Operation New Hope was founded in 1999 to revitalize Jacksonville’s Historic Springfield, which had been dilapidated for over 30 years. The nonprofit has restored more than 76 homes in Springfield and the Eastside neighborhoods of Jacksonville. The nonprofit is also responsible for the Eastside Community Garden, which provides educational, recreational, and nutritional benefits for the community. Beyond this, the organization works with other community organization to provide guidance and assistance for those in need of basic necessities including clothing, shelter, and training for employment. In 2003, the Bush administration and the Labor Department selected the organization as the national model for the Ready4Work program, providing ex-offenders the assistance to re-enter society and the workforce.