FAMILY PROMISE LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING “HOOPS FOR HOUSING” RAFFLE FOR MARCH MADNESS

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 24, 2023 – Throughout the month of March, Family Promise of the Coastal Empire is introducing a new fundraiser, “Hoops for Housing,” with a March-madness-themed raffle.

Daily raffle drawings with a vast variety of enticing prizes will allow participants many chances to win, all leading up to the grand drawing on March 31 – with a cash prize of $10,000. Family Promise will announce the winner, who will be contacted to ensure they receive their prizes, each day on its website and social media platforms.

Family Promise has partnered with local organizations and companies to collect 30 raffle prizes, ranging from gift cards to experiences and must-have items culminating in the big cash prize on March 31. All raffle proceeds received during the month of March will support the nonprofit organization’s mission of offering help, hope, and hospitality to homeless families with children in our communities. Participants can purchase as many raffle tickets as they’d like, with the chances of them winning increasing with each ticket bought.

“We are thrilled to be launching this raffle fundraiser and can’t wait to share March Madness with our community,” said Family Promise of the Coastal Empire Executive Director Katrina Bostick. “This is such a fun and easy way to plug in and support Family Promise, with each ticket only costing $25. We encourage the community to buy their tickets and follow along with us through March!” Raffle tickets are $25 and can be purchased on Family Promise’s website at www.familypromisece.org/hoops-for-housing. For more information or questions regarding raffle tickets or donations, please contact Katrina Bostick at kbostick@familypromisece.org.

Family Promise of the Coastal Empire serves Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. The organization’s mission is to offer help, hope, and hospitality to homeless families with children in our communities. For more information about the organization, please visit www.familypromisece.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 229-393-6457, Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, or the LFPR team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

FAMILY PROMISE OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE RECEIVES $300,000 DONATION FROM KIA AMERICA

BRYAN COUNTY, GA – November 3, 2022 – Kia America announced a $300,000 donation to Family Promise of the Coastal Empire as part of the recent groundbreaking celebrations for the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant.  

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, along with Governor Brian Kemp, company officials, and state and local leaders, officially broke ground at the Bryan County Mega site on Oct. 25, 2022. The celebration included a morning groundbreaking on site, followed by a future technology expo at Enmarket Arena in Savannah. During this exhibit, Family Promise of the Coastal Empire CEO Katrina Bostick and Board Chair Jason Crosby were honored to accept the $300,000 donation from Kia America Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Steve Center.

Family Promise will soon have a physical presence in Bryan County, thanks to this generous donation from Kia America. Kia’s contribution will help Family Promise purchase a new house in Pembroke that will be used as a “home base” for helping homeless families with children find employment and other assistance.

“We are in the early stages of this project, so there is currently not a timeline for when the home will open, but we have started scouting locations,” said Bostick. “It’s important to us that we take some time to get input from community members in the Pembroke and Ellabell areas on what their specific needs are before allocating these valuable funds.”

Hyundai Motor Group will open its first fully dedicated electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility in Bryan County. Hyundai Motor Group will invest $5.45 billion in opening its first state-of-the-art U.S. smart factory. This donation is the latest extension of Kia’s “Accelerate The Good” charitable initiative, which has provided more than $14 million to those in need across the U.S. since 2019.

“Kia has been a proud and active member of the Georgia community for nearly 15 years, and we are dedicated to supporting communities in need through our ‘Accelerate The Good’ program,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America.  

Family Promise of the Coastal Empire serves Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. The organization’s mission is to offer help, hope, and hospitality to homeless families with children in our communities. For more information about the organization, please visit www.familypromisece.org.

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For media inquiries, please contact Kristyn Beasley at kristyn@lesleyfrancispr.com or 229-3993-6457, Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, or the LFPR team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

LONGTIME FAMILY PROMISE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KATRINA BOSTICK FEATURED IN ESSENCE MAGAZINE

SAVANNAH, GA – JUNE 30, 2022 – Family Promise of the Coastal Empire Executive Director Katrina Bostick was featured in the current issue of Essence Magazine.

The piece is titled, “‘It Could Happen to Any of Us’: This CEO Shares How Her Social Work Career Led Her to Fight the Homelessness Epidemic,” and was written by Jasmine Browley. It focuses on the path that led Bostick to her vocation of assisting housing-insecure families while highlighting her achievements with Family Promise since she came on board seven years ago.

Essence isn’t the first prominent organization to take note of Bostick’s commitment for helping the homeless and the passion she exudes in furthering her organization’s mission. When Family Promise’s national headquarters merged three local affiliate branches in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties in 2020, the choice to appoint Bostick as executive director of the newly formed Family Promise of the Coastal Empire was a natural one. She rose to the task without hesitation and hasn’t looked back, taking the nonprofit to new heights while helping record numbers of homeless families during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. 

As Bostick told the Essence article reporter, her ultimate goal is not only breaking the cycle of homelessness among the families her organization helps, but lifting an entire population out of poverty for good. She does that by ensuring Family Promise provides top-notch programs, training workshops and initiatives that individuals can work through to improve their circumstances for good – giving them a hand up and not just a hand-out.

Before beginning her journey with Family Promise, Bostick was employed at a childcare center for 13 years, where she worked frequently with nearly impoverished families. While studying for her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Savannah State University in 2013, she began working at Family Promise, then known as the Interfaith Hospitality Network. This experience changed her understanding of homelessness to something that put children and families on the forefront. She was appointed executive director of Family Promise in 2015, shortly after graduating with her Master of Social Work degree from Valdosta State University. In 2020, she became the director of the newly formed Family Promise of the Coastal Empire. She has three children, Alexis, Donovan and Lauren, and lives in Pooler with her dog, Charlie.

Essence Magazine is a monthly lifestyle magazine for Black women, covering culture, fashion, beauty and entertainment. They utilize a multi-platform presence through publishing, online media, videos and social media channels to reach their target audience. The article on Bostick can be read here: www.essence.com/news/money-career/katrina-bostick-aiming-to-end-homelessness-with-her-work/ Browley, the Essence reporter, contacted Family Promise’s national headquarters with the idea to feature Bostick in the magazine after she researched the work Family Promise of the Coastal Empire has been doing since the 2020 merger, as well as Bostick’s service on the Family Promise National Affiliate Council and her other community initiatives over the years.

“We’re so proud of the work Katrina has done to advance Family Promise’s mission throughout the region. Her work speaks for itself, so it comes as no surprise to the board that a notable publication like Essence would highlight her achievements within their pages,” Family Promise of the Coastal Empire Board Chairman Jason Crosby said. “We congratulate Katrina and thank her for all that she’s done and will continue to do.” 

Family Promise works with host congregations to reduce the number of families who are separated when they fall on difficult times and find themselves homeless. However, the organization expands its mission beyond just providing meals and shelter for families. They also offer mentoring, homelessness-prevention programs and services, and initiatives to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise has a strong track record in keeping families together, while offering support and resources towards long-term independence.

For more information about Family Promise, please visit www.familypromisece.org, email info@familypromisece.org or call 912-790-9446.

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For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com at 912-429-3950, Allie Robinson at 912-547-3100 or allie@lesleyfrancispr.com, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

FAMILY PROMISE PLANS PAJAMA MOVIE PARTY, GIFT GIVEAWAY FOR BRYAN, EFFINGHAM FAMILIES

BRYAN COUNTY, GA – DECEMBER 13, 2021 – Family Promise of the Coastal Empire is treating its 2021 program graduates in Bryan and Effingham counties to a special event to celebrate their recent accomplishments and mark the holiday season.

Families will gather on Sunday, Dec. 19 for an evening pajama party, complete with an outdoor showing of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” snacks and drinks, a few special surprise appearances, and a gift distribution.

Family Promise is planning a separate Christmas Caravan event for its Chatham County families, and wanted to do something equally as rewarding and special for clients in neighboring areas.

“The families who’ve graduated from our program this year have worked so hard to pull themselves up, and we couldn’t be prouder. We are excited to reward them! The different communities we serve lend themselves to different kinds of celebrations. Because of logistics, transportation and how spread-out certain areas are, it can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. So, the Christmas Caravan works well for Chatham, and our pajama party and movie night will provide a lot of fun for families in Effingham and Bryan,” said Family Promise Executive Director Katrina Bostick.

At the gathering, families will be presented with the gifts that were purchased for them through Family Promise’s holiday “Adopt-A-Family” initiative, which encourages the nonprofit’s supporters to sign up to receive the Christmas wish list of a family in need. The supporters then purchase the items on their assigned family’s wish list. The “Adopt-A-Family” tradition is a cherished one at Family Promise and has been helping the charitable entity provide gifts to their clients for years.

“We’re grateful to everyone who has donated and contributed to the success of both of our holiday-themed outreach events in Chatham and Bryan/Effingham counties,” Bostick said. “Thanks to the caring and generous souls in the communities we serve, many families will have a very special Christmas.”

Family Promise works with host congregations to reduce the number of families who are separated when they fall on difficult times and find themselves homeless. However, the organization expands its mission beyond just providing meals and shelter for families. They also offer mentoring, homelessness-prevention programs and services, and initiatives to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise has a strong track record in keeping families together, while offering support and resources towards long-term independence.

For more information about Family Promise, please visit www.familypromisece.org, email familypromise@familypromisece.org or call 912-790-9446.

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For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com at 912-429-3950, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

FAMILY PROMISE, AREA PARTNERS TO DELIVER DONATED GIFTS WITH ‘CHRISTMAS CARAVAN’

FAMILY PROMISE, AREA PARTNERS TO DELIVER DONATED GIFTS WITH ‘CHRISTMAS CARAVAN’

SAVANNAH, GA – DECEMBER 7, 2021 – Family Promise is partnering with the United Way Young Leaders, the Tau Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the League of Brawn Development Center for Men, and Above and Beyond Limousine Service to organize a Christmas Caravan, which will deliver gifts to families that have been adopted through Family Promise’s “Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays” program.

Family Promise’s “Adopt-A-Family for the Holidays” program is in full swing and donations are now being accepted for families Chatham County. Separate holiday donation initiatives are being conducted in Bryan and Effingham counties, which are also in Family Promise’s service area.

Anyone who is interested in adopting a family for the holidays should email familypromise@familypromisece.org or call 912-790-9446. Family Promise will provide donors with the wish list of the family they’ve adopted, and purchased gifts can be dropped off at Family Promise’s Day Center in Savannah. Using vans and buses, the organizations will pool their manpower to make deliveries and ensure families in need throughout the tri-county area enjoy their gifts and a bit of holiday cheer.

“I’m so proud to serve in a community where people are so willing to help – whether that’s adopting a family and donating gifts, helping us get everything organized and planned, wrapping presents, or going along on the delivery caravan,” said Family Promise’s Executive Director, Katrina Bostick. “We believe that this year’s caravan will be just as if not more successful as the one last year!”

The caravan sets off on Friday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. and is expected to have all presents dropped off by 8 p.m. For those families who can make it into the Day Center and prefer a pick-up over a drop-off, there will be designated curbside pick-up windows in each county – Chatham, Bryan and Effingham. Families will be notified of the option and scheduled accordingly.

Family Promise works with host congregations to reduce the number of families who are separated when they fall on difficult times and find themselves homeless. However, the organization expands its mission beyond just providing meals and shelter for families. They also offer mentoring, homelessness-prevention programs and services, and initiatives to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise has a strong track record in keeping families together, while offering support and resources towards long-term independence.

For more information about Family Promise, please visit www.familypromisece.org, email familypromise@familypromisece.org or call 912-790-9446.

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For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com at 912-429-3950, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

RUN, OR WALK, INTO THIS YEARS RED HOT CHILI PEPPER 5K, SPONSORED BY CANADY’S, TO BENEFIT FAMILY PROMISE OF BRYAN COUNTY

07/21

RUN, OR WALK, INTO THIS YEARS RED HOT CHILI PEPPER 5K, SPONSORED BY CANADY’S, TO BENEFIT FAMILY PROMISE OF BRYAN COUNTY

07/21

RICHMOND HILL, GA – May 26, 2021 – Runners of all skill levels and ages are needed for this year’s Canady’s Red Hot Chili Pepper 5k, slated for 7:30 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2021. The ninth annual race, hosted by Georgia Game Changers, will benefit Family Promise of Bryan County.

Runners ready to brave the early morning heat will gather at Jalapeños in Richmond Hill, a fitting places to start the course, which routes participants through a local neighborhood, Richmond Place. After working up a good sweat, runners can cool down and enjoy a post-race party featuring refreshments, raffles, vendors and an awards ceremony at Georgia Game Changers Health and Fitness Center, 8872 Ford Ave., Suite 207. We are thrilled to have Canady’s Heating, Air and Plumbing back as our title sponsor for the third year in a row!

All proceeds from the 5K, sponsored by Canady’s, will go to Family Promise of Bryan County to assist homeless children and their families. Registration is $30, and will be $40 on the day of the race. To register please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/RichmondHill/Redhot2016. Packet pickup will be from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, July 16 at Georgia Game Changers.

“After this crazy COVID year, were all ready to have a little fun in the sun at this years Red Hot Chili Pepper 5K. Having an early morning race will help us beat the heat, sneak in a little exercise and support Family Promise in the process,” said executive director Katrina Bostick. “Every person who participates helps support the goal in eradicating homelessness in the community.”

While our Title sponsor position is filled, we still encourage businesses to participate in the ninth annual 5k race as a platinum ($500+), gold ($350+), silver ($250+), or bronze ($150+) Sponsor and have your business represented on the day of the race! Our event truly couldn’t happen without the support of our businesses.

Along with our title sponsor, Canady’s Heating, Air and Plumbing, we would also like to thank our platinum sponsors, R.B. Baker Construction and Fish Tales at Ft. McAllister Marina, and our silver sponsor, REMAX Coastal Accent. This event truly could not happen without the help of our sponsors.

Family promise of Bryan County works with host congregations to serve families with children who are facing homelessness. The organization recognizes that poverty is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted response. They respond by integrating educational outreach, effective policies, and the hands-on work of volunteers providing food, shelter, and support services.

To learn more about Family Promise of Bryan County, please visit www.familypromisebryancounty.org, call (912) 445-4021 or email info@familypromisebryancounty.org.

For Sponsorship Inquiries, please contact Jennifer Brookins by email at jdluck@hotmail.com or by calling (478)457-5202.

To learn more about Canady’s Red Hot Chili Pepper 5K, please visit georgiagamechangers.com.

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For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651 or Lesley Francis at lesley@francis.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

FAMILY PROMISE OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE TO HOST SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE: ‘NIGHT WITHOUT A BED’ TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS

FAMILY PROMISE OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE TO HOST SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE: ‘NIGHT WITHOUT A BED’ TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS

SAVANNAH, GA – May 25, 2021 – Family Promise of the Coastal Empire is urging the local community to join their social media “sleepout” challenge, ‘Night Without a Bed’ on Saturday, June 26 to raise awareness about and show support for children and families battling homelessness.

The local nonprofit asks participants to sleep anywhere without a bed: car, tent, or a living room floor and post it to social media using the hashtag #NightWithoutABed. In the past, involved families put up tents in their back yards, made forts in their living rooms, wrapped up in blankets on sofas or in sleeping bags on the floor. The organization is also seeking sponsors and donors to support their efforts to end homelessness amongst families in our region.

One in 16 children in the U.S. experiences homelessness by the first grade. They and their families can be found sleeping in motel rooms, with friends, or even in their cars. Kids who face homelessness suffer in other ways, as well – they are more likely to drop out of school, repeat a grade, suffer from depression, and attempt suicide. With this ‘Night Without a Bed’ challenge, the community can demonstrate their support for these children.

“For over 25 years, Family Promise has been helping families in the Coastal Empire who need to find stable housing and develop the skills and tools to succeed independently. We are always striving to ensure families prosper, but we can’t fulfill our mission without the community’s awareness and support,” said Family Promise of the Coastal Empire Executive Director Katrina Bostick. “We ask you and your family to give up your comfortable bed for one night so other children don’t have to. Get creative with it! There’s no way to truly understand what these families face unless we do it ourselves. Our goal with this challenge is to have local families experience what other underprivileged families endure in our very own community, and maybe they will be compelled to lend a helping hand.”

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 in over 200 communities in 43 states. Family Promise delivers innovative solutions for family homelessness including prevention, shelter and stabilization services. The organization has served 1 million family members since its founding more than 30 years ago, and its leaders aspire to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through our community-based programs.

For more information about Family Promise of the Coastal Empire, please visit www.familypromisece.org, email info@familypromisece.org or call 912-790-9446.

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For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

SAVANNAH FAMILY PROMISE PROGRAM GRADUATES FEATURED SUNDAY ON NBC’S TODAY SHOW

SAVANNAH FAMILY PROMISE PROGRAM GRADUATES FEATURED SUNDAY ON NBC’S TODAY SHOW

SAVANNAH, GA – TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021 – The Foxx family, one of Family Promise of the Coastal Empire’s program graduates, was featured on NBC’s Today show Sunday morning. Their success story — driven by mom Savannah Foxx’s hard work and determination — was part of a segment about the ways in which President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief package could reduce child poverty by half. To view the segment, go to https://www.today.com/video/covid-19-relief-package-could-reduce-us-child-poverty-by-half-106432069726.

The new stimulus bill expands the child tax credit to offer most parents monthly checks, allowing them to receive up to $3,600 per child for a year. Economists say the groundbreaking program is akin to a basic-income policy. As the pandemic wears on and many to struggle, the added funds would help give added security to families facing homelessness – as the Foxx family once did, albeit very unexpectedly.

In 2016, things were not going well between Savannah Foxx and her husband. Along with their five children, ages 2-12 years, the couple decided to move to Savannah and try to make a new start. “My name’s Savannah; people always assumed I was from here, so it seemed like a good place to turn over a new leaf.” Unfortunately, things grew worse instead of better, and — at a public event with the children — Savannah’s husband physically assaulted her. 

Scared for her life, she and her children stayed at a safe shelter for a few days until, after obtaining restraining order against her husband, they returned home. With only one income, it only took a few months before she could no longer afford the $1,400. rent. “It was rent or the car payment and I HAD to have my car to get to work,” Savannah explained.

Someone at work told Savannah about Family Promise. She called, but there was a waiting list for emergency shelter. Nowhere else to go to wait, she parked her car in a church parking lot, where she and her five children slept for over a week.

“It was summer and so hot. Sometimes I had suicidal thoughts. Never in a million years did I ever think we would be homeless. But that’s just it — being homeless isn’t only people begging on streets; it’s working people suddenly going through something. I promised my kids we would never live like this again.”

Getting the call from Family Promise that space was available was “a pivotal moment,” Foxx said. “After everything, I’d pretty much lost my faith and was sort of iffy about staying at churches — but they were awesome! Everyone was so sweet and helpful, never pushy. Actually — they restored my faith.”

Her children were cared for at Family Promise’s Day Center, enabling Savannah to put more money towards a place to live. “When I had my first month’s rent, they helped me find a three-bedroom house and paid the deposit,” she said. The family has been there ever since and is doing well.

“Without Family Promise, I don’t know where I’d be, physically and spiritually, or if I’d have ever gotten out of that hole,” Foxx said. “When I left, I was so motivated that I went to school and am now a paramedic with Chatham EMS.”

Recently, she responded to a paramedic call where a woman, with five children, had been badly assaulted by her husband. “I told her I’d been exactly in her shoes and to call Family Promise. They’d helped me so now I could help her. Everybody goes through things, some worse than others. Everything that happened to me led me to the field I’m in today. I’m forever grateful for 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 in over 200 communities in 43 states. Family Promise delivers innovative solutions for family homelessness including prevention, shelter and stabilization services. The organization has served 1 million family members since its founding more than 30 years ago, and its leaders aspire to change the future for 1 million children by 2030 through our community-based programs.

For more information about Family Promise of the Coastal Empire, please visit www.familypromisece.org, email info@familypromisece.org or call 912-790-9446.

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For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com at 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).