Better Together honors North Central Florida community partners at Doing Good Together reception

Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, recently honored its North Central Florida volunteers, supporters and community partners who have made a significant impact on the organization and its mission.

As a privately funded, volunteer-driven nonprofit, Better Together relies on the support of donors, community partners and volunteers to provide its services to families across the state. Each year, Better Together hosts a series of Doing Good Together receptions in all six of its regions to honor and showcase the efforts of these individuals and organizations. Each honoree receives a specialized award, in the style of a prized baseball card, recognizing the recipient’s impact with Better Together.

Better Together recognized several honorees during the reception held at The Country Club of Ocala. Honorees include:

· Host Family of the Year was presented to Laura and Thomas Gerds. The Gerds and their children support families by caring for children in their home while the parents do the hard work of getting back on their feet. They also walk alongside their fellow volunteers, lending support at every opportunity.

· Champion for Strong Families was presented to Straight Line Construction. More than supporters, company owners Dan and Deanna Eckhard are champions for strong families. They help raise awareness, build community and ensure children and families receive the support they need.

· Community Partner of the Year was presented to Interfaith Emergency Services. The organization consistently prioritizes the needs of families in crisis and works to find solutions even when it requires thinking outside of their typical role. They have an incredible heart for families and the community.

· Church Partner of the Year was presented to Church of Hope. Led by Pastor Mark Cummins, Church of Hope lives out the biblical definition of the Church – serving, loving and leading with a heart that reflects Christ’s love.

· Department of Children and Families Partner of the Year was presented to Amy Cook. In her role as supervisor for DCF, she has connected several parents to Better Together. She brings passion and excellence to her work and even volunteers at Better Together events.

· Mentor of the Year was presented to Tinslie Pickett. She helps families set goals but also walks alongside them with unwavering commitment, friendship and encouragement.

· Super Volunteer of the Year was presented to Alecia Randolph. Her commitment to showing up, stepping in and leading with a servant’s heart is an inspiration to all.

· Staff Appreciation Award was presented to Tara Williams. She embodies the core values of the organization and is deeply committed to ensuring that every family Better Together serves feels seen, valued and loved.

“Our Better Together team is so grateful for the donors, volunteers, partners and advocates who stand in the gap and support us in fulfilling our mission,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “These groups and individuals are the reason we are able to transform lives and help our community flourish. It was an honor to recognize them for their generosity and unwavering support this year.”

This year’s Ocala Doing Good Together reception was hosted with support from generous community leaders.

Better Together works to prevent the need for foster care by building strong families and communities. When a parent needs support – due to homelessness, a medical emergency, or other crisis – Better Together volunteer host families provide a safe, loving home for the children short term, while staff and mentors empower the parents to secure employment, housing and other needs. Because job loss is at the root of most family crises, the Better Together workforce program provides opportunities for all job seekers through relational job fairs and volunteer job coaches.

To date, Better Together has served more than 10,000 children, and 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting remain out of foster care. The nonprofit has also connected more than 40,000 job seekers to employment opportunities through church-based job fairs across 24 states.

Better Together is always seeking additional volunteers and community partners to join its efforts to build stronger families. To learn more about how to become a donor, partner or volunteer, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.

ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER

Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.