Hope Ealey

Director of Development

Hope Ealey is a breast cancer survivor, wife, and mother of two elementary-aged girls who joined Breast Connect after the organization supported her through her own diagnosis and treatment for Invasive Lobular and Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer in 2023. At age 35, Hope underwent a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, a hysterectomy, reconstruction, and endocrine therapy, and has been NED (No Evidence of Disease) since September 2023.

Hope first connected with Breast Connect through its Facebook page, where she found a welcoming space for survivors to ask questions, share experiences, and receive practical and emotional support. The organization’s programs—including the Courage to Conquer Cancer Mastectomy Kit and Random Acts of Flowers deliveries—helped her feel cared for during every stage of treatment. As a millennial working mom, Hope found that many other cancer support resources weren’t designed for her needs, making Breast Connect’s inclusive and empowering approach all the more meaningful.

Professionally, Hope brings more than a decade of experience in public service, health communications, and nonprofit outreach. For six years, she served in the City of Knoxville’s Housing and Neighborhood Development department, managing federal housing and homeless grant programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In this role, she led strategic planning, oversaw grant applications and awards to local nonprofits, ensured sound fiscal management, and monitored program outcomes—earning a reputation for integrity, attention to detail, and compassion. Earlier in her career, she worked as Communications Director and Marketing Assistant for Apple Health and Wellness, where she built expertise in multi-channel communications, public speaking, community engagement, and relationship building.

Hope holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Tennessee. Outside of work, she enjoys vegetable gardening, Broadway shows, hiking, crafting with friends, and is currently training for the Cades Cove Loop Lope. Deeply committed to supporting other women—especially fellow working mothers—through their breast cancer journeys, Hope is honored to give back to the same community that walked beside her during hers.