NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION INDUCTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN EARLY 2020
SUMMIT, NJ – June 17, 2020– Earlier this year, Family Promise, the nation’s leading nonprofit addressing family homelessness, welcomed three new members to its Board of Trustees.
- Alex English – Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (‘91), Retired Professional Basketball Player & Assistant Coach, Advocate
- Linda Henry – Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP
- Sherina Smith – Vice President and Head of Marketing, American Family Insurance
ALEX ENGLISH
Alex English is a retired professional basketball player and coach, enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1997. English played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association for four teams and had his jersey retired by the Denver Nuggets in 1992. He was most recently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, and currently still works with the NBA Academies around the world. He is a dedicated volunteer with his local Family Promise Affiliate in South Carolina and has been a strong advocate for Family Promise and for the fight against family homelessness.
“I am humbled and honored to be named to the Family Promise Board and to join the fight to end homelessness,” English said. “Especially during these unprecedented times, families need assistance and resources more than ever. Imagine trying to ‘social distance’ and protect your family from COVID-19 without a home? The Family Promise mission is to empower families by creating solutions, and aid in families finding homes. I am here to help in any way that I can.”
“Alex has a long history of commitment to social justice and has always held up a megaphone to raise awareness on a range of issues,” said Claas Ehlers, chief executive officer of Family Promise. “We are thrilled that he has joined our leadership team to increase awareness of the crisis of family homelessness.”
LINDA HENRY
Linda Henry is a partner at Ernst & Young, LLP, Financial Services Organization. Henry was previously based in London, where she was an EMEIA Wealth & Asset Management Tax Leader and has recently relocated to Summit, New Jersey. She was formerly a board member of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA).
“I am thrilled to bring my experiences to an organization that has such a national impact. As I learn more about the creative ways Family Promise is working to prevent family homelessness, I am struck by the empathy, passion, and energy displayed by the Family Promise network,” Henry said. “I am grateful for this opportunity to be an active part of an organization that drives sustainable solutions for the prevention of family homelessness.”
“We are excited to bring on someone with such a breadth of knowledge and experience in finance, along with a passion for women’s empowerment and the recognition of the need to address the challenges so many families face,” Ehlers said.
SHERINA SMITH
Sherina Smith is Vice President and Head of Marketing at American Family Insurance. Smith had introduced and sustained iconic brands, loyalty programs, and built lifecycle marketing in consumer-packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, and retail sectors. She has experience in traditional and digital channels, and in multicultural and 1:1 marketing. She is based in Madison, Wisconsin and spends time in Dallas, Texas.
“Now more than ever, we need services like this to help families in need,” Smith said. “I am honored and excited to join Family Promise to combat this cause.”
“As the national leader on the issue of family homelessness, we have both the opportunity and the obligation to help the public understand the extent of this issue,” Ehlers said. “Sherina’s expertise in marketing and messaging will help us increase that awareness and ultimately help more families overcome homelessness.”
ABOUT FAMILY PROMISE
Family Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. What began as a local initiative in Summit, NJ, has become a national movement that involves 200,000 volunteers and served more than 111,000 family members in 2019. Family Promise will change the future for 1 million children by 2030. For more information visit FamilyPromise.org
Contact: Katie Coughlin
kcoughlin@familypromise.org
