Family Shelter Names Cothran as President

July 8, 2014

Homeless Shelter Elects 2014-15 Officers

COLUMBIA, Sc – Family Shelter, the Midlands’ only emergency shelter for homeless families, has elected Penny Delaney Cothran, APR as its president beginning July 1, 2014. Cothran is the editor of South Carolina Business magazine and the multimedia manager at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. Prior to being named president, Cothran was the board secretary as well as the co-chair of the marketing and resource development committees.

Joining Cothran as officers for the new year are, Mary Pat Baldauf of the City of Columbia as vice president, Joshua Bennett of Rogers, Townsend & Thomas, PC as secretary, and Chris Gibbons of Schmoyer & Company, LLC, as treasurer. In addition to the new officers, two new board members have been elected, Nicole McLean of SCANA Corporation and Mark Stuckey of Intermark Management.

“Family Shelter has really hit its stride in the past year or so, and that is due in great part to our dedicated and committed board of directors.  I’m excited about these new officers and board members who are willing to step up and help us continue our progress,” says Rebecca Jacobson, Family Shelter executive director.

Established in 1979, Family Shelter is the only emergency shelter in the Midlands that serves couples with children, single-mothers and single fathers. In addition to providing traditional case management and support services Family Shelter offers a variety of education and enrichment activities for parents and children.

The new board’s first order of business is the annual summer theater benefit. They are currently selling tickets to a special benefit performance of Peter Pan at Town Theatre in Columbia. The family-friendly fundraiser will be held at 7:00 p.m. on July 17, 2014.

The mission of Family Shelter is to provide emergency shelter in a stable living environment for homeless children and their parents and help our residents build life skills needed to regain independence. It is our vision to be the most supportive emergency shelter in the Midlands for homeless families, and by strengthening the family, we strive for 100% of active program participants to move to a life of independence. Visit www.columbiafamilyshelter.org to learn what you can do to help.