
FALCON FUND
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— Benjamin Franklin
Thank you for your interest in Hope Leadership Academy and the Falcon Fund. We would love to partner with you as we work to support and champion the students, families and staff of HLA
The Falcon Fund was created as a way for partners and donors to easily stay connected with the exciting things happening at Hope Leadership Academy.
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Our annual initiatives include:
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Principal for a Day
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Teacher Excellence Grants
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Falcon Fund Day (online giving day)
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Team Falcon (Employee Giving Campaign)
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Through the generosity of many, HLA has been able to build a world-class, close-knit neighborhood school that supports our students as they grow into lifelong learners and leaders. Please sign up for our monthly newsletter and join the Falcon team!

OUR STORY
Hope Leadership Academy was born out of a dream by community kids and their families to have a neighborhood school that provides a high quality education, close knit community and lasting relationships.
In 2008, the Kansas City Public School District began a plan to close 29 of the district’s 61 schools. The two district schools that served our students closed and neighborhood kids were being bused to different schools across the city. Hope Leadership Academy opened its doors in the fall of 2011, and once again the children of this neighborhood were able to go to school together within their community.​
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We invite you to be a part of the HLA family and the future of HLA as we look to grow and expand our initiatives which include: adding 5th grade next school year, trauma-informed training for all staff, multi-sensory learning opportunities in the classroom, and additional field trip experiences to help our students learn about the world around them.
INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION.

My name is Heather Whalen and I am the Director of Development for HLA. Though my position is new, I have been a part of HLA from the beginning. I had the privilege of helping write the charter for Hope Leadership Academy in 2008-2009, and since then I have served on the Board of Directors for HLA for the past 12 years.
I am a teacher by profession and have taught in the urban core of Kansas City, MO, Kansas City, KS, and Houston, TX. I have a heart and passion for education and for the HLA community. I am excited to share the HLA story with those who want to come alongside us and help bring support and enrichment to our amazings students and staff.