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I am honored to serve as the founding Executive Director of the North/Central Palm Beach County affiliate of Family Promise. I am inspired by the individuals in our community who had the vision and tenacity to see this important mission come to life. |
BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A HOME…
 Welcome to Family Promise of North Central Palm Beach County! DID YOU KNOW? The average age of a homeless person is nine years old. Recent estimates state that 1 in 50 children in the United States are homeless. Poverty, lack of affordable housing, sky rocketing healthcare costs and insufficient low cost daycare are the primary contributors to family homelessness. In Palm Beach County, there are nearly 2000 homeless children registered in Palm Beach County Schools. Other programs in our community are not able to meet the increasing demand for services. Many of these families are sleeping in local parks or living in their cars. People come to Family Promise because there is nowhere else to go.
In response to this crisis, the Family Promise partnership brings the faith community together to help families regain their housing, their independence, and their dignity. Family Promise is a partnership of congregations within a community helping families who are facing homelessness. It offers an opportunity for volunteers of all faiths to reduce homelessness and transform lives. Family Promise affiliates are currently operating in 41 states and the District of Columbia, in large cities, suburbs, and rural counties. They mobilize community resources: houses of worship for lodging, congregations for volunteers, social service agencies for assessment and referrals, and existing facilities for day programs. This strategy enables networks to help homeless families achieve lasting independence at a third of the cost of traditional shelters. Nationally, 80 percent of the families that Family Promise serve go on to long-term housing. Family Promise affiliates have served more than 50,000 children and adults and involved more than 150,000 volunteers in 5,000 congregations.
Kathy Perry, Family Promise Founder Kathy Perry is a long time dedicated public servant. A native of Indiana, Kathy attended Indiana University and Indiana State University. Kathy began her career in public service while simultaneously operating MeMe’s, a ladies and children’s apparel boutique. Kathy has a long list of volunteer and board service experiences in the non-profit sector. To her credit, Kathy has been involved with the following agencies, Y.W.C.A, Tri-Kappa, American Heart Association, and Meals on Wheels. Kathy currently serves as the Service Ministry lay chairperson at Oceanview United Methodist Church. Her present involvement in service ministries is with St. George’s Soup Kitchen in Riviera Beach, North County Home Delivered Meals, and CROS Food Pantry at El Sol. Kathy’s drive to help those in need caused her most recently to focus her energy on helping the new ministry of Family Promise of North/Central Palm Beach County Inc. to become a reality. An avid outdoors woman and mother of two grown daughters, Kathy and her husband Russ have lived in South Florida for the past 13 years where Kathy says she is “living her dream”. She continues to work tirelessly with Family Promise to see that every child deserves and has a home. Pete Jones, President Pete Jones was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Pete holds a B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Economics from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Pete has worked with the Haverty’s Furniture Company for the last twenty five years. Eight years ago, he was promoted to his current title of General Manager of the South Florida market. The Son of a Baptist minister, Pete has always had a passion for helping those in need through faith based ministry. He has served as a Deacon and Sunday school teacher in churches throughout the country. He currently serves as a trustee for Oceanview United Methodist Church. Pete and his wife, Melanie, have two children of their own. Pete is excited about being involved with the Family Promise Ministry and having the chance to give back to the community which has given so much fulfillment to him and his family over the years. Tracy Lenehan, volunteer, Family Service Coordinator Tracy Lenehan is a passionate supporter of underprivileged children with a long history of teaching, case management and fundraising. Her dedication has led her to work or volunteer with the following area agencies: Easter Seals Florida, St. Mary’s Child Development, Guardian ad Litem, and the Palm Beach County School District. Tracy earned a B.A. from Colgate University in 1990 with a major in sociology and completed teacher certification K-5. Tracy received an M.A. in Sociology of Education from Columbia University in 1992 and an M.B.A. with a concentration in public policy from Duke University in 1998. While at Duke, Tracy spent two years as a volunteer tutor and mentor to children living in homeless shelters in Durham, North Carolina. Tracy is currently employed part-time in a multigenerational family office where she manages a private foundation, and has a myriad of responsibilities related to financial services, and investment operations. She has spent the last three years as a volunteer tutor in local title 1 elementary schools. Tracy is happy to have the opportunity to continue helping children in need through her volunteer support of Family Promise.
Start Up Needs / Wish List These are items which are needed to continue our mission 14-passenger van small trailer to pull behind van small fireproof safe for files 100 ft fencing, installed with a gate 5 small locking medicine boxes 2 racks for drying clothes
Budget Relieving Copy paper - reams or cases Post it notes, all sizes Laundry detergent Fabric softener sheets Bleach Liquid Lysol Paper towels Toilet Paper Gift cards for office supplies Staples Gift cards for home improvement Home Depot or Lowes Gift cards for food Publix or Winn Dixie (for clients) Gift cards for gas for clients Family Promise of North/Central Palm Beach County, Inc. Executive Director Rhonda Clinton |
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A mother loses her job, a father is kept from working by an injury, a family is forced from their home by fire or natural disaster. Healthcare costs soar, public transportation is underfunded, affordable housing is almost impossible to find. These are the reasons why families now make up 40 percent of the homeless population, and why one out of every four homeless people is a child. 
Hosting and Supporting Congregations
