A Note
from the Family Promise Board for June 2010
First and foremost, Thank You
for your continued support of this program and of the families that we serve. We are approaching the 2nd
anniversary of Family Promise of Seattle, knowing that we’ve helped move 29 families from homeless to housed.
I’m going to make this note somewhat personal.
For a profession, I advocate for homeless students and their families for the Highline School District.
This year, my numbers have grown from 503 homeless students to over 625. In case you are wondering,
this economy is putting children and their families on the street. Families are slow to identify themselves.
They don’t typically hold up signs, or stand at the corner begging for money. They hole up
in their cars, or move from couch to couch until they’ve worn their welcome out. They’re hungry
and scared, and most do not make it into shelter. Families that don’t make it into shelter remain
homeless, sometimes for years at a time. It is for this reason that I’m committed to Family Promise
of Seattle. We change lives. We hold individuals in high esteem, sitting down to dinner,
reading a book to a child, listening to parents pray and complain, and sometimes laugh.
All of us on the Board of Family Promise are committed to seeing this
program flourish in the years ahead. With the help of our new Executive Director, Norman Schwamberg, we
are making progress!
- We’ve
hired a grant writer: 1 grant down, 5 to go.
- We’re holding regular fundraisers: small home parties that bring about awareness and needed
funds. Could you host a party? We can help.
- We’re being trained on how to recruit more Host Congregations.
We’re going to keep working on this until we have at least 13 on board. (That will
mean each Host only has to be on the schedule 4 times a year).
- We’re actively recruiting to grow the Board, and are in the process of laying out
plans for a major fundraising effort.
Exciting things are in the works at Family
Promise to ensure that we can keep caring for the children that we help… 29 families no longer homeless….
A pretty good record. If you would like to join the effort, give us a call. And,
Thank You! You’re making a Difference.
~
On Behalf of the Board, Laura Bermes
April Note from the Board
Thanks to all our FP partners for their patience during our period of
new staff transition. We are excited by the addition this month of our new Case Manager, Diane Marzec. Diane has experience
as a Community Case Manager in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and most recently had a position with the Seattle YWCA.
We currently have two families in our program. Abraham Robles, his wife Susanna and their three
children are one family. The other is the Clark family with grandmother, Brenda, her daughter Tasha, and her two infant children
Steven and Kaiya.
Thanks again to our host partners for all their great support.
--
Norman Schwamberg
Interim Executive Director
February
Note from the Board
As February quickly winds down, we at Family promise are gearing up for two fundraisers that will support
our continued growth in serving homeless children and their families. On March 20th, the Board
of Family Promise is offering a free Brunch and Folk Music Concert to raise funds through our current fundraiser, “Club
206.” The Brunch Fundraiser, dubbed “Simple Gifts,” will feature renowned local humanitarian
Craig Rennebohm, author of, “Souls in the Hands of a Tender God.” Craig, along with
a panel of former Family Promise Guests and Volunteers will paint a picture of how we can step up and care for the homeless,
and how that experience can change lives – the lives of those served, and the lives of those serving. The
other fundraiser on the calendar is another private fundraiser in the home of a concerned citizen. We
have plugged into a new way of raising funds and awareness by asking business people to hold a home party. These
smaller fundraisers allow for great conversation and targeted solicitation of funds! If you haven’t
received a personal invitation to a fundraiser yet – Consider Yourself Invited! We need YOU on March
20th from 12-2 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (in the Fellowship Hall). You can
RSVP by calling 206-932-1547 or by emailing fundraiser@familypromiseofseattle.org. You are WELCOME and Wanted and Needed!!! If you are interested in hosting a “party,”
let us know!
On another note…
The Board of Family Promise is excited to announce that we are in the process of hiring an additional employee.
We are looking for a part-time Executive Director to shoulder the burden so that we might move from surviving to
thriving. It is our intention to retain a ½ time Case Manager position as well. At
this point, Elizabeth holds the role of both Executive Director AND Case Manager. The Board
feels strongly that this additional position will help to bolster the business end of Family Promise, while allowing our
Case Manager to focus on caring for families. With measured steps, we are moving in the right direction!
For more news,
feel free to explore the Family Promise Website at www.familypromiseofseattle.org.
January Note From the Board
Happy
New Year to all of our partners and supporters! As the month of January presses forward, the Family Promise
Board wants to let you know how much we appreciate your time and financial support in caring for homeless children and their
families. We couldn’t keep going without the generosity of our volunteers. We
have some good news to share! Our former guest Lauren had her baby! Baby boy Liam was
born 7 lbs 1 oz.! Missy, an earlier guest, also had her baby. Baby Amonte was born
7 lbs, 3 oz. and is doing well too. Lauren and Liam, and Missy and Amonte are great examples of why our
work is important. At Family Promise, we give families a safe place to rest at night and the support
needed to find stable housing. Because of your work, both of these babies had a home to come to after
being born. Thank You!
On another note,
this month Family Promise benefited from the hard work of volunteers from the University of Washington. On
MLK Day, seven UW students rolled up their sleeves and cleaned out the Day Center’s basement, working side by side
with Mark (our FP van driver) and Elizabeth (FP’s Director). It was a sight to see!
The students pulled out the myriad of junk that was stored in the basement, they leveled the basement’s dirt
floor, tarped the ground, and organized the space. Go University of Washington, and Thank You Volunteers!
Clear
your calendars! Family Promise will hold it’s annual Spring Fundraiser on Saturday, March 20th!
More information about this will be published in next month’s Note. If you have an idea
about how to make this fundraiser more fun and/or more lucrative for the program, feel free to give Laura Bermes, FP Board
Member, a call at 219-9173. On the Board, we recognize the need for greater fundraising activities,
and an expanded volunteer base. We need your help to move this program forward. Don’t
be afraid to step up – we want your ideas!