Anne Marie Hopkins (1984-2009)

The Anne Hopkins Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in honor of Anne Marie Hopkins (Annie). Annie was a well-known member of the Chicago disability community and an up and coming advocate and social entrepreneur. At the age of 24, she had accomplished more than many do in a lifetime. Living life to the fullest and reaching for the stars was Annie's everyday practice, which helped her to achieve so many of her dreams and ambitions and inspire everyone she met along the way. She was who she was, never ashamed of her disability and never backing down from a challenge. Annie was the most tireless worker imaginable, staying up late into the night every night. With this passion and life practice, she earned her bachelors degree with honors and was working towards a PhD. Annie worked a full-time job as a disability resource advocate. She was an aspiring author, artist, and musician, and she was a business owner.

All of her hard work and all of her accomplishments all had a central theme - to positively change the societal perceptions of people with disabilities and fight for the underdog at any cost. Unfortunately her life's work was cut short on January 20th, 2009, when Annie lost her fight after a series of simple medical procedures led to infection and her unexpected passing. Although she is no longer working late into the night, the Anne Hopkins Foundation hopes to continue her work by inspiring others to live the way Annie lived and help them achieve their goals through educational scholarships and other resources.

To learn more about Annie and her life, read her memorial booklet, watch her YouTube videos, and add her as a friend on Facebook.