Greetings All!

Greetings Family Promise of Greater Orlando Friends!

We have quickly moved into 2022 with a vigor and commitment to finding ways to continue to expand what we offer to families facing the crisis of homelessness. Each year, we have been able to increase the number of families we serve and 2021 was no different. We ended the year having guided 202 families toward safety, stability, hope and a new beginning! When I say “we”, that includes all of you. Family Promise of Greater Orlando achieves success each year because of the collaborative partnerships of so many individuals, businesses and organizations that share a commitment to offering a hand up to families facing the trauma and uncertainty of homelessness. A commitment to making sure that every child in our community has a safe and stable place to call home to assure they thrive and know how much they are valued. Together, we provided this value to 420 children in 2021 and we hope to increase our impact in 2022 with your support!

We have recently received news that we have a new partner in our mission, the Devos Family Foundation, who has selected Family Promise of Greater Orlando to be a part of their “30 Grants for 30 years” initiative. As part of this initiative, we will receive a $30,000 check and will be featured at a local Orlando Magic game as well as through a video and the use of the Magic’s impactful media presence.

We hope you will join us in this celebration as well as in the countless opportunities this year where you will be able to show the families we serve how much they are valued and how much we believe in their potential for long term success!

Thank you for your continued support!

With Gratitude,

Kathie Southern

Executive Director

Katrina's Journey

Katrina and Sam have a home of their own because of your support.

Katrina felt like life was stacked against her. She just received a text notifying her that she tested positive for COVID, for the second time. Not only was she sick from the virus, but her situation was making her feel even more sick. She and her, at that time, 5-year-old son, were living in their car. Sam was supposed to be in Kindergarten, but he wasn’t. Katrina was supposed to be at her job at Walmart, but she had to call in sick…again.

Sam’s grandmother would keep him overnight sometimes and when Katrina had to work but that wasn’t as regular as it should have been. Katrina decided to call 2-1-1 again for the fourth time. Maybe this time would be the lucky charm. Later that day, she received a call back asking her to complete an assessment of her situation. She filled it out quickly and submitted it. Two days later the phone rang while they were sleeping in their car. The voice on the other end of the line told her that they would be referred to Family Promise.

Katrina was paired up with Hary, one of Family Promise's case managers. Hary recognized the importance of finding Katrina housing as quickly as possible, “Katrina and her son needed the stability of a home. The quicker we could get them housed, the better off they would be,” he commented. Katrina was on it. She began researching different locations in Orlando and found an apartment on the west side of town. She immediately submitted an application and received word that they had been approved. She hugged Sam telling him how fortunate they were to find an apartment. Sam was excited but he was most excited about the two pools that were located in the complex!

Katrina continues to work at Walmart. She advocated for herself and was given a raise. Hary and Katrina still meet regularly to discuss her budget and meeting her long-term financial goals. Sam is a happy first grader with math tests and spelling tests on Fridays. Life is feeling normal again. Katrina hopes to continue to improve her financial situation and has her eye on getting a certificate for truck driving, “I’m not scared of those trucks!” she says. “I could drive them on the weekends to help with the bills we owe.” Katrina and Sam can rest easy and begin to dream again now that they have found a place to call home.

Greetings from Our Director

Greetings to all of you! Things have been moving at an exciting speed since starting with Family Promise and it is hard to believe it has been almost four months since my first day. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of you already, our wonderful donors and supporters, and look forward to meeting many more of you in the near future. I am so appreciative of your warm welcome and continued support of our mission. I am encouraged and inspired by the energy and level of commitment each of you bring to the work we do on behalf of families facing homelessness.

So far this year, your support has led to assistance being provided to over 115 families and over 300 children in crisis, and we are only halfway through the year! We are on pace to assist more families than ever before! That is truly incredible! For each family we connect with, it is evident there is a circle of support cheering them on, and we are so very thankful for that. Whether you are offering your time, talents or treasures, we are grateful for what you provide us and the families we walk alongside. It is my pleasure to serve here as Executive Director and I welcome any opportunity to connect with each and every one of you.

With Gratitude,

Kathie