HOMEONTHEHORIZON THE SAFE HAVEN NEWSLETTER | Q1 2021
Safe Haven Names New CEO PA GE 2
16th Annual Hike a Virtual Fundraising Success PA GE 3
Safe Haven Serves More Families Than Ever Before PA GE 2
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EMPOWERING FAMILIES BEYOND HOMELESSNESS SINCE 1984 PA GE 1
JimShulman Named CEO We are excited to announce that Nashville Vice Mayor and Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) Executive Director Jim Shulman will be our next CEO, effective June 14. Shulman assumes the role of longtime CEO Joyce Lavery, who announced her retirement last fall. Under Lavery’s leadership, Safe Haven increased the number of families served annually by 300 percent and grew its staff from five to 30. Shulman is a longtime champion of the organization and served as Safe Haven’s board president for three years (2008 to 2010) and has been a member of its Advisory Board for five years (2016 to 2020). Shulman also played an integral role in the agency’s last capital campaign and is a recipient of the Safe Haven Hero Award.
“Safe Haven has led the way home for so many families and being a part of the organization over the years has felt like ‘home’ for me as well,” Shulman said. “I am excited and fortunate to lead this incredible organization and look forward to being a part of the integral role that Safe Haven plays in our city.” “Our search committee worked in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management for more than six months and considered hundreds of candidates from all over the country,” Ken Williamson, Safe Haven board president, said. “Jim’s many years of support of Safe Haven and his proven experience as a leader make him a natural choice. Joyce’s retirement leaves big shoes to fill. If anyone can fill those shoes and take Safe Haven to new heights, it’s Jim.”
Jim brings a long track record of leadership experience and success to Safe Haven. He has served the state of Tennessee for more than 30 years in a variety of roles, in both the executive and legislative branches. Read more about Jim’s background and experience on our website at safehaven.org.
Safe Haven Serves More Families Than Ever Before Pivot was more than a buzzword at Safe Haven, it was a call to action to innovate and keep serving families despite the challenges we faced in 2020. Safe Haven quickly adjusted to ensure the safety of families, volunteers, and staff by closing the shelter and forming partnerships with extended stay hotels to safely continue our
373 families served
126 785 families housed
children served
shelter program and services. Our staff increased partnerships with landlords and moving companies to get families moved into housing quickly. A combo of CARES funds, Emergency Solutions Grant, and the United Way/ The Family Collective/ Department of Human Services Expansion, helped us to house more people and provide rental assistance to keep people housed. Vo l u n t e e r s 139 and donors families prevented from eviction stepped up to make sure we were able 86% to provide success rate food boxes, cleaning families maintaining housing for a year or more after program departure
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supplies and needed items to help families move into their own housing.. In 2021, we are continuing to find families a home, jobs that will sustain them, hope that will inspire them, and opportunities for the children we serve. We have not wavered from our commitment to our mission, and with your support, we will remain on the forefront of ending family homelessness.
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Safe Haven Family Shelter Receives $1.25 Million Bezos Day 1 Families Fund Grant Safe Haven Family Shelter was recently selected to receive a $1.25 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. Launched in 2018 by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, the Day 1 Families Fund issues annual leadership awards to organizations and civic groups across the nation doing compassionate, needlemoving work to provide shelter and hunger support to address the immediate needs of young families. “Safe Haven is truly grateful and honored to be named a grant recipient of the Day 1 Families Fund,” said Joyce Lavery, CEO of Safe Haven. “A grant of this size will be catalytic in propelling Safe Haven further toward our vision of eliminating family homelessness in Nashville.” This one-time capacity building grant meant to create impact over a five-year period, is awarded to organizations doing meaningful
work to connect families with shelter and support. It will allow Safe Haven to serve and house more families, meeting more of the demand for services annually. Safe Haven will also be able to build capacity and strengthen infrastructure for key program offerings, such as youth programs and workforce development. “Through this generous investment in our mission, Safe Haven will be able to expand upon our important work of keeping families facing and experiencing homelessness together, while providing stability, supportive services and, most of all, a place to call home,” added Lavery. Safe Haven is one of 42 nonprofits across the U.S. to receive the third annual Day 1 Families Fund grants, as part of a continuing commitment by the Day 1 Families Fund to help end homelessness for families. The Day 1 Families Fund issued a
total of $105.9 million in grants this year. To select these organizations, the fund worked with an advisory board of homelessness advocates and leaders whose expertise spans housing justice, racial equity, direct services, homelessness policy, equity for Native American communities and anti-poverty work.
16th Annual Hike for the Homeless AVirtual Fundraising Success The 16th annual Hike for the Homeless, with presenting sponsors Curb Records and First Farmers & Merchants Bank, was a virtual event, where participants could “HIKE YOUR WAY”, build teams and fundraise to support our mission. Together, we exceeded our fundraising goal, raising nearly $177,000! The ability to hike from anywhere, allowed our friends across the States and even different countries to participate. Our social media was flooded with pictures of hiking fun, all joined together across the miles to raise awareness
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and funds for the families we serve. Each year, we award the Golden Boot to the team and individual who raises the most money. Richard Courtney raised nearly $20,000 and won the individual award. Warner Music Nashville, led by team captain, Shane Tarleton, earned the team award. We also bestowed the first ever Team Trailblazer award to Safe Haven’s Young Professional Council for raising almost $10,000, having the most team members and the most volunteers helping with the event. continued on page 4
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Thank you to our 2020 presenting sponsors Curb Records and First Farmers and to our presenting media sponsor Hippie Radio. And thank you to our Pathway Sponsors: Community Health Systems, Richard Courtney, Realtor, GeBBS Healthcare Solutions, HCA Healthcare|TriStar Health, Nashville Electric Service, and Warner Music Nashville. We would like to recognize our event co-chairs Richard Courtney and Laura Smith. With their leadership
and the generosity of our sponsors and participants, we exceeded our fundraising goal. We are also grateful to our Hike partners for providing Hike Happening videos, sharing fitness activities, enrichment for children, great music and more for our Hikers leading up to the event. Thank you to CURB recording artists, Liberation Yoga, Old Hickory CrossFit, the Frist Center, Mathnasium, the Wishes
Foundation and the Nashville Sounds for providing videos to share.
Save the Date: Dancing for Safe Haven Returns in 2021 While we were unable to gather for the signature dancing event in 2020, we are excited to announce that Dancing for Safe Haven will be returning on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Harry L. Allen, Jennifer Osland Hillen, Justin Luffman, Kearstin Patterson, Justin Pitt and Candice Reed will star in a fun-filled dance competition raising funds for Safe Haven. We would like to recognize our 2020 Presenting Sponsors: Community Health Systems, GeBBS Healthcare Solutions and HCA Healthcare|TriStar Health. We would also like to recognize our event cochairs, Kyle Allen, Karen Hingtgen, and Ken Williamson, for their leadership over the past three years as the event has raised more funds than ever before for Safe Haven. To all of our sponsors and attendees, thank you for your commitment to our mission, helping us to serve more families than ever before, and continuing to support as the need grows in 2021. For more information about the Dancing for Safe Haven event and our star dancers, please visit dancingforsafehaven.org.
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Harry L. Allen EXECUTIVE VP AND CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, STUDIO BANK
Jennifer Osland Hillen NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR/ ILLUSTRATOR OF GOODNIGHT, NASHVILLE
Justin Luffman VP, ARTIST DEVELOPMENT, WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE
Kearstin Patterson VICE PRESIDENT OF CREATIVE, HCA HEALTHCARE
Justin Pitt SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF LITIGATION COUNSEL, COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS
Candice Reed EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & PARTNER, LATITUDE
Volunteerism in a Pandemic Our volunteers are vital to our mission, and as Safe Haven’s needs changed in 2020, they shifted right beside us, eager to help in any way possible. As the pandemic hit in 2020, Safe Haven worked to put the safety of our families, volunteers, and staff first. With families out of the shelter and residing in local hotel rooms, the need for volunteers on site decreased, but there was a growing need for food, supplies, education access, family enrichment, literacy and more.
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In Memoriam: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Paula Barnes (1960 – 2021) Our hearts are heavy from the loss of our Board President, Paula Barnes (1960 – 2021). She inspired us all with her leadership, compassion, and warmth. Paula lifted us all up. We will hold her spirit and energy close to our hearts as we mourn the loss of a leader, a mentor, and a friend. Her obituary highlighted her incredibly beautiful singing voice, her leadership ability and career in law firm administration, being an avid Nashville Predators fan (and loving all sports), and her love of family as an auntie to many. We are incredibly honored that Paula’s
“ Paula was there to not only support our mission, but joined me in deeply caring for our staff. She would always ask, “what more should/could we do to support everyone?”
family has included Safe Haven in honoring Paula’s memory by indicating that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Safe Haven Family Shelter. At Safe Haven’s recent Board meeting, we spent a few moments remembering Paula and her role at Safe Haven. Board President Ken Williamson said, “Paula was one of the most genuinely nice people I have ever met. She loved Safe Haven. She had great respect for everyone and was a great leader. I will miss her very much.”
in deeply caring for our staff. She would always ask, “what more should/could we do to support everyone?”. We are all better off because of her leadership. I will miss her smile, her goodwill, and her dedication.” Please help us honor and remember Paula by making a memorial donation on our website safehaven.org.
Safe Haven CEO Joyce Lavery said, “Paula has been a part of the Safe Haven family for 14 years – first as a volunteer and donor, to a board member, to serving as board secretary and over the past year as board president. As the CEO, Paula provided me with guidance, insight, and friendship. She was a fierce advocate for Safe Haven. Paula was there to not only support our mission, but joined me
Volunteers and groups that usually provided meals at the shelter began organizing food boxes and providing grocery gift cards for our families. When schools were closed and went to remote learning, volunteers donated materials and assembled desks for children to have a dedicated space in the home for school. Our volunteers also have hosted donation drives for cleaning supplies and urgent needs each month, ensuring that families have their needs met while receiving services and moving into a home. When the Hike for the Homeless went virtual, volunteers were on hand to help us promote the event, mail t-shirts, increase awareness and raise funds. Volunteers also provided holiday gifts for 116 Safe Haven families. We could not be more grateful for our volunteers and donors. Thank you for being a part of the Safe Haven family of supporters.
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Dan +Shay teamup with Ashley HomeStore Make Families’ Homes Sparkle for the Holidays Two-time GRAMMY winners and current nominees Dan + Shay shared good will and tidings of the holiday season with Safe Haven Family Shelter. The duo’s Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney seized an opportunity to flip the message in their song “Take Me Home for Christmas” on its head and help deserving families by taking home to them – literally. Smyers and Mooney spent a weekend in Nashville alongside members of Middle Tennessee’s premier shelterto-housing program, Safe Haven Family Shelter, giving “home for the holidays” a whole new meaning. The duo, who recently shared the experience with Entertainment Tonight and TODAY, partnered with Ashley HomeStore to provide
interior design services and brandnew Ashley Furniture for three local families moving into housing. Smyers and Mooney were both on hand to meet the selected families and share a special performance before joining them for the makeover reveals. “We at Safe Haven are grateful to Dan + Shay, Ashley HomeStore
and Warner Music Nashville for this amazing opportunity for our families, right at the holiday season,” said Safe Haven CEO Joyce Lavery. “Thank you for providing warm beds, beautiful furniture and personal design touches that give families that have been through so much this year a wonderful place to call home.”
Safe Haven’s CEOReflects on Our Growth and Prepares for Retirement Joyce Lavery, CEO
On June 1, 2009, I began my official duties as Executive Director of Safe Haven Family Shelter. Flexibility, compassion, insight and wisdom, being able to see the organization from 35,000 miles above, and being a connector were capacities I hoped I brought to Safe Haven and served as a catalyst for its tremendous growth.
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When I started, along with Rachael and Jennifer, there were only a handful of other staff. Families stayed in shelter for months, and the homes we owned in the community served as transitional housing where families lived for one to two years. Annually, we served around 35 families. The building (now known as the basement) had a leaky roof, communal bathrooms, resident rooms
next to our offices, and a children’s play area in the middle. Our budget was $500,000, and we had significant fundraising challenges.. While I do not
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Announcing New Board Members and New Officers At Safe Haven, we are incredibly fortunate to have an active and engaged Board of Directors. Their leadership and support are so important. Please help us welcome new board members: Jamie Adams
Lisa Estrada
Elsie A. Faciane
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AT LIFEWAY
SR VP & CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER AT LIFEPOINT HEALTH
J.D., VP CORPORATE INTEGRITY AT HCA HEALTHCARE
Warren Jackson
Scott Markert
Liz Marchetti
SR VP CREDIT ADVISOR AT PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS
PROJECT MANAGER AT BL HARBERT
MARKETING DIRECTOR AT VACO
INTERNATIONAL
Patrick Whalen CPA, SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST AT ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN (Young Leaders Intern)
The 2021 Executive Committee and Officers include: President:
Treasurer:
At-Large Member:
Ken Williamson
Thomas O’Neal Lasley
Candi Flowers
MEDHOST
REVANCE THERAPEUTICS
TRUIST, TREASURER
Vice President:
Secretary:
Immediate Past President & Legal Counsel
Edmundo Cepeda
Tarek El Gammal
John Nefflen
ASURION
NEWARK
miss that building, I do sometimes miss writing a report with a resident’s child in my lap. Times have changed. We now serve over 300 families each year, focus on housing-first, rapid rehousing, have around 40 full-time staff (and growing), a budget closing in on $4 million, and Safe Haven has been recognized for its excellence from many foundations, companies, and organizations. I know I have been a part of that growth. I know our board has been part of that growth. I know our volunteers have been part of that growth. I know our community has been part of that growth. And I know that compassionate, passionate, committed, creative staff have been
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SHACKELFORD, BOWEN, MCKINLEY & NORTON
an important part of our success. I offer gratitude to the volunteers, board, donors, and staff who allowed me to serve and helped to make Safe Haven a strong organization. Safe Haven is still growing. We have significant opportunities in the journey ahead. I am still a part of that work. My role now is not only to help sustain Safe Haven but also to ensure that the new CEO will have the information and support needed to be a catalyst for growth and help Safe Haven deliver on all of its promises. As I transition into a new life of retirement, I get both weepy and excited. I will continue to work toward
making the world a better place not just for some, but for all. I will continue to grow my own heart, mind, and soul to be a better citizen and person. However, I will be spending a lot more time with loved ones and perhaps finish a book in a reasonable amount of time. I have plans for travel and for taking up new interests such as photography. I am so blessed to have been a part of Safe Haven, and I have had a rare privilege to make a felt difference in the world. I thank all of you for being a part of my journey, too. I am a better leader and person for having known all of you. I think about all that was before, all that is now, and I cannot wait to see all that Safe Haven will become.
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15th Annual Hike forAnnouncing Homeless a NewlyRecord Formed Breaks
Young Professionals Council
w w w . s a f e h a v e n . o r g
Safe Haven is proud to announce the addition of a Young Professionals Council (YPC) to further and the mission and vision Our hearts spirits were warmed of Safe Haven. This council by the generosity and support of will assist the governing Board everyone involved with the 15th of Directors with advocacy, Annual Hike for the Homeless public relations and fundraising presented by and Curbwork Records, initiatives closelyFirst Farmers Bank and Hippie Radio. with the Safe Haven staff. As Special thanks toHaven our Hike Co-Chairs Richard Safe continues to serve Courtney and Kerry Brock. More more families year over year, than 1,000the people joined the Hike, YPC will help us us at increase exposure, engagement and$155,000, and together, we raised over impact. Being a member of theWhat more than we have ever before. YPC will provide opportunity an incredible way tothe mark this special for young professionals to help 15th anniversary of the event! Visit drive engagement and align theabout hike4homeless.org to learn more members skills with the strategy the 15th Annual Hike for the Homeless. of Safe Haven. Thank you to our 2019 Hike for the Pleasesponsors: help us welcome the Homeless inaugural class of the Safe Haven Presenting Sponsors: Young Professionals Council: Curb Records First Farmers Keelin McNamara, Co-Chair Hippie Radio John Tougher, Co-Chair Pathway Katie Sponsors: Bennett Dayspring FarmBurns Dominique Joni Werthan of Warioto Farm Matthew Cooper Trailhead CedricSponsors: Duncan Ford Norton BoneDerria McAllester Deandra Green Cerner Kathryn Groom ChrisAnna Young Anna Glenn Grove Community Health Systems Danielle Hancock Data Blue- Dell EMC Doug Johnson Dickinson Wright Victoria Lopez Fridrich & Clark Candace Newson Ingram Express Services Caleb Nix Messer Jennifer O’Brien MP&Camille F Strategic Communications Ogden Richard Courtney, Caleb Speight Realtor SunTrust Ellen Williamson Swiftwick Evan Yetter Staffing as a Mission
www.safehaven.com