Karen Olson
Encyclopedia
Karen Olson is Founder and President of Family Promise
(formerly known as National Interfaith Hospitality Network) in Summit, New Jersey
, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence and to redress the underlying causes of poverty
and homelessness
.
, formerly known as National Interfaith Hospitality Network (NIHN), in 1988 with the mission of helping low-income families nationwide to achieve sustainable independence. Family Promise helps mobilize religious congregations of all faiths and existing community resources to provide safe shelter, meals, and comprehensive support services for homeless families.
As a marketing executive, Olson developed promotion campaigns for consumer products. She never anticipated that her life would be changed through an unexpected encounter with a homeless woman in 1982. This incident led to the creation of a vast network of volunteers that has served hundreds of thousands of homeless and low-income families across the United States. The organization Olson began in 1986 in her home state of New Jersey grew to become Family Promise, and has expanded to 40 states and involves more than 130,000 volunteers and 4,500 congregations of all religious faiths. It is recognized nationally for its innovative and effective work in mobilizing volunteers.
Under Olson's continuing direction, Family Promise has expanded its mission beyond providing immediate assistance to homeless families to include a family mentoring homelessness prevention program along with initiatives to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise has also developed a multi-media community education program, Just Neighbors, to raise awareness about poverty-related issues.
Olson serves on the Family Homelessness Task Force of the National Interagency Council on Homelessness
. In 1992 she was awarded one of 21 National Points of Light Awards from a field of over 4,500 nominees for her work in mobilizing volunteers. She has been profiled in Family Circle
magazine and The New York Times
, and she is featured in the book Courage is Contagious, Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the Face of America, written in 1999 by Ohio Congressman John Kasich
.
Family Promise
Family Promise is a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to helping America's low-income families secure lasting independence. 163 Affiliates and 130,000 volunteers spanning 41 states provide annual assistance to over 45,000 citizens.- History :...
(formerly known as National Interfaith Hospitality Network) in Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence and to redress the underlying causes of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
.
Biography
Olson founded Family PromiseFamily Promise
Family Promise is a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to helping America's low-income families secure lasting independence. 163 Affiliates and 130,000 volunteers spanning 41 states provide annual assistance to over 45,000 citizens.- History :...
, formerly known as National Interfaith Hospitality Network (NIHN), in 1988 with the mission of helping low-income families nationwide to achieve sustainable independence. Family Promise helps mobilize religious congregations of all faiths and existing community resources to provide safe shelter, meals, and comprehensive support services for homeless families.
As a marketing executive, Olson developed promotion campaigns for consumer products. She never anticipated that her life would be changed through an unexpected encounter with a homeless woman in 1982. This incident led to the creation of a vast network of volunteers that has served hundreds of thousands of homeless and low-income families across the United States. The organization Olson began in 1986 in her home state of New Jersey grew to become Family Promise, and has expanded to 40 states and involves more than 130,000 volunteers and 4,500 congregations of all religious faiths. It is recognized nationally for its innovative and effective work in mobilizing volunteers.
Under Olson's continuing direction, Family Promise has expanded its mission beyond providing immediate assistance to homeless families to include a family mentoring homelessness prevention program along with initiatives to address the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise has also developed a multi-media community education program, Just Neighbors, to raise awareness about poverty-related issues.
Olson serves on the Family Homelessness Task Force of the National Interagency Council on Homelessness
Interagency Council on Homelessness
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is a United States independent federal agency within the executive branch and is composed of 19 Cabinet secretaries and agency heads. The current chairperson is Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis; Department of Health and Human Services...
. In 1992 she was awarded one of 21 National Points of Light Awards from a field of over 4,500 nominees for her work in mobilizing volunteers. She has been profiled in Family Circle
Family Circle
Family Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...
magazine and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and she is featured in the book Courage is Contagious, Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the Face of America, written in 1999 by Ohio Congressman John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
.
Works
- “Poverty and Homelessness in the United States,” an essay from Just Preaching (Andre Resner Ed. for Family Promise, Chalice Press 2003)