Pictured from left are Missy Schrock, executive director of Center for Healing and Hope, Karen Kurtz and Mark Kurtz. Photo provided by Center for Healing & Hope.

By Center For Healing And Hope

GOSHEN — For Mark and Karen Kurtz, the word “hope” carries three considerations: 1) the physical act of healing, which includes examination, discussion and review; 2) the positive feeling that living one’s best life provides psychologically and 3) the spiritual view of service to others so that humanity might live peacefully together in their communities and beyond. For all these reasons and more, Mark and Karen Kurtz have supported Center for Healing & Hope since its earliest days.

Back in the day when Center of Healing & Hope was struggling to steady its wobbly legs, Karen Kurtz procured its first grants. When selling their business in the 1990s, Mark and Karen Kurtz established and funded a special Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County that was later named the Compassion Fund. Center for Healing & Hope uses a small portion of the Compassion Fund’s annual earnings where needed most. The remainder of the Compassion Fund’s earnings are reinvested in perpetuity for the future of the Center.

Mark and Karen Kurtz believe they are hurtling into a brave, new and better world. Consider these facts:

• Since 1955, life expectancy has increased from 48 to 70.
• Death from childhood diseases dropped 66% since 1955.
• Cures and vaccines for a multitude of infectious and deadly diseases were discovered.
• Technology allows for MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, PET scans, minimally invasive surgeries and organ transplants.
• Scientists have unlocked the human genome.
• Since 1955, the number of children attending school has increased from 48% to 95%. Children are going to school longer, and women are closing the education gap with men.
• Furthermore, since World War II, global war has become unsustainable and, hopefully, headed toward obsolescence. The world is now increasingly connected through digital technology, smartphones, social media, 24-hour news and extensive travel.

People’s hearts fill with hope when good people do brave things. When hearts align with God’s mission in the world, a choice to support their vision is an easy one. Mark and Karen Kurtz see this desire for God’s active presence at Center for Healing & Hope.

Small steps become great strides in addressing society’s issues. They are grateful they can participate wholeheartedly in the mission, vision and values of Center for Healing & Hope now, and through the Compassion Fund, for years to come.