Hopebridge Buries Time Capsule in Honor of 20 Years of Service

Celebrating growth, impact, and a legacy of care for children and families

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, one of the country’s leading autism therapy providers, marked its 20th anniversary by hosting a time capsule burial at its newly built Merrillville, Ind. center, bringing together team members, clinical leadership, and the organization’s founder to honor and reflect on two decades of impact.

Founder Kim Strunk, Chief Clinical Officer Jana Sarno, and other Hopebridge leaders joined the Merrillville team for the celebration. Strunk shared heartfelt remarks about Hopebridge’s beginnings in Kokomo, Ind. in 2005 and the organization’s growth into a nationally recognized provider with more than 100 centers across 10 states. She reflected on the countless children who have learned, laughed, and grown with Hopebridge over the years. She expressed deep gratitude and admiration for all the caregivers and dedicated team members who made those milestones possible.

“This milestone is not only about where we’ve been, but also about where we’re going,” said Strunk. “For 20 years, Hopebridge has been committed to helping children with autism and their families thrive. The items we’ve buried today represent thousands of moments of joy, progress, and resilience — and we look forward to celebrating even more when we open the capsule in five years.”

The time capsule itself tells the story of Hopebridge through the eyes of its centers and staff. Contributions poured in from across the country, each symbolizing the spirit of the local teams: seashells from Florida beaches, a photo paired with the lyrics to a favorite dance party anthem, t-shirts signed by entire center staff, newspaper clippings that captured Hopebridge’s early days, and relics from advocacy walks and employee appreciation events. Together, the items represent the heart and history of Hopebridge. The capsule will remain buried until 2030, when it will be unearthed in celebration of Hopebridge’s 25th anniversary.

Since its founding, Hopebridge has been recognized as a leader in pediatric therapy. With programs that support both patients and employees — from clinical leadership initiatives to outcomes showing 92% of graduated patients remain in school — the organization has built a legacy of growth and innovation. As part of their unique service offerings, Hopebridge offers pediatric therapy programs such as applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech therapy, occupational therapy, and autism diagnostic services all under one roof. The time capsule stands as a tribute to Hopebridge’s mission and the countless children, families, and team members who have been part of its journey.

To learn more about pediatric therapy services or to apply to open job positions with Hopebridge, visit www.hopebridge.com 

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Hopebridge was founded in 2005 to serve the growing need for autism treatment services and to improve the lives of affected children and families. Hopebridge is committed to providing personalized outpatient ABA, occupational, speech and feeding therapies for children affected by autism spectrum disorder and behavioral, physical, social, communication and sensory differences. Hopebridge provides a trusted place where they can receive the care, support and hope they deserve.

Nearly two decades later, Hopebridge continues to open state-of-the-art autism therapy centers in new communities to reach patients and families who need services. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Hopebridge operates nearly 100 centers in the following ten states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio and Tennessee.

Media Contact:
Evelyn Castor

ecastor@hirons.com   

317-703-9929

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC. Testimonials are solicited as part of an open casting call process for testimonials from former client caregivers. Hopebridge does not permit clinical employees to solicit or use testimonials about therapeutic services received from current clients (Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts 5.07-5.08; BACB, 2020). Hopebridge does not provide any incentives, compensation, or renumeration for testimonials provided by a former client or client caregiver.