| | Welcoming a New Board President for 2021
by Laura Leavitt
Scott Ellsworth is very involved in volunteerism, having served on many boards over the past years. His background is in manufacturing companies. He's spent the past 12 years involved in workforce development, so he also has seen how valuable outreach work, like that of Family Promise of Butler County, can be for the community.
“I see having a job that pays a reasonable wage as being a key; that's an important part of anybody's life, the ability to be self-sufficient,” says Ellsworth. “That's one of the things that we're doing with Family Promise of Butler County; we're trying to help folks at a very tough part in their life, when many of them never expected to be there.”
Now, he’s excited to take on the duties of Board President and see exciting growth this year.
He’s been impressed with the work of the fundraising committee even in a year when in-person events were not possible, and is excited for all they have in store for 2021. He’s also particularly enthusiastic about the continued growth of the Diversion Program.
“We're catching folks at a point where they are at-risk for homelessness, and we're doing the things so that they don't reach that crisis,” says Ellsworth.
“I'm looking forward to being able to really help the team to continue to run effectively but also to grow our work and be able to help a broader spectrum of the population.”
Ellsworth got involved in the Family Promise of Butler County board for a relatable reason: someone he liked and respected asked him to join. He sees asking others to join you in a good cause as a powerful motivator.
“I’d ask people who are involved in Family Promise of Butler County to invite peers and friends to volunteer or give in some way, to helping change the lives of these kids and their families,” says Ellsworth. |
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| Seeking Joy & PassionWhile we are battling snow and frigid temperatures, I find joy in knowing that spring is just around the corner, and longer days are coming, along with the wonderful occasion of daylight savings time on March 14th. Yes, I just love losing an hour of sleep!
Did you know that every day can be time for seeking joy? Personally, I find joy in sunshine, time spent with family & friends, a good book or movie, and my hobbies. At work I find joy in implementing ways to continue our mission and seeing the excitement on our families’ faces when they realize they can do the hard work and that it is worthwhile. I am an Enneagram 9, which means I love to help others, am compassionate and feel things deeply. I have also learned to be organized. I am blessed and joyful that I have a job that is making a difference!
How do you seek joy? Does it come from serving, providing financial assistance, finding new ways to make a difference? Do you know what your passions are, what your dreams include or how to fulfill your purpose?
Each one of us has purpose and that will look differently for everyone. I am hopeful that you know your purpose or that you are searching to find what that purpose is.
Another passion we have at FPBC is looking to the future to see how we can grow and affect even more change for more families. This would include the ability to grow and strengthen our diversion programs, provide more referral services and to one day purchase our own day center.
We are faithful in our commitment to our mission, and it is our hope that everyone reading this newsletter will join us in that commitment. Here’s to finding joy and passion in helping those families who are experiencing homelessness.
Blessings,
Linda Smith |
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| | Save the Date! Saturday, June 12
Our Annual Dot Dash 5K returns with a hybrid event for 2021! :) More details coming soon! |
| Day Center Needs
The following items are for graduated families to set up their new homes with and should be new:- liquid hand soap
- pot/pan sets
- cooking utensils
- disinfectant wipes
- bath towels
- cookie sheets & bakeware sets
- vinyl shower curtains with hooks
If you would like to provide any of these items, please drop them off at the Day Center at: 19 S. Front Street, Hamilton or contact Linda at 513-444-2033. |
| | | Shopping on Amazon?
Would you please consider moving over to Amazon Smile and choosing Family Promise of Butler County as your designated charity? You get all the best of Amazon, including your Prime benefits, and FPBC gets a donation from each purchase you make! Everybody wins! :) |
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| | | by Amy Abernathy
March 14, 2021- time to spring forward, check smoke detectors, and donate to Family Promise of Butler County's 'Time for Change' initiative.
Spring is a time for renewal, a fresh start, and revival. And Family Promise wants to give this hope to all families in Butler County. But we can only do that with your help! We also hope that this fundraiser will raise more awareness in our community of the great things that Family Promise of Butler County is doing for families. We have some amazing volunteers making 'donation houses' that will be placed in several businesses across Butler County. The houses will be marked with Family Promise of Butler County's information and a QR code that will offer a link to the website and ways to not only donate, but also help to further our cause.
We are asking for any size donation, large or small! Our goal is to raise $5000. Which, we are excited to announce, will be matched by a very generous donor. So, every dollar amount, no matter the denomination, is so important when we have the opportunity to double the amount automatically.
Please consider making a donation because it's a Time for Change, where every Butler County family deserves a home of their own.
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| | Meet the Three Newest Members of Our Board of Trustees
by Tera Michelson
Family Promise welcomes three new members to the Board of Trustees in 2021. Meet Amy Abernathy, Brenda Bearden and Doug Reichenberger, the latest servant leaders to join the Family Promise of Butler County team.
Amy Abernathy – Family Champion
Amy Abernathy lives in Franklin and works as the Branch Manager at the MidPointe Library in Middletown. She embraces the recent cold weather and the snow that comes with it by
sledding with her two young boys, ages 6 and 3.
When Amy heard about the vacant Board position, she leaned into the calling to help meet a need. “I am excited to be working with Family Promise because I see such a need for this organization in our community,” Amy says. “We especially see need here in Middletown, and I hope to get more involvement from Middletown partners in the future.”
Brenda Bearden – Volunteer Virtuoso
Liberty Township’s Brenda Bearden is an active volunteer and fundraiser with local nonprofits, SCORE and Kindervelt. She has been involved with Family Promise of Butler County since its inception, when she gave time to help a division of Family Promise in another region through her church.
For fun, Brenda enjoys reading, walks, puzzles and sharing time with family and friends.
As a Board member, Brenda hopes to make a positive impact on homelessness and make a
difference in the community. “Homelessness is such an understated and under-supported need,” she says. “It's not just the people on the street, there are kids in our schools living in cars.”
Doug Reichenberger - Magnet for Mission
The Regional Director, Career Services & Professional Development at Miami University, Doug is entrenched in the community of Hamilton, the city he and his wife Kathy call home. Doug learned about Family Promise of Butler County through his involvement in leadership development in the chambers of commerce in Hamilton and Middletown and was encouraged by a friend and colleague to get involved on the Board.
He is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys kayaking, disc golf and international travel. He puts his leadership skills to use as a small group leader for his church.
As a Board member, Doug hopes to help Family Promise of Butler County fulfill its life-changing mission. “The mission of Family Promise attracted me to apply,” he says, “specifically assisting families that need assistance with housing, keeping the family unit together, while teaching or preparing them to be independent in the near future.”
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| | Thank You for Your Generous Year-End Giving |
| | Sending out a big collective "THANK YOU!" for ALL of your generosity in giving throughout last year. We finished 2020 strong, and look forward to putting all of those dollars towards our mission - "To help alleviate the needs of children and their families who are experiencing homelessness in Butler County by providing shelter, meals, diversion, and comprehensive support services." 2021 is looking bright! |
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