Warren Family Commits Multi-Year $1 Million Gift |
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The Warren Family Foundation “Mommy & Me” Transitional Housing Cottage for moms and kids facing imminent homelessness is coming soon to our Leighan and David Rinker Campus in Boca Raton! Mark and Sharon Warren recently committed a multi-year, $1 million commitment to help secure the future of the organization. This follows hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations in the past. Their recent commitment within our "God's Children. Our Future." campaign makes them a part of our Solomon Society within this exciting campaign.
The best way for our community to break the insidious cycles of child abuse and neglect, homelessness, and further trauma is to guide young people toward their full potential, healing, and self-sufficiency.
Place of Hope’s goal is to help those we serve find healing and restoration, leading to a brighter future. That brighter future can and should eventually include homeownership as well. Safe, productive, and dignity-filled affordable/transitional housing, coupled with critical support services, is the foundation necessary to spring forward.
These visionary leaders are not only meeting the need of the local housing crisis today, but also creating a legacy and transitioning "the least of these" toward success!
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Mark Warren and his wife Sharon have been involved with Place of Hope for the past decade. They first became interested in helping foster children after graduating college. They did volunteer work in group homes and the county receiving facility in San Diego.
“We saw the unfairness and how poorly kids were being treated, and if we could step in along the way, if we could change one life, two, or ten, we wanted to do it,” said Mark. They decided to open their home to fostering kids.
“You never know exactly what you’re getting into, but if you’re willing to give it the time and effort, you get sucked in pretty quickly.” The Warren’s did have impact on those lives, and still keep in touch with some of those, now adults, they fostered many years ago.
“I spoke to one of them as recent as this morning,” said Warren. “He’s married, living in England, and raising 8 kids who consider us their grandparents. I’ve been able to get over several times to visit.”
The Warren’s went on to start a family of their own, and Mark also focused on building what is now a successful minerals trading company based in Delray, International Materials. They never stepped away from volunteer work and when they moved to Boca Raton, started a family foundation. “We were looking for a group in the community that we could help at a personal level, get to know the people, and have a personal relationship with the people running it,” said Warren.
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That’s when the Warren’s were introduced to Place of Hope and its founding CEO, Charles Bender. “He’s one of a kind, he’s industrious, entrepreneurial and selfless,“ said Warren. “He could be making a lot of money doing something else, but instead has been tireless at creating new avenues and ideas to expand the help that they have already developed over the last couple of decades.” The Warren’s also appreciated that Place of Hope does not give up on the children after they age out of Foster Care.
“One of the things that bothered us most about the foster system in San Diego and nationwide, was that when a child turns 18, they get cut off from all support systems, and that’s a pretty fragile age to be sent out on your own,” said Warren. “Place of Hope is doing something impressive that we had never seen before, providing housing, college help, transportation and support to get these kids jobs in a foundational lifestyle so they can properly join society.”
In addition to donating financially, they also donate their time as Ambassadors taking part in events, and donate their other resources bringing other like-minded people into the organization.
“Place of Hope is a very special place and that comes from its leadership,” said Warren. “That’s Charles' leadership, and that trickles down through the donors, the volunteers, the staff and most importantly, the children."
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Last week, a phenomenal group of volunteers from Warren's company, International Materials spent the day on our Leighan and David Rinker Campus. They processed clothing donations, organized the community pantry, mulched the playground, built shelving, and created supply packages with encouragement notes for our residents. In addition to volunteering, International Materials collected household and pantry items to bless our young adults, who are overjoyed and thankful! |
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Building Brighter Futures |
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Three years ago we opened the doors to our Gary Peters Family Foundation Transitional Housing Complex in our Marshall and Vera Lea Village on our Leighan and David Rinker Campus in Boca Raton! This complex can serve up to 16 young adults who have aged-out of foster care, otherwise homeless youth, single moms with kids, families in transition and human trafficking survivors.
Place of Hope’s goal is to help those we serve find healing and restoration, leading to a brighter future. Safe, productive, and dignity-filled affordable/transitional housing, coupled with critical support services, is the foundation necessary to spring forward.
Since opening these doors, we have served and walked alongside 21 residents who are thriving and shattering statistics. Learn more about our Boca Campus and its expansion plans by contacting [email protected].
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Place of Hope in The News |
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Place of Hope volunteers strutted their stuff on the Saks Fifth Avenue Boca Raton runway on February 9 to support aged-out and homeless youth, single moms and their children. The event’s ‘Champions for Children’ models included Dr. Chere Lucas Anthony, Billy Marino, Alex Platt, Karen Sweetapple, Dr. Craig Spodak and Tristan Altier. The Project Hope Fashion Show and Feb. 26 Pickleball for Hope tournament at Life Time Boca Raton kicked off the annual Angel Moms Brunch and Benefit season. The Angel Moms Brunch will be held at the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club on April 25, 2023. Email [email protected] for more information. |
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Let's Get Social Palm Beach's Hallie Rosenthal hosted Place of Hope's Director of Development, Jamie Bond for an engaging coffee talk on all things Place of Hope.
Catch up on the conversation and hear Jamie's "three wins." A win from the last three months, a win for the week, and a future win.
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"We took the boys to the Loxahatchee River Center so they could get up close with some of the native wildlife we see on our hikes. The experience was very educational for them, and they got to see them being fed. The boys were most excited about touching this alligator," Cottage Mom Steffanie shares.
Steffanie spends a lot of time outdoors with the boys helping them heal their traumas through hiking, being outdoors and learning how to photograph native wildlife.
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We have seen an increase of referrals as of late for single moms with children who are in need of housing and support services. Place of Hope’s goal is to help those we serve find healing and restoration, leading to a brighter future. Safe, productive, and dignity-filled affordable/transitional housing, coupled with critical support services, is the foundation necessary to spring forward.
Recently our Boca Raton and Lake Park campuses were preparing to move in several families with immediate needs. To do so, we needed seven twin bed sets. With one call to our friends at Rooms To Go, the need was met! They graciously donated all seven new twin beds and dresser sets! We are grateful for their continued commitment and dedication to help us serve "the least of these" in our community.
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