One Family Promise Board Member, "Tri-ing" to Make A Difference!

Family Promise Board member Jamie Haenggi during the bike segment of the MetroMan Triathlon.

Jamie Haenggi has done it again!  Family Promise’s newest board member tackled a triathlon to “tri” to make a difference for homeless families.  And she did it, competing in the MetroMan Olympic Distance Triathlon along with friend Shannon Gallagher on July 13 at the Jersey Shore.  After dangerous undercurrents forced a cancellation of the swimming segment of the race, the competitors switched to a run-bike-run in the hot July sunshine, but that didn’t slow them down.  Encouraging donations from friends and family during her training, Jamie completed the race and raised over $15,000 to benefit Family Promise!  

While preparing last year to run a half-marathon in Long Branch, New Jersey, Jamie

Shannon Gallagher and Jamie Haenggi, taking a breather on the boardwalk after the triathlon.

wanted to "run for a reason" and was inspired by the Family Promise approach and the hospitality we offer to thousands of families in need.  Jamie successfully completed the run, with her supporters donating over $8,500 to Family Promise. And because of her steadfast commitment and strategic experience as Chief Marketing Officer at Vonage, Jamie was subsequently elected to the Family Promise National Board earlier this year.

As a result of Jamie’s tremendous efforts at this year’s triathlon, Family Promise will be able to fund the development of a new Affiliate, potentially serving 200 homeless and low-income families every year.  Thank you, Jamie!

___________________________________________________

One Guest Family's Note

Right from the beginning, Family Promise’s newest affiliate in Warren County, NJ has been making remarkable differences in people’s lives.  After one week as guests at the Second Presbyterian Church in Oxford, one family wrote to thank all the newly-minted, and very dedicated, Family Promise volunteers:

"The sincere kindness that everyone has shown my family makes us feel like we have a new extended family. This means more than anything anyone could ever offer us. I truly believe that God has a plan for us...I have the hope that one day I can help someone else as we have been helped..."

Click here to read the family’s entire letter. (JPEG)

___________________________________________________

Family Promise Adds Three Members to Its National Board

Family Promise is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to our National Board of Directors: Kevin B. Dunleavy, Vice Chairman at Merrill Lynch, and Jamie Haenggi, Chief Marketing Officer at Vonage, and Karen Rezach, Head of the Middle School at Kent Place School.

“Karen, Kevin, and Jamie are exceptional additions to our Board,” says Martin Wise, the Board Chairman.  “Their diverse experience and perspectives will be tremendous assets to the organization.”

In addition to his role as a Vice Chairman, Kevin Dunleavy is also a member of Merrill Lynch’s Executive Client Coverage Group and a leader of the Americas Institutional Client Operating Committee.  Since joining Merrill Lynch in 1981 in retail equity sales, Kevin also previously served as head of Global Hedge Fund Strategy and Client Relationships for the Global Markets and Investment Banking group.  Kevin graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Finance.

Jamie Haenggi has served as the Chief Marketing Offer at Vonage in Holmdel, NJ, since April of 2007, overseeing Marketing, Retail Sales, and Corporate Communications.  She previously held the position of Vice President of Customer Life.  Prior to Vonage, Jamie was the Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for ADT Security Services. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BA in International Relations and Japanese.

Karen Rezach has served in her current position at Kent Place School in Summit, NJ for the past eight years, and is Director of the school’s Ethics Institute and Co-Chairperson of Diversity Initiatives.  An ordained Episcopal priest, Karen is also Assistant Minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Short Hills, NJ.  She received her BA in Education from William Paterson University, her Masters in Divinity from Yale University, her Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley College at Yale, and her Doctorate in Education from Seton Hall University.