A note from our Interim President/CEO, Mike Havala
Thank you for your support of Loaves & Fishes. You have helped us evolve and expand our mission as well as benefit more of our neighbors with impactful programs. I am excited to share with you today that our organization has reached the next chapter in its 32 year history by formally entering into an agreement to combine forces with our friends at Naperville CARES. Effective July 1st, Naperville CARES will permanently partner with Loaves & Fishes. This alliance represents a major step for both organizations: we have created strong program models in our respective areas and will now integrate resources and programs to provide an elevated level of excellence in service to the community.
This combination supports the roadmap created in our 3-year strategic plan in very tangible ways:
- More comprehensive and immediate resource for client needs
- Less agency “waiting time” for clients
- Convenience for clients and referrals to CARES programs and vice-versa
- Elimination of duplicate processes and services
- Ability to increase thorough client follow up to optimize the level of care offered
Our expectation is that more clients will eventually be served, as Naperville CARES’ programs will be readily accessible to current Loaves and Fishes clients and vice versa.
Our combined entity will be called Loaves & Fishes Community Services. The Naperville CARES emergency assistance and car program will be integrated with all non-food services currently offered by our organization and renamed the Loaves & Fishes CARES Programs. As Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO, I will lead the combined organizations in a dual capacity until a permanent CEO is named. Janet Derrick, the current Executive Director of Naperville CARES, will become the Vice President of Loaves & Fishes CARES Programs, and we will welcome the two other Naperville CARES’ employees to our team. Four members of the Naperville CARES Board will join our Board of Directors
Through this partnership, we will be better positioned as a key leader in the non-profit community. We are grateful to our “Double Friends” who have supported both organizations individually and look forward to continuing our relationship as a unified organization. We will be providing more information as more details are worked out in the weeks ahead.
Sincerely,
Mike Havala
Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO
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