Maya's Hope Lotus Ball, 15th Annual Gala

Our journey with Maya’s Hope began in the summer of 2017, after watching the BBC documentary Ukraine’s Forgotten Children. Seeing the lives of children with disabilities and abandoned children living in state institutions changed something in us. We couldn’t look away.

Soon afterward, I connected with Maya, the founder of Maya’s Hope. One phone call led to an invitation to join the Host Committee for the 2017 Lotus Ball—and what began as a desire to help became a cause very close to our hearts.

That year, with the incredible generosity of our family and friends, I became the Lotus Ball’s top host fundraiser. Our community continued to show up, helping us achieve that honor again in 2023 and 2025.

Now, nearly a decade after making our first donation, Chris and I are incredibly honored to be recognized at the 2026 Lotus Ball. But for us, this evening is about something much bigger than an award. It is about the children who first captured our hearts—and the children who still need us today.

We invite you to join us in supporting Maya’s Hope and its work with children in Ukraine and the Philippines. Every gift, at every level, is part of giving a child greater care, dignity, opportunity and hope.

We couldn’t look away in 2017. We still can’t.

With love and gratitude,
Lorena & Chris

Maya’s Hope works to improve the quality of life of orphaned, impoverished, and special-needs children on a global scale.