Gems of Hope was inspired by Tory, a 9-year-old living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While her mother was in treatment for cancer, Tory wrote daily notes of encouragement, leaving them where her mother would see them. The pair also attended art therapy classes together. Tory's mother recognized that the love behind the notes and the opportunity to create art, as well as the information she found in her reading, were valuable components in her recovery. She joined two friends also affected by cancer in founding a non-profit organization that would extend these components to others.

Gems of Hope promotes what medical research now supports: developing one's spirituality can encourage feelings of optimism and hope and, thus, healing. Gems of Hope was founded to share hope with others.

Gems of Hope, Inc. was founded in July of 2005 to share hope with
others.