Founders' Story

This story started, in many ways, with an 11-year-old girl in Haiti experiencing something that changed her world. When Emily and her mom visited the country on a short-term trip, Emily met children just like her, except they were living without the love and security of a family. And she knew she had to do something. After much prayer and consideration, Emily’s parents, Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, felt led to grow their family through adoption—not once, but three times. In the course of several years, the Chapman family grew to include Shaohannah Hope, Stevey Joy, and Maria.

After the adoption of Shaohannah Hope in 2000, the Chapmans desperately wanted to do something about the many waiting children still in need of loving families. Combining both the platform and resources they had been entrusted with, Mary Beth and Steven began raising awareness about the needs of children who had been orphaned. They sought to help families who had the heart to adopt but were without the means to do so.

From this simple calling, Show Hope was formalized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in February 2003 with a mission to care for orphans by engaging the Church and reducing barriers to adoption.

Committed to the holistic care of children who have been orphaned, Show Hope operates in four key areas: Adoption Aid, Medical Care, Pre+Post Adoption Support, and Student Initiatives.

Through this work, countless individuals, students, families, and churches have been mobilized to care for orphans, and Show Hope’s efforts have helped thousands of children and families around the world.