I am writing to share bittersweet news – I have announced my impending retirement as CEO at the end of this calendar year. Those of you who know me well know my heart is truly attached to Save the Family (STF) and Affordable Rental Movement (ARM) of Save the Family. I am passionately committed to this work, the families we serve, our staff, boards, volunteers – and our incredible supporters in the community. I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone working alongside one another to help those experiencing homelessness and poverty.
After 12 amazing years, I am leaving at a time I believe the organizations are strong and well-equipped to continue our critical work. What we’ve accomplished together over the past 12 years:
Save the Family Now
- Serving nearly 700 households annually
- Dedicated staff of 55 – many with more than 10 years with the organization
- Large volunteer base of nearly 7,000 individuals, congregations, and corporate groups supporting our programs for families and children
- More than 150 partner agencies working alongside us to support the needs of our families
- Relocated the agency headquarters to a new campus in the heart of Mesa
- Constructed a Community Conference Center for local non-profits and expanded programming
- Began supportive services for homeless and impoverished veteran families at Valor on Eighth
- Developed an innovative homeless intervention program – Step up to Independence™
- Launched in-house substance abuse and mental health counseling
- Reduced our reliance on government funding to 21% as of last fiscal year
- Established agency reserves to help sustain the organization and develop new programming for the future
ARM Now
- 150 Units of Scattered Site Affordable units throughout the East Valley
- Developed 3 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects in partnership with Gorman & Company, which resulted in Escobedo at Verde Vista in Mesa (132 affordable units); Save the Family’s new campus in Mesa; Helen’s Hope Chest; and, Valor on Eighth in Tempe (45 affordable units)
I am thankful every day for what we’ve accomplished together, and I am extremely grateful to all of you with whom I have had the honor to work with. And while we’ve accomplished much, there is so much more to be done. Looking to the future of STF and ARM, there are exciting plans in play for program expansion that will afford us the opportunity to serve even more families. Toward this end, our Boards of Directors will be retaining the services of a search firm to conduct the search for my successor. We look forward to keeping you informed of their selection as the process unfolds.
I am deeply grateful for the support you have shown our organizations and me over the years and fervently hope your support and love for these two amazing organizations continues with my successor and especially the families that will come through our doors in the decades ahead.
In partnership, always . . . and with my heartfelt thanks . . .
Jacki Taylor, MC
Chief Executive Officer