Buddy Edwards: Executive Director
Buddy is a life-long resident of Waco, Texas, who attended Waco public schools and graduated from Richfield High School in 1968. He graduated from Baylor Univeristy with a BA in Sociology in 1972 and obtained a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1976. He worked for 29 years at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center as the Director of Planning and Research and Grants Officer. He came to Caritas as Assistant Executive Director in August 2007 and has been Executive Director since December 2008. Prior to serving on staff at Caritas, he served on the agency’s public relations committee since the mid 1980’s and was Chairperson of the committee since 2002. Buddy represents Caritas on the Waco-McLennan County Hunger Coalition and is a member of the Rotary Club of Waco . He has served on numerous non-profit boards in Waco and is currently on the board of Youth Connection, Inc. In addition to his time at Caritas, Buddy performs with the 50’s-60’s musical group, “The Morticians.”
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Eddie Sherman: Assistant Executive
Eddie is a life-long resident of Waco, Texas. He attended Waco public schools, McLennan Community College on a baseball scholarship and Baylor University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated from Baylor University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance. He spent over 34 years with a transportation company in Waco and then joined the Caritas staff in 2011 as the Assistant Executive Director. He is married and has one adult son.
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Ann Owen: Development Director
Ann is a native Wacoan who graduated from China Spring High School. She earned her AAS degree in Data Processing from McLennan Community College and received a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Baylor University. Ann has 15 years of fundraising experience, including serving as Development Director for the Waco Symphony Association and VP of Regional Development and Grants for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas. She joined the Caritas staff in April of 2014. Ann is active with the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is a member of the Heart of Texas Estate Planning Council and the Rotary Club of Waco. She currently serves on the board of the National Charity League-Waco Chapter and is a member of the American Cancer Society’s Cattle Baron’s Ball Advisory Board. Ann is married with two children.
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Don Taylor: Retail Operations Manager
Originally from Davenport, Iowa, Don has over 36 years of experience in retail management. From opening and running stores like Family Dollar, Dollar General and H-E-B, Don realized he wanted to do more to help people and Caritas has given him the opportunity to make a difference. Don is married with two adult children and in his free time he creates digital and graphic art from photos he has taken himself, records music, and enjoys the outdoors.
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Q & A with Ann Owen
Describe your main responsibilities as Development Director.
I am responsible for all activities related to fundraising, including but not limited to individual and corporate solicitations, special events and grant writing. I am also responsible for Public Relations and assist with social media. I am the staff person in charge of the Fundraising, Public Relations and Feast of Caring subcommittees of the Board of Directors and serve on the Executive Management team.
How does your work contribute to the mission of Caritas?
The work of the Development Director is crucial to raising funds for the programs and operations of Caritas. Without adequate funding, the organization would not be able to provide a wide array of services to our clients. My work with public relations ties directly into fundraising, as the more people who know about our programs and services, the more opportunity for our community to support Caritas.
What message does Caritas try to convey to the Waco community?
First and foremost, we try to convey the services provided to the community, but we also strive to provide information about the high level of poverty in Waco and how it affects many aspects of the community.
In general, what are Caritas’ fundraising focuses?
As we are a food pantry, one of our focuses will always be food insecurity, but our main focus has shifted to our Case Management program, which helps clients identify and address obstacles in their lives that are preventing them from becoming more self-sufficient. Solving the problem and helping those who want to help themselves is very attractive to donors and grant funders.
What are some of your goals for 2017?
My main goal is to increase funding for our Case Management Program while promoting all of the programs that we now offer at Caritas. Another goal is to increase awareness of our 50th Anniversary and how Caritas has changed and grown in order to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.
Why do you enjoy working at Caritas?
I have been a professional fundraiser since 1997 and I can honestly say that working at Caritas has been the most personally fulfilling work in which I have been involved. Seeing on a daily basis how my efforts are helping those who are struggling gives me the encouragement needed to strive to raise more funds. The compassion for our clients and the professionalism of our Executive Director is contagious and I thoroughly enjoy working with him and all of the staff.
I am responsible for all activities related to fundraising, including but not limited to individual and corporate solicitations, special events and grant writing. I am also responsible for Public Relations and assist with social media. I am the staff person in charge of the Fundraising, Public Relations and Feast of Caring subcommittees of the Board of Directors and serve on the Executive Management team.
How does your work contribute to the mission of Caritas?
The work of the Development Director is crucial to raising funds for the programs and operations of Caritas. Without adequate funding, the organization would not be able to provide a wide array of services to our clients. My work with public relations ties directly into fundraising, as the more people who know about our programs and services, the more opportunity for our community to support Caritas.
What message does Caritas try to convey to the Waco community?
First and foremost, we try to convey the services provided to the community, but we also strive to provide information about the high level of poverty in Waco and how it affects many aspects of the community.
In general, what are Caritas’ fundraising focuses?
As we are a food pantry, one of our focuses will always be food insecurity, but our main focus has shifted to our Case Management program, which helps clients identify and address obstacles in their lives that are preventing them from becoming more self-sufficient. Solving the problem and helping those who want to help themselves is very attractive to donors and grant funders.
What are some of your goals for 2017?
My main goal is to increase funding for our Case Management Program while promoting all of the programs that we now offer at Caritas. Another goal is to increase awareness of our 50th Anniversary and how Caritas has changed and grown in order to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.
Why do you enjoy working at Caritas?
I have been a professional fundraiser since 1997 and I can honestly say that working at Caritas has been the most personally fulfilling work in which I have been involved. Seeing on a daily basis how my efforts are helping those who are struggling gives me the encouragement needed to strive to raise more funds. The compassion for our clients and the professionalism of our Executive Director is contagious and I thoroughly enjoy working with him and all of the staff.