Andy and Jennifer Hilger during a trip to Banff, Canada.
“I wanted to do something meaningful—to help kids who deserved opportunities but didn’t always get them.”
For Andy Hilger, board member of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore, a decision to volunteer with Boys Hope Girls Hope in 1991 changed his life in profound ways.
Not only did he develop a passion and commitment to mentorship and service – but most importantly, he met his wife, Jennifer, through the organization. Now, more than 30 years later, Andy and Jennifer’s dedication to Boys Hope Girls Hope continues to shape their relationship, their family, and the many young lives they’ve impacted along the way.
Andy Hilger (far left) with other Boys Hope Girls Hope volunteers in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in 1991.
Finding Love Through a Shared Mission
Andy first learned about Boys Hope Girls Hope at a volunteer fair during his senior year of college. Lfooking for a way to give back, he was drawn to the organization’s mission of providing stability and opportunity for academically motivated youth facing tough circumstances.
“I had been really lucky in life,” Andy says. “And I wanted to do something meaningful—to help kids who deserved opportunities but didn’t always get them.”
He signed up as a volunteer residential counselor, moving into a Boys Hope Girls Hope home for boys in Northeastern Ohio, where he supported scholars with schoolwork, structure, and mentorship. When his year as a volunteer came to a close, he jumped at the chance to continue as a residential counselor, but this time as a paid employee.
In his second year, he attended a volunteer retreat near Pittsburgh, where he met Jennifer. She had been working as a residential counselor in Phoenix and Detroit. Their connection was immediate, but their relationship grew slowly, over time—first through handwritten letters and long conversations.
“There was no email back then,” Andy laughs. “We were pen pals for months before we really started dating.”
They married in 1996 and have been partners in life—and in service—ever since.
Andy and Jennifer Hilger (back row, left) with scholars from Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore at a Baltimore Ravens game in 2012.
“You won’t remember the promotions or the bonuses. You’ll remember the people you helped, the friendships you built, and the impact you made.”
Keeping Service at the Heart of Their Family
Even as their careers took off—Andy’s in corporate leadership; Jennifer’s as a nurse—Boys Hope Girls Hope remained a central part of their lives. In 2007, while raising three young children, Andy joined the board of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore.
It was a hectic time. “We had three kids under seven, and I was traveling a lot for work,” Andy recalls. “But we both knew we wanted to stay involved. Boys Hope Girls Hope shaped who we were. We wanted our kids to grow up understanding the power of resilience, opportunity, and service.”
Their children became part of the Boys Hope Girls Hope community, attending events, meeting scholars and team members, and seeing firsthand what perseverance looks like.
“I wanted them to understand that not everyone has the same start in life,” Andy says. “That success isn’t just about talent—it’s about determination, hard work, and support.”
Andy Hilger with Baltimore scholar Dwayne Thomas, and his son Henry Hilger in 2012.
Over the years, the Hilgers have built deep connections with many scholars.
One of the most meaningful relationships has been with Dwayne Thomas, a scholar Andy met in 2007. Read the full story about Dr. Dwayne Thomas here, on the Alumni Spotlight blog!
“There was a time when Dwayne wasn’t sure he wanted to stay in the program,” Andy remembers. “He was in eighth or ninth grade and struggling with the structure. But he stuck with it.”
Years later, Dwayne went on to medical school and is now working his way through residency as a doctor for the US Navy in San Diego. He remains part of the Hilger family, mentoring their son Henry, who is considering a career in medicine.
“To see Dwayne go from a middle schooler questioning his path to a doctor mentoring my own son—it’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been part of,” Andy says.
But Dwayne isn’t the only scholar who has made a lasting impact.
Andy recalls another deeply meaningful moment—a call from a former scholar who had graduated ten years earlier.
“He told me about his girlfriend, his career and plans for the future,” Andy says. “That was incredible. It reminded me that these relationships don’t just end when they leave the program. We stay connected. We stay family.”
Another favorite memory of the Hilgers was the moment Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore expanded to serve girls.
“In 2010, I got a call from the board chair. We had a chance to open a Girls Hope home through the TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. It was a whirlwind—Ty Pennington and his crew built the house in a week,” Andy recalls. “Watching our program double in size and knowing that young women in Baltimore would now have the same opportunities as the boys—that was huge.”
It was a hectic time. “We had three kids under seven, and I was traveling a lot for work,” Andy recalls. “But we both knew we wanted to stay involved. Boys Hope Girls Hope shaped who we were. We wanted our kids to grow up understanding the power of resilience, opportunity, and service.”
Their children became part of the Boys Hope Girls Hope community, attending events, meeting scholars and team members, and seeing firsthand what perseverance looks like.
“I wanted them to understand that not everyone has the same start in life,” Andy says. “That success isn’t just about talent—it’s about determination, hard work, and support.”
Three generations of the Hilger family participating in the 2021 Walk to Hope fundraiser for Boys Hope Girls Hope.
AUTHOR
Martin Totland is the Media and Communications Coordinator for Boys Hope Girls Hope Network Headquarters.
Advice for Finding Meaningful Connections
For those looking to build deeper connections through work or volunteering, Andy offers simple advice:
“Forget the perfect plan. People say you should follow your passion, but I think that’s the wrong approach,” he explains. “Instead, find people who share your values, try different things, and invest in relationships.”
At the end of the day, Andy believes, success isn’t about titles or paychecks—it’s about people.
“You won’t remember the promotions or the bonuses,” he says. “You’ll remember the people you helped, the friendships you built, and the impact you made.”
For Andy and Jennifer, Boys Hope Girls Hope wasn’t just a volunteer opportunity—it was the foundation for a life of service, love, and community. And through their continued involvement, they are ensuring that future generations—of both scholars and their own children—carry those values forward.