Hope International Announces Jeff Rutt Winner of 2013 Epoch Lifetime Achievement Award

HOPE International is pleased to announce that its founder and board chair, Jeff Rutt, has won the 2013 Epoch Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding work in the missions field. The award was presented to Rutt on October 28 at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre during the second annual Epoch Awards presentation.

The vision of Tim Abare of Adventures in Missions, the Epoch Awards honor those who are persistently tackling issues of poverty, sex trafficking, HIV/AIDS, the need for clean water, homelessness, and other concerns in today's society.

“More than anyone else I know, Jeff models ‘humbition,’ that rare combination of humility and ambition,” says Peter Greer, president and CEO of HOPE International.  “Jeff is tenacious in pursuing his goals, but his success is never about him. The result: both the homebuilding industry and the philanthropy community have appropriately honored Jeff with their highest awards for lifetime achievement. Jeff is a remarkable leader, a true visionary, and a servant who follows the example of Jesus.”  

Since Jeff started HOPE in 1997, the organization has grown to serve over 575,000 men and women in 17 countries through discipleship, biblically based business training, a safe place to save, and small loans. As chairman of HOPE’s board, Jeff provides ongoing leadership in the nonprofit’s work transforming lives both spiritually and physically, empowering men and women to escape poverty, and restoring dignity in families around the world.

“Jeff Rutt is a leader whose heart is set on serving people and motivating others to do the same,” comments Paul Marty, Tomorrow Clubs director and HOPE’s first president.  “I had the privilege of working alongside Jeff on a courageous vision that turned into a global missions organization. Because of Jeff’s passion and dedication to helping underserved communities, I have seen people in poverty set free, with reasons to celebrate new hope and new purpose. It’s been incredible and inspiring to witness over the years.”

During the Epoch Awards ceremony, $50,000 in cash grants were given to help further the endeavors of each award winner and to encourage these innovators to continue making a difference in the world.

First North Dakota Home for Hope Under Construction

Credit: Homes for Hope

I love building homes, but there's nothing more rewarding than building lives.

In my life, I am proud to stand by this statement. When I founded Homes for Hope back in 1998, I knew I was doing something good by providing home builders and their trade partners with the opportunity to build new homes for a greater purpose. Hopes for Hope was a project that allowed me to combine what I am good at, home building, with my passion to help others and to help my still relatively new nonprofit, HOPE International. Since that time, Homes for Hope has been able to build more than 90 homes, impact more than 500,000 lives and raise more than $10 million in revenue benefiting HOPE International.

Last month, we were lucky enough to break ground with Red Door Homes to build North Dakota's first Home for Hope. The Bismarck-based builder and its trade partners will build and sell the home knowing that the profits, which are estimated at $100,000, will benefit thousands of people in more than 17 countries.

Art Goldammer, owner of Red Door Homes, said, "Homes for Hope gave us the opportunity to help more people than we could possibly serve alone. It is hard to put your finger on just the sense of joy that you can help out that many people and that, things you can’t even relate to, but you can make that big a difference in the world from Bismarck, N.D."

If you're looking for a new home in North Dakota, this home located at 3819 Crest Circle in Bismarck is a great opportunity to help a lot of people.

If you're a builder looking to benefit your community, not just locally, but also globally, I hope you'll consider getting involved with the Homes for Hope program.

Until next time,

Jeff Rutt