Fairlawn West

To the Family Promise Network of Volunteers and Friends,

On behalf of the families we serve, their children, the staff and Board of Family Promise of Summit County, we wanted to share with you that we have successfully negotiated a lease for a new Family Promise Day Center.

The site - 111 Voris Avenue in Akron - is west of the intersection of Wolf Ledges and Voris. Over the course of the summer, many of you have come by to tour the site and the support has been overwhelmingly favorable. We have slated the annual meeting and dinner for Monday, December 9, 6-8 p.m. at the new site.

We selected this site for several reasons. First, it offers our families and their children some forty-three (43) schools, federal, state, and local government agencies, child-care centers, employment/staffing centers, food, health care, housing services, the METRO Transit Station, and social service agencies within a one (1) mile radius of this location. This is highly critical as most of our families do not have personal transportation. These services are within walking distance.

Second, the Summit County Continuum of Care Initiative has begun a "One-Stop" initiative for homeless in Summit County. At this site, The Louis Stokes Homeless Veterans Resource Center is open to serve our Nation's Homeless Veterans. Community Support Services (CSS) is planning a homeless drop-in center for non-veteran individuals. As Family Promise serves homeless families with children, we will round out the "One-Stop" initiative for the homeless. The site will serve Veterans, individuals, and families with children who are homeless. Our section is on the front of the site.

Third, the site has assets which allows for the development of revenue generating activity to help cover the costs of operations. There will be more to come on this.

We have negotiated favorable terms for Family Promise as well as a commitment to allow us to use a lesser amount of square footage thereby making the transition in three phases so that we are sure we do not over commit resources. Our first year of rent is free, we pay for our utilities. The site is handicap accessible and has ample parking.

In the weeks to come, we will receive a draft lease and tie down any loose ends. Because we are a non-profit, donation supported organization, we will have exit clauses to remain flexible.

Please mark your calendar for Monday, December 9 and join us at our new home for the annual dinner. Many great things have happened this year and there are many to come in 2014. More detailed information will be coming soon for the annual dinner.

Family Promise has made an enormous difference in the lives of so many families over our first 10 years of services. As we enter our next decade of service in 2014, we want to continue the mission and the positive impact Family Promise has in the community - prepared with the resources to meet the challenges of our mission with the benefits this site offers.

Your ongoing commitment is deeply appreciated, especially from the families and children we serve.

Bruce Zake                                                           Jeff Wilhite

Board President                                                  Executive Director