Board Member story

As a one-time president of the Assistance League of Pasadena, Ursula Hyman knew of Friends In Deed through working with us on a number of projects. She feels that, in a developed country like the US, homelessness and hunger are a tragedy – and it is this belief that led to her becoming further involved […]

About a decade ago, one of chiropractor Dr. Richard Cheung’s patients talked to him about a nonprofit he was involved in. Richard was interested in this nonprofit, particularly in its Bad Weather Shelter program, which was hosted by a church very close to his practice. So his patient invited him along on one of the

Ed’s story with Friends In Deed begins with his membership at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pasadena. He’s one of our longest serving board members – 11 years and counting – and he first became aware of Friends In Deed when he saw other members of Assumption Church donating

Leslie has a long history of volunteering and serving on boards in various organizations in Pasadena. It was when she was volunteering at Jericho Road (a Pasadena organization that specializes in empowering and supporting local nonprofits) that Friends In Deed appeared on her radar – she was looking for new opportunities, and The Women’s Room

Rev. Amadi’s journey at Friends In Deed began when he met Rev. Donna Byrns (at that time our executive director) and they spoke about his vision for the role of spiritual communities in our changing society. Based on that vision, Rev. Donna felt that Rev. Amadi was a natural fit for Friends In Deed, and

Local realtor Jeff Salcido was initially introduced to FID through the Friends In Deed/Pasadena Jaycees Operation Gobbler Thanksgiving events – something he says he found very rewarding, especially when they were able to provide a full Thanksgiving meal to a family who likely would not have been able to have one otherwise. We are grateful

Stacy was invited to a Friends In Deed board meeting in 2016 to be introduced to and get to know the organization, and she must have liked what she saw, because by the end of the meeting she had volunteered to take on the role of board secretary! She continued in that role until 2020,

Friends In Deed board member Marlene Pomeroy and her husband, Jake, moved to Pasadena 24 years ago to become co-pastors of the First Congregational Church, Pasadena. Marlene, as a new pastor, was soon invited to connect with Friends In Deed in planning the annual interfaith Thanksgiving service. A lot has changed since that time! Friends

If it takes the same resources to house ten people who have only recently lost their homes as it does to house one “difficult” client who has been living on the streets for decades, then should we not concentrate on the ten “easy” clients? Many organizations do. But one of the things that FID board

Barbara was living in a homeless shelter in 2007 when she first saw a flyer for The Women’s Room. She says the encouragement, acceptance, and understanding that she found there were things she really needed at the time. It was through the help of the shelter she was living in that Barbara managed to get