A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

It is an exciting time at Bethany House as we continue to grow, while staying true to our core mission and values.  I am thrilled to announce the addition of three new members to our Board of Directors, and one returning member!  Please join me in welcoming them and thanking them for their vested interest with our organization.

 

The new board members are:

Aleisha Garvin, LCSW, is a native Long Islander whose 35-year career in public service has centered on children, families, and underserved communities. Her experience across social welfare, mental health, and the justice system has shaped a longstanding commitment to connecting people with support and opportunity.  Aleisha retired from Nassau County Government in March 2026 as Assistant Deputy Director and Commanding Officer of the Family Court Juvenile Division of the Nassau County Probation Department.

Renee Daniel Flagler is an award-winning nonprofit executive and visionary leader committed to advancing equity, opportunity, and transformative change for youth, women, and underserved  communities. As President of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, a nationally recognized organization serving children living in poverty, she leads efforts to expand culturally anchored, trauma-informed mentoring and wellness initiatives designed to help young people thrive.

 

Robert “Bobby” Meyer currently serves as the Senior Director of Advancement Operations and Strategy at Regis High School in New York, NY. He brings 15 years of experience in fundraising, strategic planning, donor engagement, and nonprofit leadership.

Please join us in welcoming back to our board!

 

Kia Moore is an attorney who resided in Bethany House with her family for a year when she was a teenager. She currently works as an Impartial Hearing Officer for the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings adjudicating cases pertaining to Special Education Services.

Read their full bios and more on our website!

Tianna’s Journey: A New Beginning

“Bethany House believed in me before I was able to believe in myself.”

 

When Tianna came to Bethany House, she was carrying challenges that were preventing her from working, moving forward, and living to her full potential. Bethany House was not the first shelter she had turned to, but it was the place where she found the stability, encouragement, and support to truly begin her transformation.

 

At Bethany House, Tianna found more than a place to stay- she found a community of people who believed in her, encouraged her, and stood beside her as she faced the challenges that had been holding her back. With that support, Tianna found the courage to address a long-overdue medical need and receive the surgery that helped open the door to new possibilities.

 

Today, Tianna is working full-time, has recently moved into her first apartment, and is building the independent life she once only hoped for. But her journey does not end there. Tianna has shared that she will always be part of the Bethany House community and hopes to return to give back to others who are facing challenges similar to those she overcame-not as someone seeking help, but as someone offering hope.

 

Tianna’s story is a powerful reminder that when women have a safe place to heal and people who refuse to give up on them, transformation is possible.

 

Your support makes stories like Tianna’s possible. Together, we provide more than shelter-we provide hope, healing, and the community women need to rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.

Partnering for Change with M&T Bank

 

M&T Bank is committed to the growth and sustainability of the businesses and neighborhoods they serve, working to understand the needs of their clients and colleagues across their organization so they can truly reflect their communities.  They show this through their steadfast support of Bethany House.

 

As a continuum to our Mental Health Awareness campaign, Bethany House has created ‘Project She-Shed’. Project She-Shed is an on-going series of workshops to engage and motivate our guests and to provide them with a toolbox of knowledge, skills and resources that will be key on their journey to self-sufficiency. With this program, we expose our guests to varying educational, recreational and inspirational workshops- such as financial literacy, resume writing, women’s empowerment group, book club and much more. If we can provide programming that will help heal their trauma, address their mental health and teach money management, we will have given people the tools to enable them to navigate society successfully. The government gives us money to operate at a basic level but so much more is needed if we truly want to end the cycle of homelessness- Bethany House is committed to that, with the support of M&T Bank.

 

M&T Bank recently awarded Bethany House a grant in the amount of $6,000 to allow us to do this important work.  Thank you M&T Bank!

FORE! A GOOD CAUSE

 

Thanks to our incredible community, this year’s Bethany House Golf Outing was an overwhelming success! Together, we raised over $55k to support our core mission: providing a safe haven for women and women with children and empowering them on their journey toward self-sufficiency.

The event took place at the beautiful and prestigious Rockaway Hunting Club on Monday, August 31st. A highlight of the day was celebrating our honoree, Jim Lowe! Recently retired from Oppenheimer, Jim has played an invaluable role at Bethany House over the past few years serving on our Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and Golf Committee.

Jim brought fresh energy to our annual Golf Outing, transforming it into the vibrant event it is today. His strategic perspective on the Finance Committee has helped guide the organization, while identifying key income opportunities to keep our mission growing. To mark his incredible impact, Jim was presented with special citations from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin!

This unforgettable day wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful event sponsors:
 First Central Savings Bank
 Salerno Insurance
 PSEG
 Aprio
 Daniel T. Donnelly
 The Lipton Family
 Michael and Patricia Ryan
 Sheila Pio

To our hard-working Golf Committee, generous donors, and dedicated volunteers—thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this event a triumph. Your support truly changes lives!

Stay tuned to www.bhny.org/events for more to come!