This year marks ten years since a small mobile surgical program became the nonprofit Hope Builds — and a decade in which our team, who still fondly call themselves the Hope Floats Initiative, carried free surgical care to thousands who needed it most.

What this work has accomplished was never the achievement of any one person. It belongs to the remarkable surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and support staff who gave their skill, their time, and their hearts — traveling long roads, working long days, and treating every patient with dignity. Their dedication, perseverance, and loyalty are the true engine of every outing.

We are equally grateful to the partners and sponsors who made the work possible. MedShare and The Reed Family Foundation stood with us from the beginning, providing critical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals that allowed our teams to operate where resources were scarce. Their generosity turned commitment into capacity.

Ten years on, our thanks go to everyone — clinician, volunteer, and partner alike — who helped bring healing and hope to so many. This is your legacy as much as ours.