2023
March 30

John Appointed as National Vice Chair of No Labels

Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Hope Bryant was appointed as National Vice Chair of No Labels, a national movement of common sense Americans pushing leaders together to solve the country’s biggest problems.

2022
April 5

FL4A Joins Nasdaq Stock Market for Opening Bell Ceremony

Bryant and members of the Operation HOPE team rang the Nasdaq bell in recognition of the Financial Literacy for All initiative, a 10-year commitment to enabling millions of youth and working adults in their quest to achieve greater financial success. Founding member organizations include iconic brands such as Walmart, Disney, Delta Air Lines, NFL, NBA, Khan Academy, Walgreens, Bank of America, PayPal, BlackRock, Mastercard, Santander and Ares, among others.

2017
April 3

Historical Marker honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Historical Marker honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In April 2017, a historical marker, also inspired by Bryant, working alongside friend and HOPE board member Bryan Jordan, CEO of First Horizon Bank in TN, to honor the final flight of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis on April 3, 1968, was installed at the Memphis International Airport 49 years to the day that Eastern Flight 381 arrived from Atlanta.

2016
December 9

Renaming of the Treasury Annex Building to the Freedman’s Bank Building

Renaming of the Treasury Annex Building to the Freedman’s Bank Building

On December 9, 2015, Bryant became the only private American citizen to inspire the renaming of a building on the White House campus in the nation’s history, when the U.S. Treasury Annex Building was renamed the Freedman’s Bank Building, in honor of former slaves who put their savings into the Freedman’s Bank after the American Civil War.

2007
April 25

First-Ever Presidential Meeting on Financial Literacy in America

First-Ever Presidential Meeting on Financial Literacy in America

April 25, 2007, John Hope Bryant joins U.S. President George W. Bush, Treasury Secretary Paulson, Education Secretary Spellings, HUD Secretary Jackson, U.S. Treasurer Cabral and six financial literacy experts in the Roosevelt Room of the White House for a first-ever Presidential meeting on financial literacy in America. The President called the meeting in response to a leadership request around financial literacy from Bryant and Operation HOPE

2004
June 13

U.S. Community Development Agency Board

On June 13, 2004, John Hope Bryant became a Presidential appointee when U.S. President George W. Bush appointed him to a 4-year term on the non-partisan U.S. Community Development Advisory Board for the CDFI Fund at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

2003
May 14

Received Oprah’s Use Your Life Award

Received Oprah’s Use Your Life Award

On May 7, 2003, John Hope Bryant was selected by Oprah Winfrey and the Oprah’s Angel Foundation to receive the Use Your Life Award, along with a $100,000 gift, donated to the work of Operation HOPE in Chicago, on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

1998
May 6

Appointed Goodwill Ambassador of UNCTAD

In May 1998, John Hope Bryant was appointed the first-ever United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Goodwill Ambassador for Partners for Development to the United States of America.

May 4

First African-American to be knighted by German nobility

On May 4, 1998, John Hope Bryant became the first African-American in history to be knighted by German nobility and the royal House of Lippe.

1996
April 12

Banking on Our Future

In April 1996, John Hope Bryant founded Banking on Our Future, today the leading urban delivery system for financial literacy education across America.

1995
August 7

The New Leaders Organization

In August, 1995, John Hope Bryant co-founded and subsequently served as the first president of The New Leaders organization, a group comprised principally of African-American professionals in Los Angeles, inspired by the life and legacy of former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley to “do something” for their community.

1994
March 10

HOPE Centers

In 1994, John Hope Bryant founded the first in a national network of inner-city banking centers, called HOPE Centers, serving low-wealth communities.

1992
May 4

Operation HOPE

Operation HOPE

On May 4, 1992, immediately following the worst urban riot and civil unrest in U.S. history, the Rodney King Riots of April 29, 1992, and inspired by his pastor and spiritual father the Reverend Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, John Hope Bryant founded Operation HOPE as America’s first non-profit social investment banking organization.