While the Barrington Area Development Council (BADC) is dedicated to enhancing quality of life in the Barrington Area, there are times when the impact of our work extends beyond local borders. One such partnership began in 2007, when the Quigley family approached the BADC Board with a vision that would lead to lasting global impact.

Courtney (Quigley) McGovern, her sister Ashley, and their father, Jim Quigley, shared the realities facing families living and working in Guatemala City’s garbage dump communities — where generations survive by scavenging in dangerous conditions for minimal income. Moved by these circumstances, they founded Hope’s In to create opportunities for local volunteers to partner directly with families in need, fostering both empowerment and understanding through service.

Hope’s In initially came to BADC with the goal of funding a single home for a mother and her five children living in unsafe conditions. Although supporting an emerging nonprofit working internationally was outside BADC’s typical scope, the Board recognized the strength of the mission and the leadership behind it — including two Barrington High School students mobilizing their peers to take action.

BADC supported Hope’s In by providing its 501(c)(3) structure to enable early fundraising, along with guidance on marketing, website development, and donor engagement. Board Members also helped connect the organization with early supporters. As the organization grew, Courtney returned to Barrington to share Hope’s In’s progress as the keynote speaker at BADC’s Annual Dinner in 2015.

Since that initial partnership, Hope’s In has brought more than 550 volunteers to Guatemala, built 63 homes, and delivered over 12 weeks of medical clinics. BADC is proud to have helped support the early growth of an organization that continues to create meaningful, life-changing impact for families and volunteers alike.