House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri Receives NAACP Presidential Award

STUART, Fla. – Rob Ranieri, CEO of the House of Hope, received the coveted Martin County NAACP Presidential Award during the 2023 Freedom Fund Gala this March.

Jimmy Smith, President of the local branch of the NAACP, introduced the evening’s theme as “Power your Purpose through Service.” Ranieri fits the description perfectly, in the view of NAACP leaders, because of his long-time support of the NAACP and its special projects. In addition, as CEO of House of Hope, he has used his leadership position to help countless members of the community with essential services to improve their quality of life.

House of Hope’s mission is to “empower Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship.” The nonprofit organization provided more than 1.5 million pounds of food to community residents last year alone. During Ranieri’s tenure, House of Hope has added four nutrition gardens and the Traveling Nutrition Garden to help everyone learn more about healthy food and how it grows, established a production farm featuring hydroponic growing techniques, operated three Thrift Stores, and offered enrichment classes in Stuart and Jensen Beach to help individuals develop skill sets that will lead to better lives and better job prospects.

“I want to make clear, in accepting this award,” Ranieri said, “that I’m part of a team. It’s our team of staff, volunteers, community partners and donors who make it possible for House of Hope to serve friends and neighbors in need. On their behalf, I thank the NAACP for recognizing our efforts.”

Chery Campbell, the first female and the first person of color to serve as Assistant Secretary for Administration for the Department of Health and Human Services, was the guest speaker at the Gala. She too promoted the importance of serving the community with purpose and power.

The annual gala, which was suspended during Covid, was back in full force for 2023 and raised funds to continue the work of the NAACP in Martin County.

About House of Hope

Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 21,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future. The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, and Thrift Shops in South Stuart, Hobe Sound and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Enrichment Centers in Stuart and Jensen Beach offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being. House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Hohmartin, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/houseofhopemc/, and Twitter https://twitter.com/hohmartin.