One Hope United
One Hope United (OHU) is a nonprofit that helps children, families, and communities. It started in 1895 in Downers Grove, Illinois, as Chicago Baptist Orphanage. It later became Central Baptist Children’s Home, then Kids Hope United, and finally One Hope United in 2010. It began with orphanages but now offers child welfare, early childhood education, behavioral health, and residential services. The headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.
OHU operates in Florida and Illinois. One of its main programs is Hope Houses—small, family-style homes for teens in the child welfare system, some involved with juvenile justice. The goal is to provide stable supervision and help with daily life, school, and mental health. OHU opened Hope Houses in Florida in 2020 and began in Illinois with its first Rockford location in 2025.
Damon Cates became President and CEO in May 2024, after serving as interim leader since September 2023. Before that, he was OHU’s Chief Advancement Officer.
Public filings show that OHU serves more than 10,000 children and families each year.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:10 (CET).