institute. He has exhibited throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America. "35 Years of Hope: Homage to Quintina and Morris" consists of 35 panels, each measuring 8" by 10." Each panel depicts Quintina and Morris at a different stage of their lives and commemoration of their many years of service to the East Harlem community.

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For Immediate Release
September 25, 2003

East Harlem Community Development Corporation
Unveils Homeownership Project in East Harlem

(New York) – Hope Community, Inc. (Hope), a not-for-profit community development corporation (CDC) in East Harlem, will celebrate its first affordable homeownership project under the Neighborhood Homes Program; a unique private-public partnership between the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Citigroup and Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) on September 25, 2003 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Under the partnership, Hope will rehabilitate 14 buildings to provide affordable homeownership to 14 families in East Harlem.

The Hope Homes project will create a homeownership duplex and one or more residential and/or commercial rental units, producing a total of 40 units. Half of the homes will be completed by December 31, 2003, and new homeowners will move in during the spring of 2004. The balance of the homes will be renovated and ready for occupancy by December 31, 2004. 217 East 118 Street is the first of thirteen formerly city-owned buildings that was rehabilitated by Hope Community. With East Harlem's population growing at a rapid rate – 6.7% from 1990 to 2000 – double Manhattan's growth rate, Hope is seeking to build community assets by boosting East Harlem's homeownership rate, which is the second lowest of New York City neighborhoods at 6.3%.

"Hope Community is seeking to build community wealth, foster social cohesion and increase internal and external investment in East Harlem. Buying a home in East Harlem is the ultimate investment that a person can make in a community. With partners like LISC, HPD and Citibank, East Harlem will become a neighborhood where people will have the opportunity to fulfill their dream of owning a home," states Mark Alexander, Executive Director of Hope Community.

The Neighborhood Homes program began in 1998 to address the obstacles of providing quality affordable housing and rehabilitating dilapidated tax-foreclosed properties in New York City. HPD gave thirteen local community development corporations, including Hope Community, occupied one- to four-family buildings for rehabilitation and eventual sale to owner-occupants. The not-for-profit organizations received funding in the form of an evaporating loan from HPD and a low-cost loan from LISC to purchase the properties to cultivate affordable homeownership options. Once rehabilitation is completed, each building is marketed to existing tenants or buyers who agree to reside in the building and who qualify for mortgage financing to purchase the property.

Said HPD Commissioner Jerilyn Perine, "Homeowners want to protect the value of their investment and stand for the things that are vital to neighborhood stability: safe streets, good schools, playgrounds and nearby places to shop and work. Homeownership is fundamental to the city's long-term economic prosperity and a goal of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's housing strategy, The New Housing Market Place: Creating Housing for the Next Generation."

"This is an important program at a critical time," said Denise Scott, Managing Director of the LISC New York City program. "Affordable homeownership opportunities are limited in New York City and Hope Community's work through the Neighborhood Homes program is helping East Harlem residents afford to stay in their communities."

In New York, the Neighborhood Homes program will create more than 250 affordable homes during the next several years. Financing for the project comes from HPD ($2.7 million) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, who provided $3.63 million from a revolving loan fund, created especially for the program by Citibank. Working in all five boroughs with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, LISC will provide community groups with financial and technical support as they renovate severely dilapidated, city-owned properties. LISC has lent nearly $30 million to finance predevelopment and construction costs. Citibank provided homeowner education, including lessons on saving money and mortgage financing

"Helping to make life better is the foundation of the commitment we make to communities where we have a presence," said Marc Jahr, Citibank's Community Development Director in New York City. "We're pleased to expand our commitment to East Harlem through our participation with Hope Community in the Neighborhood Homes Program. We're especially pleased that Hope's project will create 40 new affordable homeownership opportunities for East Harlem residents, helping to strengthen the fabric of the community."

Citibank is a member of Citigroup (NYSE: C), the preeminent global financial services company with some 200 million customer accounts in more than 100 countries that provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. The Citigroup Foundation focuses its grants primarily in three areas: building communities and entrepreneurs, financial education, and educating the next generation. Additional information may be found at: www.citigroup.com.

Hope Community, Inc. was founded in 1968 when a grassroots group of East Harlem residents collectively purchased and renovated an abandoned tenement, converting it into eight attractive, affordable apartments. With New York City's East Harlem (First Avenue to Fifth Avenue, between East 96th Street and East 143rd Street) as our focus, 35 years later Hope has sponsored, constructed and/or operated over 1,600 attractive, high-quality affordable rental and homeownership housing units in more than 95 buildings and has provided 55,000 square feet of affordable commercial space for local businesses.

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For Immediate Release
September 25, 2003

Fourteen Families Become New Homeowners in East Harlem

(New York) – Community leaders and government officials will join fourteen families who will become homeowners in East Harlem in a ribbon cutting ceremony today. These families are the beneficiaries of Hope Community's participation in the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development's (HPD) Neighborhood Homes Program. Through the program, Hope Community, Inc., a not-for-profit community development corporation (CDC) in East Harlem, will rehabilitate 14 buildings to provide affordable homeownership to 14 homeowners – a total of 40 affordable units, including rentals.

Homeownership is a steppingstone to economic stability and success, according to Daniel Fernandez, a new homeowner who heard about the Neighborhood Homes Program through a friend. "It's different when you pay rent to someone else. This will make a big difference." Mr. Fernandez is also excited about seeing new business investment in East Harlem. "The first thing I saw was the community moving up. Property is going up in value. I'm seeing a lot of new construction and I like the neighborhood," he said.

Hope seeks to help working people like Mr. Fernandez help themselves while building community assets that revitalize surrounding blocks and attract commercial interest. Boosting East Harlem's homeownership rate is vital to this process. With the second lowest homeownership rate of New York City neighborhoods, 6.3%, East Harlem's rate dips to below 5% when limited equity co-ops are subtracted from this figure.
"Hope Community is seeking to build community wealth, foster social cohesion and increase internal and external investment in East Harlem. Buying a home in East Harlem is the ultimate investment that a person can make in a community. With partners like LISC, HPD and Citibank, East Harlem will become a neighborhood where people will have the opportunity fulfill their dream of owning a home," states Mark Alexander, Executive Director of Hope Community.

The development, Hope Homes, is Hope's first homeownership project. To finance the project and make the dream of homeownership a reality for low and moderate families, Hope turned to the Neighborhood Homes program, a private-public partnership with Citigroup and Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) and HPD. The first homes will be completed September 30, 2003.

Said HPD Commissioner Jerilyn Perine, "Homeowners want to protect the value of their investment and stand for the things that are vital to neighborhood stability: safe streets, good schools, playgrounds and nearby places to shop and work. Homeownership is fundamental to the city's long-term economic prosperity and a goal of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's housing strategy, The New Housing Market Place: Creating Housing for the Next Generation."

"This is an important program at a critical time," said Denise Scott, Managing Director of the LISC New York City program. "The Neighborhood Homes program emphasizes our belief in the importance of increasing homeownership rates in communities like East Harlem, which leads to greater neighborhood stability, diversifies the economic status of residents and increases building assets in the neighborhood."

"Helping to make life better is the foundation of the commitment we make to communities where we have a presence," said Marc Jahr, Citibank's Community Development Director in New York City. "We're pleased to expand our commitment to East Harlem through our participation with Hope Community in the Neighborhood Homes Program. We're especially pleased that Hope's project will create 40 new affordable homeownership opportunities for East Harlem residents, helping to strengthen the fabric of the community."

Hope Community, Inc. was founded in 1968 when a grassroots group of East Harlem residents collectively purchased and renovated an abandoned tenement, converting it into eight attractive, affordable apartments. With New York City's East Harlem (First Avenue to Fifth Ave, between East 96th Street and East 143rd Street) as our focus, 35 years later Hope has sponsored, constructed and/or operated over 1,600 attractive, high-quality affordable rental and homeownership housing units in more than 95 buildings and has provided 55,000 square feet of affordable commercial space for local businesses.

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For Immediate Release
August 4, 2003

DE LA MORA COMMISSIONED FOR PORTRAIT TO HANG
IN NEW ORTIZ WITTENBERG RESIDENCE

(New York) - Hope Community has commissioned Mexican artist Gabriel de la Mora to depict founding Board members Quintina Ortiz and Morris Wittenberg in portraits that will be displayed in the new Ortiz Wittenberg Residence located on 109th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenue. After two rounds of selections in a citywide issued Request for Proposals and much deliberation by a panel of judges made up of Hope Community Board Members Roger Cabán, Haydee Areizaga, and Rubye Wright, and Julian Zugazagoitia, Director of el Museo del Barrio, De la Mora was selected. His portraits of Quintina Ortiz and Morris Wittenberg will aspire not only to tell their story, but also the intricacy of their lives woven through Hope's organizational history.

Mark Alexander, Executive Director of Hope Community, states, "The purpose of the portraits of Morris Wittenberg and Quintina Ortiz is to honor them and show their contributions to Hope Community and East Harlem. After an arduous process, we feel that Mr. De la Mora is best suited to undertake this important project and I am confident that the finished piece will represent how much Morris and Quintina meant to us and how their lives touched not just Hope Community but all of East Harlem."

Gabriel de la Mora is a Mexican national who moved to New York City in 1996 to pursue a career as a full time artist. After a two-year stay in Mexico, he returned to New York as the recipient of the Fulbright and Jacques and Natasha Gelman Scholarships in August of 2001 to pursue a Master in Fine Arts at Pratt Institute. Mr. de la Mora has exhibited throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America. His one-man shows include: "La Forma sin la Forma" ("The Figure without Form") at the Art Museum of the Americas, O.E.A. in Washington D.C. and, most recently, "Gabriel de la Mora – Antes y Despues" ("Gabriel de la Mora – Before and After"), a show presently touring ten states in Mexico. Mr. de la Mora is a multi-media artist who incorporates photography and video in his painting. He has explored portraiture throughout his career, seeking a balance between formal portraiture and conceptual imagery.

De la Mora comments, "As I prepared my proposal, I had the opportunity to learn about their lives and I immediately realized how intimate their connection was to the 35-year history of Hope. I am excited to have been chosen to create the portraits to commemorate the life-long contributions of Quintina and Morris. My focus will be to tell their story against the backdrop of Hope's history to the residents and visitors of the building, and in this way celebrate the success of the work done by these founding Board members."

Upon completion, the Ortiz Wittenberg Residence, a project under the 85/85 program, will provide 44 units of permanent housing for low-income and homeless families. Half of the units will house formally homeless while the remaining half will provide homes for those in danger of becoming homeless. The building will include both interior and exterior community space, as well as space for a counseling facility, and be named for two founding board members, Morris Wittenberg and Quintina Ortiz. A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for October.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined together to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104th Street. From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing one building at a time was born. Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem. To date they have rehabilitated or developed 80 buildings creating 1,400 private initiatives. In addition to housing, Hope Community provides community based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping over 5,000 residents and ensuring the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

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For Immediate Release
May 1, 2003

WASHINGTON MUTUAL AND HOPE COMMUNITY REVIVE PUBLIC GARDENS

Volunteers from New York's Top Mortgage Lender and East Harlem's Leading Housing Development Organization Beautify Gardens for Residents

On May 3rd, more than 100 employees from Washington Mutual (NYSE: WM) and residents and staff from Hope Community Inc., the East Harlem-based not for profit community development corporation dedicated to providing affordable housing to low-income individuals, will beautify four of Hope's community gardens. The event is a part of a nationwide corporate volunteer initiative that partners Washington Mutual (WaMu) employees with non-profit organizations to revitalize neighborhoods through a host of improvement projects.

"The gardens are so important to the families who live in our apartments," said Mark Alexander, Executive Director, Hope Community, Inc. "With Washington Mutual's help, our residents will be able to enjoy nature in a clean and comfortable area."

Starting at 8:30 a.m., volunteers will remove debris and plant flowers, shrubbery and trees at the following Hope Community locations: Modesto "Tin" Flores Garden, located at 104th Street and Lexington Avenue; Canaan House, located at 8 West 118th Street and 5th Avenue; 334 East 112th Street between First and Second Avenue; and 160 East 103rd Street.

"The gardens really do improve the residents' quality of life," said John Benevento, Washington Mutual's Senior Vice President and banking and Financial Services Group Manager. "By improving these green spaces, we not only beautify the area, we help residents feel good about their community."

This initiative is one of ten events in May, which is WaMu Housing Volunteer Month. Throughout the month, bank volunteers and a variety of non-profit groups supporting neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing will paint, perform minor repairs and landscape for neighborhoods in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Georgia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Washington state and California. To date, 7,300 WaMu employees (and their families) across the nation have joined non-profit groups to help the elderly, people with disabilities, single parents, families, minorities, and other residents who are living in low-income communities. Approximately 4,000 volunteers are expected to participate in the month's events.

In addition to supporting community development through its employee volunteer initiatives, WaMu has pledged $375 billion over a ten-year period to low-to-moderate income communities. This fund will provide loans and other financial support to communities consisting predominantly of people of color, to residents of low-to-moderate income census tracts, and to people whose income is below 80 percent of median income.

About WaMu

With a history dating back to 1889, Washington Mutual is a retailer of consumer financial services that provides a diversified line of products and services to consumers and small- to mid-sized businesses. At March 31, 2003, Washington Mutual and its subsidiaries had assets of $276.97 billion. Washington Mutual currently operates more than 2,500 consumer banking, mortgage lending, commercial banking, consumer finance and financial services offices throughout the nation. Washington Mutual's press releases are available at www.wamu.com.

About Hope Community, Inc.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined together to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104th Street. From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing one building at a time was born. Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem. To date they have rehabilitated or developed 80 buildings creating 1,350 apartments. In addition to housing, Hope Community provides referrals to community-based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping more than 5,000 residents and ensuring the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

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For Immediate Release
March 3, 2003

(New York, NY) Hope Community is pleased to acknowledge 11 distinguished individuals who commit their time, talents and expertise to serving the East Harlem community by volunteering on its Board of Directors. The Board, comprised of leaders from a variety of business and professional fields, is the heart and soul of Hope Community.

On January 15, 2003, Carmen Vasquez, Vice President of Sales at Fashion Technologies, began her term as President. She succeeds renowned artist Roger Cabán, who continues to serve as a member of the Board and co-chair of the Programs Services Committee. William Torres, Esq. was elected Vice President; Ann C. Henderson, Director of Cooperative Development at the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board was elected Treasurer; and Stacy Crawford, Vice President in Global Markets and Investment Banking Technology at Merrill Lynch was elected Secretary.

Continuing members of the Board also include former business owner Haydee F. Areizaga; Roger Cabán, retired artist and Case Manager, Miguel Calderon, Vice President, JPMorganChase; Timothy Jackson, Executive Vice President, The Bromley Companies; William Ofenloch, longtime local resident and plumber; Ronald Perry, Manager of Business Programs, Metropolitan Transit Authority; and community activist Rubye C. Wright.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined together to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104th Street. From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing one building at a time was born. Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem. To date they have rehabilitated or developed 72 buildings creating 1,350 private initiatives. In addition to housing, Hope Community provides community based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping over 5,000 residents and ensuring the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2002

JOHNNY COLON TO APPEAR AT EAST HARLEM FESTIVAL

Hope Community to hold its 29th Annual Fall Festival

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2002

POETRY SLAMS INTO THE GARDEN OF EAST HARLEM

Hope Community Sponsors FREE Community
Poetry Readings throughout the Summer

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Calendar Alert
August 2, 2002

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
HOPE COMMUNITY SPONSORS ANNUAL EAST 104TH STREET BLOCK PARTY

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Calendar Alert
April 9, 2002

East Harlem Springs Into New Fashions

Hope Community Sponsors Free Health Fair and Fashion Show.

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PUBLIC ADVISORY
January 23, 2002

HOPE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO ACUSATIONS
AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION'S INTEGRITY

(New York) Mark S. Alexander, Executive Director at Hope Community, Inc. responded to a smear campaign of Hope Community, Inc. being launched by the advocacy group Metropolitan Council on Housing in reference to a pending eviction of a Hope tenant. Metropolitan Council on Housing has engaged in an email campaign to protest the eviction of Ms. Edna Greenaway, a current tenant in on of Hope's managed properties, by characterizing the organization's actions as "fraudulent" and the organization as an uncaring landlord that is evicting a disabled woman. Mr. Alexander had the following to say about both the action Hope has taken in reference to this tenant as well as the integrity to which Hope Community has served the East Harlem community for the last three decades.

"Hope has made every attempt over the last year and a half to assist Ms. Greenaway to establish and maintain her tenancy in spite of her very difficult circumstances. In that time, Ms. Greenaway has failed to qualify for Section 8 assistance. Her case has been reviewed by DHCR, HPD and the L&T Court Judge, giving her ample opportunity to prove her rent was erroneously calculated. In spite of the assistance she has received from a pro-bono attorney, Ms Greenaway has failed to honor any of the agreements she has reached with us, including to pay the rent she claimed was accurate while her rent overcharge appeals were pending. Throughout this process she has continued to live in the apartment without paying any rent.

Hope never favors eviction over mediation, but evictions are a necessary part of preserving affordable housing for the common good. Our ability to collect rent over the long run is what enables us to maintain our properties as attractive and safe housing for all the low and moderate income families and individuals we serve. Throughout this process, my staff has worked with Ms. Greenaway and her attorney to settle this matter. The unfortunate conclusion that this matter has come to does not negate the fact that Hope continues to work in the best interests of our community."

Hope Community takes a disciplined approach to providing consistent, clean, quality affordable housing to the residents of East Harlem. In doing so we have developed procedures in accordance with city and state regulations and laws that govern rental housing in New York. As a landlord we have honed systems over our 33-year history to provide tenants with the rules and expectations of renting with Hope. Our greatest challenge comes when we have to reconcile our desire to support an individual tenant with our mission to strengthen East Harlem's housing for the better of the whole community. Unfortunately, part of the business of managing housing and maintaining high standards entails evicting residents for non-payment of rent. In order to minimize such actions, Hope provides assistance to its tenants when they fall upon difficult times and/or behind in rent. Our Property Managers always seek to work with a tenant to resolve issues long before arriving at a solution as permanent as eviction. We have a process that works, we trust it, and it reminds the tenant of our primary agreement with them — we deliver service, they pay their rent. Adherence to this agreement allows Hope to create an attractive living environment for all our tenants.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined together to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104^th street. From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing one building at a time was born. Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem. To date they have rehabilitated or developed 72 buildings creating 1,350 affordable homes for residents of East Harlem through a variety of government-sponsored programs and private initiatives. In addition to housing, Hope Community provides community based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping to ensure the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

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For Immediate Release
May 29, 2001

Hope Community Honors Exemplary Service in East Harlem

Perine, Flaherty among the honorees

(New York, NY) Hope Community honored six individuals for their contributions to the rebuilding and revitalization of East Harlem during its East Harlem Community Service Awards and Celebration on May 24, 2001 at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. Among the honorees was Jerilyn Perine, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, who has devoted her entire career to creating affordable housing and Pamela P. Flaherty, Senior Vice President for Citigroup who played a critical role in creating affordable homeownership opportunities through the Neighborhood Homes Program.

Other honorees include: Kamal Blake, local entrepreneur with shops throughout Harlem; Dr. Barbara Brenner, Director of Community Relations for Mt. Sinai Medical Center, who has formed a partnership that provides health programs and services to Carlos Rios, Hope's elderly care facility; and Fernando Salicrup, local artist and community activist who led the drive for the restoration of the Julio Deburgos Cultural Center.

"We are not only saluting these individuals for their outstanding achievements, we also celebrate the renewed sense of community and the direction that East Harlem is going." Mark Alexander, Executive Director of Hope Community, states.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined together to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104^th Street. From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing one building at a time was born. Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem. To date they have rehabilitated or developed 72 buildings creating 1,350 private initiatives. In addition to housing, Hope Community provides community based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping over 5,000 residents and ensuring the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2001

HOPE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP
OVER 100 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING IN EAST HARLEM

(New York)--Hope Community Inc. (Hope), in partnership with The Briarwood Organization, has been awarded one of eleven sites available from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Through this project Hope will develop a total of 107 units of new housing in East Harlem. This development opportunity was a result of the second phase of HPD's Cornerstone Program.

"We chose a strong locally-based partner when we selected Hope Community to develop homeownership housing in East Harlem. The new townhouses and condos will give City residents an opportunity to invest in their financial future and in their neighborhood. Harlem's homeownership rate is 10% compared to a city-wide rate of 32%, and city-sponsored homeownership developments such as this one are meant to bridge that gap," says HPD Commissioner Jerilyn Perine.

Hope and Briarwood were selected from a group of 500 developers who submitted for this program. This development will create 16 3-family townhouses and 59 condominiums on the site located on 118^th and 119^th Street between 1^st and 2^nd Avenue. The selection criteria for the program was based on the quality and innovation of the proposed design, participation of local entities and residents in the development team, creation of owner-occupied units, the extent and quality of the applicants' development/ construction and management experience, and the strength and feasibility of the proposed financing.

Vincent Russo, President of the Briarwood Organization comments, "In 15 years of working with local organizations as community sponsors, I have found that Hope excels because of their strong business practices. I am excited and looking forward to a productive and long-lasting partnership."

"We have watched residents of East Harlem leave in the pursuit of homeownership. Partnerships like this, provide an example of how private companies, the city and community based organizations, like Hope can create viable opportunities for residents to buy a home and strengthen the vitality of East Harlem," says Mark Alexander, Executive Director of Hope Community Inc.

Founded in 1968, Hope Community, Inc. was created when residents, merchants and a church leader in East Harlem joined together to purchase and restore an abandoned building on 104^th Street. From that successful action a non-profit dedicated to building a stronger community through affordable housing one building at a time was born. Today, Hope Community serves as a leading housing development and management organization in East Harlem. To date they have rehabilitated or developed 72 buildings creating 1,350 private initiatives. In addition to housing, Hope Community provides community based social services and assists in the development of tenant organizations, helping over 5,000 residents and ensuring the residents have a voice and vested interest in their future as well as their community.

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