Friday, February 25, 2011

1st Anniversary Luncheon Silent Auction Merchants

Please support these merchants who graciously provided goods and services for today’s auction.

AGN Leather
AmberShader Photography
Bella Vista Trattoria
Benincasa Gallery and Gift Shop
California Pizza Kitchen
Colombo Studios
Corrective Chiropractic
Curt Zang, Accountant
Homeowners Helping Hands
Lincoln Oil
Madeline’s Italian Restaurant
National Income Tax Service
Newark Tire and Service
Newark ToyataWorld
Paws Aboard, LLC
Pike Creek Roasterie
Soffritto Italian Grill
Temptations
TGIFridays

1st Anniversary Luncheon Sponsoring Businesses

Thanks to these businesses that have helped to make our 1st Anniversary Family Promise Luncheon a success!

Pike Creek Roasterie
Allston Stiles Design
Homeowners Helping Hands
Prestige Paper and Equipment Company

February Donations Appreciation

Thanks to all of the individuals and organizations that donated to Family Promise in January - you are making a difference for homeless children and families in Northern New Castle County!  Here is a list of the organizations that contributed this month:


Limestone Presbyterian Church
St. James Mill Creek Episcopal Church
St. Philip's Lutheran Church
Westminster Presbyterian Church
White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Berea Presbyterian Church joins as 13th host congregation!


We are excited to announce that Berea Presbyterian Church has officially joined the Family Promise network as our 13th host congregation!  This now provides our homeless children and families with 13 host congregations that fill out our hosting schedule (13 congregations, each hosting 4 times per year complete the 52-week cycle).

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Welcome Joann Temple

I began my administrative career at DuPont in the Photo Products Department.  Here I enjoyed streamlining operations and providing quality customer service.  Troubleshooting problems and developing innovative solutions seem to be part of my nature.  I have always liked challenges.

My spirit of volunteering began at DuPont Pharmaceuticals.  I volunteered for various opportunities within Special Olympics.  Through United Way, Days of Caring, I had the opportunity to work with the Emmaus House and other non-profit agencies.  I am a volunteer at Kelly Heinz Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation.  I am currently on the Board of Directors at Freedom Center for Independent Living.  I am also an active member of Immanuel Episcopal Church On The Green in New Castle, DE.

My husband, Joe, is employed by Siemens as a Production Specialist.  We have 1 daughter, Kirsten, who is a stay-at-home Mom, and is actively involved with the Kelly Heinz Grundner Brain Tumor Foundation.  Our beloved daughter, Elizabeth, passed away in 2007 from Brain Cancer, at the age of 27.  She is sorely missed.  We have four beautiful grandsons, with a new grandbaby on the way.

I am very excited about my being selected as the Program Assistant for Family Promise.  It is impossible not to be inspired by the families.  I can’t wait to research all the things they need to get back on their feet.  It will be my pleasure in this job to support the existing programs for the families, but also to create some new ones that will bring lasting improvements to their lives.

Meet Merrie Bailey

My career began in social work which included being a community organizer involved with employment issues focusing on targeted hiring legislation, housing for the poor and medical benefits for the elderly.

For the last 25 years I was Executive Director of First State Project With Industry (FSPWI) providing career development and job placement for Delawareans with disabilities.  As a start-up ED, I assembled a Board of Directors from Delaware’s top-notch businesses, universities, and government agencies.  I spearheaded the development of all fund raising, program development,  grant writing, and public relations for the agency.  We opened three offices statewide.

I was head of Pastoral Care establishing an outreach program in the Episcopal Church after our parish received a bequest of $3 million.  I was also honored to be elected member of the Diocesan Council of the Episcopal Church in Wilmington.

For over 25 years I have been a Eucharistic Minister at the Christiana Care Hospital both in the Episcopal Church and most recently in the Catholic Church.  My church involvement has consisted of primarily of hands-on social ministry.  I established a 24/7 Telephone ministry for the “poorest of the poor.”  Other ministries included an Advocacy Network for the poor and supporting the church’s participation with Emmanuel Dining Room, Friendship House, San Marco ministry in Guatemala and Journey to Justice/Voices without Borders in Wilmington.

My husband is currently a Deacon at St. John the Beloved Church, retired from DuPont.  We have 3 children.

Family Promise Organization Announcement

The Board of Directors of Family Promise of Northern New Castle County has named Merrie Bailey as Interim Executive Director.  Merrie is on the Board of Directors for Family Promise and has many years of non-profit leadership experience.  We thank Tamikah Gowans for her service at Family Promise during this very busy start-up year and wish her well in her future endeavors.  We are in the process of searching for a new Executive Director.

Also, we welcome Joann Temple as Program Assistant for Family Promise.  She comes to us with a wealth of experience both in the corporate world and as a volunteer with nonprofit agencies.