Brooke It Forward
Since 2018, The IJN Foundation (In Jesus’ Name) has empowered Hope House to change the lives of countless child abuse victims. Led by Louisiana businessman and philanthropist Steve Tujague and his wife Lucy, The IJN Foundation’s generosity and advocacy have resulted in incredible growth, development, and most importantly, positive outcomes of justice and recovery for child abuse victims across the state, and particularly Louisiana’s Northshore.
Thomas Mitchell
Executive Director of CAC – Hope House
Catalyzing Growth and Stability
In 2018, during a time when Hope House faced significant financial hardships, The IJN Foundation (In Jesus’ Name) changed the trajectory of the organization forever. That same year, Hope House received a call that a local family wished to create a matching campaign for the organization. After learning about Hope House’s mission, Tujague pledged $150,000 in matching funds for every dollar raised in the organization’s signature annual fundraiser, Men Who Cook. This would prove to be a catalyst for Hope House’s growth and financial stability, rallying countless community members and stakeholders to take ownership of the recovery of local child abuse victims.
Steve Tujague
Northshore Philanthropist
Transforming "Men Who Cook"
Prior to The IJN Foundation’s initial collaboration with Hope House in 2018, the organization’s Men Who Cook fundraiser drew an annual attendance of 150 to 200 guests and raised $63,000 at its highest point. Since 2018, Men Who Cook’s attendance has increased to over 1,000 guests as more advocates are being developed and cultivated, and Hope House has averaged more than $300,000 in annual fundraising through the event.
Impact on Programs and Services
The IJN Foundation has generously contributed more than $1.25 million to Hope House since the start of the partnership, all given In Jesus’ Name. Thanks to this generosity, Hope House has been empowered to expand operations, programs, staff and services for the increasing number of child abuse victims – more than 3,000 children since 2018 – served on the Northshore. In 2019, with Tujague’s support, Hope House launched Play It Safe, an evidence-informed child abuse prevention training that is offered free of charge to local schools and organizations serving children. Since then, Hope House has trained more than 1,700 local children in body safety and abuse prevention. In 2020, Hope House expanded with a 1,250-sq-ft. renovation to increase its trauma counseling services. In 2023, Tujague provided financial support for Hope House to open a new, state-of-the-art CAC in Bogalusa, one of Louisiana’s most impoverished cities. Additionally, with Tujague’s help, Hope House has strengthened its forensic medical programming, created robust vicarious trauma resources, increased staff retention programs, and empowered multidisciplinary partner agencies such as law enforcement and the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services with advanced training in trauma-informed care and best practices in investigations.
Thomas Mitchell
Executive Director of CAC – Hope House
Legislative Impact & Leadership
Furthermore, Tujague was instrumental in saving the state’s CAC chapter while advocating for state legislative funding for all CACs in Louisiana. Prior to 2021, Louisiana was one of seven states in the country lacking state legislative support, despite being statutorily defined and mandated. Tujague worked with state leaders to secure funding for child abuse and trafficking victims.
In a February 2020 meeting at Hope House with Louisiana’s former First Lady Donna Edwards, who is a dedicated supporter of the state’s CAC movement, Tujague advocated for the securing of a 28-year dream for Louisiana’s CACs – state legislative funding. Tujague provided a $300,000 contribution, dispersed to all Louisiana CACs, creating a public-private partnership that served as a catalyst for state funding. Two months later, CACs across Louisiana celebrated a major victory – it was announced that state legislative funding would be included in the state’s budget.
A Legacy of Philanthropy
In 2024, Steve Tujague received the “Community Philanthropy Leadership Award” at the 2024 National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. Selected from numerous nominations across 1,100 Children's Advocacy Centers nationwide, Tujague, on behalf of The IJN Foundation (In Jesus’ Name), was one of only eight award recipients to be honored at the event – a tremendous and well-deserved recognition for one of the most impactful partners in Hope House’s history.
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