Non Profit Background
As I got a little older and wiser, I began developing a love and sense of connection with non-profits and their work. There is nothing better than watching people with passion and skill help their fellow citizens. Politicians and government programs have many a laudable goal to help with society's woes; the reality is that government's long term execution around solving society's most intractable problems is mixed at best. People with passion can solve more problems than a government program. My personal non-profit niche is around helping with the execution of processes and insuring measurable outcomes. A well run non-profit with proven outcomes is an exciting thing.
2014-2018 Board Chair – www.ACHIEVEability.org
ACHIEVEability is a non-profit that provides housing to single parent families in West Philadelphia in order to break the cycle of poverty. ACHIEVEability is a rigorous program that requires participants to attend school, keep their children in school, work and pay a subsidized rent. ACHIEVEability is “a hand up” from poverty, not a “hand out”. The families that successfully complete the program are amazing, and truly reinforce the power of the human spirit to overcome difficult situations. The results of the program are amazing. Recent graduates have increased their annual incomes by $15,000. The participants in the program are 5 times more likely to get a college degree when compared to the Haddington Cobbs Creek community and every child in the program ( over 300 ) are all enrolled in school.
My relationship started in 2000 when I volunteered to help an organization (Philadelphia's Concerned About Housing—ACHIEVEability's prior name ) celebrate their successes at a party in Fairmount Park. My 6 year old daughter and I ran the bean bag toss. As we meet the families and the employees of the organization throughout the day I became very interested in the cause. How were a hundred + families that were homeless before the program accomplishing such great things? They were all so proud. Since that day in June of 2000 I have involved 100's of Vanguard crew members, raised funds, lead the drive to be data/ outcome driven, chaired the HR committee, chaired the Self-Sufficiency committee, and for the last two years served as Board Chair.
Recently a very exciting thing happened, ACHIEVEability merged with Mission First Housing Group, a leader in low income housing development. Mission First's size ( 3000 houses ) and expertise around housing, and ACHIEVEability's proven ability to change lives is a perfect and powerful combination. The entire ACHIEVEability team is so excited about the future possibilities of helping even more families break the cycle of poverty.
Fund Raiser – Jefferson Hospice
Years ago we lost a friend and colleague Linda Schalin to breast cancer. In her last days the hospice support was amazing and caring. As a team we decided to help the hospice and honor Linda. Our first goal was to raise $2000 dollars. Since then we have raised over $150,000 dollars to support people in hospice care. The money is requested by the hospice workers with almost no “red tape”. Where ever “injustices” exist hospice workers are empowered to use the money.
The money keeps electricity on for patients dying at home, replaces broken/stolen devices, and pays for a few extra days of care when insurance runs out. Everyone deserves the right to die at home with dignity. Jefferson Hospice is an amazing care provider.
You can visit their page here.
Miscellaneous
My wife's family runs a cause to honor her sister who passed from breast cancer. I am a friend, funder and general doer to support the wonderful cause—TLDFOUNDATION.ORG. I also co-found a disease support site, MHECOALITION.ORG, in order to help people that share a rare bone disease my daughter and I share. As a Vanguard Principal I was very involved in the United Way, and ran the campaign in 2001. Finally, I was our church President for five years.