History
In the early 1980s, Lover’s
Lane United Methodist Church (LLUMC) conducted a research project to determine
which demographic in the Dallas area had the greatest unmet needs for service.
They discovered that homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth, especially in the Oak
Cliff area, had the greatest need for help in all of Dallas. As a result, LLUMC
devoted their energy to this underserved population: they bought a large blue
house in Oak Cliff, and in 1984, Promise House was born.
Today, Promise House is
an independent 501(c)(3) organization, employing 50 full-time and 20 part-time
staff, utilizing 80 volunteers, and encompassing nine major programs. We
continue to grow as the need for our services in the community rises—last year
alone, we directly served over 8,000 youth and families, bringing the total
number of people served through our programs to over 46,000. We will continue to
grow, seeking to heal our youth and their family relationships today in order to
build a healthy, productive, and brighter tomorrow: this is our Promise.
Success
April and Noah
 When
April entered Wesley Inn, our group home for pregnant and parenting
teens, she was 19 years old and in her seventh month of pregnancy. She was
homeless and had nowhere else to go. After giving birth to a healthy baby boy
named Noah, April secured a job and began applying to colleges. With the support
of Promise House staff members, she earnestly applied herself. After a six-month
stay at Wesley Inn, April moved into the Transitional Living Program and
graduated to independent living in the spring. Since her graduation, April has
remained clean and sober. She and Noah live in their own apartment, and April
continues to work. She is also enrolled at El Centro College, studying to become
a paralegal, and makes time to give back to her community by volunteering at the
local library.
Allen, Andrew, Andre,
Tamara and Talitha
 Claudia,
a single mom with five kids, refused to separate her children when they were
evicted from their apartment building in September. Luckily, the Promise House
Emergency Youth Shelter was there for her. Allen, Andrew, and
Andre (16-year-old triplets) and Tamara (14) and Talitha (11)
received food, clothing, shelter, individual and group counseling, life-skills
training, and case management, at the shelter. They continued their schooling in
our on-site Dallas Independent School District classrooms. Promise House also
provided organized recreational and educational activities while they were
staying at the shelter. Claudia attended parenting classes at Promise House, and
found a daytime job so she could spend time with her kids.
Andre “loved attending
activities, learning responsibility, and knowing that the staff cared” about
him. Tamara was in the shelter on her 14th birthday—thanks to a collaboration
with CBRE Birthday Cakes for Homeless Children program, she was surprised with a
birthday cake and a present that day.
In November, the family
moved into a three-bedroom apartment. All five siblings are now enrolled at I Am
That I Am Academy in Dallas. Allen, Andrew, and Andre were the first triplets
ever to stay at the Emergency Youth Shelter, and are now charter members of our
STAR (Services to At-Risk Youth) Advisory Board.
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Staff Members
The staff members of
Promise House are highly qualified, and come from backgrounds as diverse as
those they serve. Every member of our staff has one thing in common: a
commitment to the mission of Promise House and the youth of our community.
Promise House staff members are highly recruited, and are known locally and
nationally for their expertise in youth services. The majority of direct-care
staff members hold a B.A. in Human Services. Therapists hold a minimum of a
master’s degree, with some holding a Ph.D.
Executive Director
Harriet Boorhem, Ed.D., has been with Promise
House since April 1998. She has over twenty years experience in the mental
health field, including extensive expertise in program management and
non-profit agency operation. Dr. Boorhem is responsible for fiduciary
oversight, overall management, budgeting, and fund development for all
programs at Promise House.
Vice President of Programs and Services
Alex Appiah, M.S., LMFT,
LCDC, comes to Promise House with over twenty years experience in the mental
health field and youth services. His credentials include a Master of Science
in Counseling, a License of Marriage and Family Therapy, and a License of
Chemical Dependency Counseling, and certification to supervise students
pursuing these degrees. Mr. Appiah is responsible for program and clinical
oversight of all programs, and joined Promise House’s executive team in
September 2001.
Vice President of Finance
Judy Marshall is
responsible for the financial management of all programs in collaboration with
the Vice President of Programs and Services and the Program Managers. She
brings over eighteen years financial experience with non-profit organizations
to Promise House. Ms. Marshall has been with Promise House since June 1998.
Vice President of Resource Development
Judy Wright brings over
twenty years of fundraising and marketing experience to Promise House. Ms.
Wright is responsible for fund development and marketing for all programs, and
began her tenure with Promise House in July 2001.
Vice President of
Operations
Thomas Loeffel is the
most tenured member of Promise House’s executive team; he has been with
Promise House since September 1991. Mr. Loeffel has extensive experience in
the youth-service field and was recruited to head the agency’s fledgling
Transitional Living Program fifteen years ago. Mr. Loeffel was promoted to
Vice President of Operations in 2001 and is responsible for the oversight of
facilities, technology, support staff, and client records.
Board of Directors
|
Board of Directors |
|
Joyce Mazero
Chair
Partner - Haynes & Boone, LLP |
|
Lyndon S. Johnson
Immediate Past Chair
Franchise Owner -
Reciprocity Restaurant Group |
|
Jan Gaede Blackmon
Secretary
Director of Operations/VP -
Rees Associates, Inc. |
|
Mike Scott
Treasurer
Managing Director -
Alix Partners, LLP |
|
Darren W. Anderson
Vice President Operations -
PrimeSource, Inc. |
|
Sonja Baker
Department Manager -
Internal Revenue Service |
|
Colin A. Campbell
President -
Precision |
|
Joe Daume
Chair, Executive Compensation Committee
Director of H.R. -
Belo Corporation |
|
Earsa R. Jackson
Partner -
Strasburger & Price, LLP |
|
Kevin Karrh
Investment Advisor -
Merrill Lynch |
|
Peter J. McKenzie
Chair, Governance Committee
Managing Director -
Aon Risk Services |
|
Brenda Maddox
V.P. and Treasurer -
Belo Corporation |
|
Paige Montgomery
Jr. League Liaison
Attorney -
Weil, Gotshal & Manges |
|
Lara Kay Newman
Assistant V.P. Public Affairs -
North Texas CitiCards |
|
Edward Sanchez
Youth Representative - High School Student |
|
Honorary Council |
|
Howard Davis |
Nancy Ann Hunt |
|
Betty Hyde |
George Hyde |
|
Patty O’Neil |
Lynn Stallings |
|
Leadership Council |
|
Mike Best
COO - Boston Pizza Restaurants, L.P. |
Jane McGarry
KXAS-TV |
|
Sarah Chapin
President - Chapin Creative |
John Miller
CEO - Taco Bueno Restaurants, LP |
|
Joni Doolin
President - People Report |
Linda Quick
Community Volunteer |
|
Matrice Ellis Kirk
Partner - Heidrick & Struggles |
Jeanne Whitman
Headmistress of Hockaday, Hockaday |
|
Lou Jones
Senior V.P. and General Legal
Council -
Papa John’s |
Fritzi Pikes Woods
President - Prime Source Foodservice Equipment, Inc. |
|
