Hope Rises at Mercy!

Life Discovery Interview with Kate Glaser — Hope Rises

We were so honored and grateful to welcome Kate Glaser, co-founder of Hope Rises, to speak with our students for a Life Discovery Interview. Kate is an award-winning journalist and compassionate community leader who started Hope Rises in 2017 as a way to share uplifting stories and make good news happen. What began as a humble blog has grown into a global movement that ignites hope through stories of love, kindness, strength, and goodwill — and raises support for causes and individuals in need all around the world. Through Hope Rises, Kate and her team have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and supported countless families and nonprofits with 100% of funds directly going back into community giving. Hope Rises News+1

Kate’s passion for storytelling, service, and community inspired our students as they learned more about business, journalism, nonprofit work, and service to others. Her genuine commitment to celebrating hope in action showed the Mercy students how one person’s vision can grow into a powerful force for good in the world.

But then something truly special happened…

A Beautiful Turn in the Conversation

As Kate was speaking with our students, she learned that some of our Mercy seniors had started a nonprofit of their own! Three remarkable young women — Nola Marrero (Chapter President), Samantha Arcara (Treasurer), and Brigid McQueary (Secretary) — launched Stellar Wonderz Buffalo with a mission to spread kindness through handmade bracelets and gifts. These thoughtful creations have been generously donated to:

✨ Sisters of Mercy

✨ Ronald McDonald House

✨ OLV Nursing Home

✨ Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

✨ Oishei Children’s Hospital

What makes their work even more inspiring is that these young women used their own money to buy materials for every bracelet and gift they made — a true expression of compassion, generosity, and servant leadership.

When Kate heard this, she was deeply moved. She literally turned the tables and began to interview our students, celebrating their selflessness, initiative, and the real impact their service is making in our community.

Hope Rises Meets Stellar Wonderz

In a heartwarming continuation of this story, Kate returned to Mercy with an incredible surprise — a $500 donation to Stellar Wonderz Buffalo on behalf of Hope Rises! This generous contribution will help fuel the next chapter of their mission to serve others and give back with love.

This moment truly captures what community is all about: Seeing good work, Celebrating it, Supporting it and Joining together in purposeful action

Our Mission in Action

At Mercy, we believe in compassionate service — that helping others not only makes a difference in the lives of those we serve but also helps us grow into compassionate, courageous, and generous leaders. When students step forward to make a difference — whether telling stories that inspire, creating gifts that bring joy, or giving time and resources to serve others — we see the world become a brighter place.

Thank You, Kate and Hope Rises!

We are incredibly grateful to Kate Glaser and Hope Rises for giving their time to speak with our students, for sharing their mission of hope, and for their generous support of Stellar Wonderz Buffalo. Your presence and generosity remind us that hope grows when we choose to help one another.

And to Nola, Samantha, Brigid, and all of our student leaders: thank you for showing us what compassion in action looks like — you are making a real and meaningful difference, and literally changing the world.

This is what hope looks like.

This is what service feels like.

This is what community means.