Our Story:

Gems of Hope, Inc. was inspired by Tory, a 9-year-old living in Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa.  While her mother was in treatment for cancer, Tory 
wrote daily notes of encouragement, leaving them where her mother 
would see them.  The pair also attended art therapy classes together.

Tory's mother recognized that the love behind the notes and the 
opportunity to create art, as well as the information she found in her 
reading, were valuable components in her recovery.  She joined two 
friends also affected by cancer in founding a non-profit organization 
that would extend these components to others.  Gems of Hope, Inc. 
promotes what medical research now supports: developing one's 
spirituality can encourage feelings of optimism and hope and, thus, 
healing.

Gems of Hope, Inc. was founded in July of 2005 to share hope with
others.