2024 Evening of Hope Honoree – Outstanding Service Award
As a teacher, Jaclyn Dellosa believes that her job is to educate students about more than they can learn from books. About 10 years ago, Jackie enlisted the help of her school’s girls volleyball team to teach students the importance of giving back to the community—and that there are people in positions less fortunate than theirs. Jackie herself was grateful that, with the support of friends and family, she had been able to leave a situation that was not ideal.
She and her team collected new and gently used purses and toiletries from the community for the duration of the volleyball season. When the season ended, they recruited volunteer students to help them fill the purses with toiletries and donated them to Center for Hope & Safety.
As word of the fundraiser’s success spread, members of the larger community became more involved. Many were eager to give not just items but financial donations to support the valuable services Center for Hope & Safety provides to survivors of domestic violence. Jackie decided to host a brunch and donate all of the proceeds, as well as the purses, to Center for Hope & Safety.
The first Purses with Purpose Brunch, held in 2021, raffled 50 baskets and raised nearly $5,000. By 2023, the event had grown to over 125 baskets and raised almost $15,000—all while collecting and filling about 250 purses!
Jackie says she’s thankful to everyone who has helped make Purses with Purpose a success, and she’s dedicated to seeing it grow in the years to come.
We are honored to present the 2024 Outstanding Service Award to Jaclyn Dellosa.