#10730 A Decade of Memories Farewell to Glenn · farewell my friends After more than 10 years at...
4
SAFE HARBOR OF CHESTER COUNTY SPRING 2016 #10730 A Decade of Memories Farewell to Glenn Chief Operating Officer Glenn L. Fricke Board of Directors Chairman Thomas Bayley Vice Chairman David Murphy Secretary Melanie Beidler Treasurer Helen Semus Directors Ann Byer John C. Church Joanne Caulfield Michael J. Famigletti Lois Marie Fury Richard Gauger Andrea Pettine, Esq. Dawson Richardson Joseph Ritter Robert C. Scanlon Carol Sexton Linda J. Southcott Nancy Tuttle Jim P. Wenke FAREWELL MY FRIENDS After more than 10 years at Safe Harbor, it is time for me to move on to the next phase of my life. It is with a sad heart, but with great joy and respect for all the staff, volunteers, board members, donors, businesses and many others, that I wish to say ‘thank you’. When I first arrived in 2005, a man knocked on the front door. He was dirty, had long hair, a beard and a long dirty coat. He handed me $100 and said, “Glenn you do good work.” I have never seen that man again. It makes you think. Who was he? Later that year I received a plain white envelope with $1.00 in it. What a beautiful gift without a name from someone who had very little, but was willing to share. On another day I received a similar envelope with no name, opened it and there was a money order for $10,000. It has been a blessing and a privilege to work at Safe Harbor. I keep in my wallet a heartwarming letter written by a women named Kim. She said, “You’ll never know just how much Safe Harbor meant to me in my time of need.” In the very last sentence she said, “Don’t forget me Glenn, you were always my favorite and my sweetheart!” Shortly after moving to her own place, Kim passed away. It is one of the many reasons I find it hard to let go and not be a part of the lives of the men and women at Safe Harbor. This makes me very sad, but I know the staff will continue to give all they’ve got to help the men and women succeed and return to a better life. I wish to wholeheartedly thank the entire staff and our Board of Directors for their dedication, passion and commitment to Safe Harbor and for everything they do for the people we serve. After arriving, I spent a few years improving the environment and working with staff to make Safe Harbor more “homey.” In 2009, Chester County’s Office of Community Development asked us to expand our shelter to support 20 women on a second floor. The task was daunting, but with the Board’s support we accepted the challenge. With tremendous support from our community and our community leaders we made it happen. In March of 2010, we had a new building and a new home for our women and men. Safe Harbor doesn’t just provide a roof over the heads of our people. We provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I care very much about each and every one of the men and women. I consider myself a part of their lives and hope to help each person succeed. This has been my personal mission and my passion and this is why I spent more than 10 years at Safe Harbor. I will miss coming in at any time of the day or night to see the men and women. When they say “Hey Glenn why are you here?” I’ll tell them with some laughter “I’m here to kick you all out!” They will laugh and know that I’m kidding, but they do know I really care about each and every one of them. It has truly been my privilege to look over such a wonderful and dynamic organization. I will miss everyone, but I know you will be in good hands. It is very difficult for me to say goodbye. God Bless. Cheers! Glenn L. Fricke, CEO.
Transcript of #10730 A Decade of Memories Farewell to Glenn · farewell my friends After more than 10 years at...
SAFE HARBOR OF CHESTER COUNTYSPRING 2016
#10730
A Decade of MemoriesFarewell to Glenn
Chief Operating OfficerGlenn L. Fricke
Board of DirectorsChairmanThomas BayleyVice ChairmanDavid MurphySecretaryMelanie Beidler TreasurerHelen Semus
DirectorsAnn Byer John C. Church Joanne CaulfieldMichael J. Famigletti Lois Marie FuryRichard Gauger Andrea Pettine, Esq. Dawson RichardsonJoseph Ritter Robert C. ScanlonCarol Sexton Linda J. Southcott Nancy Tuttle Jim P. Wenke
FAREWELL MY FRIENDSAfter more than 10 years at Safe Harbor, it is time for me to move on to the next phase of my life. It is with a sad heart, but with great joy and respect for all the staff, volunteers, board members, donors, businesses and many others, that I wish to say ‘thank you’.
When I first arrived in 2005, a man knocked on the front door. He was dirty, had long hair, a beard and a long dirty coat. He handed me $100 and said, “Glenn you do good work.” I have never seen that man again. It makes you think. Who was he? Later that year I received a plain white envelope with $1.00 in it. What a beautiful gift without a name from someone who had very little, but was willing to share. On another day I received a similar envelope with no name, opened it and there was a money order for $10,000. It has been a blessing and a privilege to work at Safe Harbor.
I keep in my wallet a heartwarming letter written by a women named Kim. She said, “You’ll never know just how much Safe Harbor meant to me in my time of need.” In the very last sentence she said, “Don’t forget me Glenn, you were always my favorite and my sweetheart!” Shortly after moving to her own place, Kim passed away. It is one of the many reasons I find it hard to let go and not be a part of the lives of the men and women at Safe Harbor. This makes me very sad, but I know the staff will continue to give all they’ve got to help the men and women succeed and return to a better life.
I wish to wholeheartedly thank the entire staff and our Board of Directors for their dedication, passion and commitment to Safe Harbor and for everything they do for the people we serve.
After arriving, I spent a few years improving the environment and working with staff to make Safe Harbor more “homey.” In 2009, Chester County’s Office of Community Development asked us to expand our shelter to support 20 women on a second floor. The task was daunting, but with the Board’s support we accepted the challenge. With tremendous support from our community and our community leaders we made it happen. In March of 2010, we had a new building and a new home for our women and men.
Safe Harbor doesn’t just provide a roof over the heads of our people. We provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I care very much about each and every one of the men and women. I consider myself a part of their lives and hope to help each person succeed. This has been my personal mission and my passion and this is why I spent more than 10 years at Safe Harbor.
I will miss coming in at any time of the day or night to see the men and women. When they say “Hey Glenn why are you here?” I’ll tell them with some laughter “I’m here to kick you all out!” They will laugh and know that I’m kidding, but they do know I really care about each and every one of them.
It has truly been my privilege to look over such a wonderful and dynamic organization. I will miss everyone, but I know you will be in good hands. It is very difficult for me to say goodbye.
God Bless. Cheers!
Glenn L. Fricke, CEO.
Chairman of the Board MessageAs we begin 2016, we have reached a number of milestones: Safe Harbor turned 20 years old in December; we have been in our new building for over 5 years; and our CEO, Glenn Fricke, has completed 10 years at Safe Harbor. Glenn has also decided to retire, his last day being March 31, 2016.
As we congratulate Glenn and wish him all the best for the next stage in his life, I would like to review what he has done over the last decade. The accomplishments are numerous:
• Glenn was Safe Harbor’s fourth CEO and led the change from running the shelter with volunteers, many of them Founders, to employees on staff
• Glenn organized the first fundraiser held at QVC, which today has become our Spring Gala and is our most successful fundraising event
• He led the organization through the renovation of our building to add a second floor, thereby expanding the amount of beds that we could provide to homeless women
• In the last 3 years Glenn has supported the County’s effort to eliminate homelessness through its Decade to Doorways program. The County considers him to be an expert on what it takes to serve the homeless population and to get them back on their feet.
Through it all, Glenn is driven by his goal to assure the safety, health and wellbeing of all of our residents during their time at Safe Harbor. And he does it with a smile on his face.
As the current Board Chairman, I have had the honor and the privilege to work closely with Glenn over the last two years. I know that he will be missed in the community, at our events and at the Safe Harbor. My congratulations go to him along with my best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement.
Sincerely,
Tom Bayley
- Thomas Bayley & Glenn Fricke -
Photo by Dan Williams Photography ©
We’ll miss the many faces of Glennand his ‘isms’...
“Glenn is like the gift that never stops taking…I had coffee with the guy…then I was taking my class to meet the board…then I placed an intern at Safe Harbor…then I was on the board…then I placed another intern there. I am glad he is leaving…I was afraid he was going to move in with me. The passion and dedication with which Glenn attacks every challenge is a sight to behold and less common than most would care to admit. Thank you.” John Church
“Thank you for being so kind in giving. Good luck in retirement, and God Bless” Anita
“Glenn’s done a great job here. I want him to know that I appreciate everything he and the staff have done for me. I will never forget it.” Vicki
“Fair to Midland” Christine ‘Glenn-ism’
“Glenn is an awesome, wonderful, kind man. He’s one of a kind” Leon
“Glenn is a terrific man. I honor his friendship. He’s a really good person, I’m going to miss him.” Willie
“If we think about the safety, health, and wellbeing of every individual, we can’t make a wrong decision.” Christine ‘Glenn-ism’
“Good luck in the future for whatever plans you have.” Leslie
“You can’t make everyone happy Glenn. But I’m not everyone” Alicia
“How many men and women are there?” Stacy ‘Glenn-ism’
“It’s going to be stinky around here without the Big Cheese” Gina and Myng
“Don’t just come to me with the problem. Come to me with the solution, too” Alicia ‘Glenn-ism’
“No, Tariya, we don’t have the money, this is a homeless shelter” Tariya ‘Glenn-ism’
“No you cannot have a tape dispenser – we will never buy tape dispensers or pens!” Kim ‘Glenn-ism’
“How’s my hair?” Karen ‘Glenn-ism’
“Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening” ‘Glenn-ism’
“The official registration and financial information of Safe Harbor of Chester County, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800)-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement: United Way Number 10730
Providing shelter, encouragement and recovery opportunities to the homeless since 1992.
P: 610-692-6550 www.safeharborofgwc.orgVolunteer: [email protected] Volunteer: [email protected]
Please donate to Safe Harbor of Chester County by clicking “Donate” at the upper right of our home page. Your donation, whether monetary or material, is greatly appreciated.
Safe Harbor’s Spring CelebrationJoin us as we honor our retiring CEO Glenn Fricke with the Jack Loew Inspirational Leadership Award
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2016
Time: 5-10 pm
Place: Mendenhall InnChadds Ford, PA
For further details or to donate to Safe Harbor in honor of Glenn Please visit our website at: www.safeharborofgwc.org or contact Gina Harrison 610-701-5680, [email protected]
“It takes a special kind of person to run the shelter and Glenn is that special kind of person!” Kim
Photo by Dan Williams Photography ©
![Jack Bernstein 1985 [My Farewell to Israel, The Thorn in the Mid Eastl]](https://static.fdocuments.in/doc/165x107/577d2ba61a28ab4e1eaafee7/jack-bernstein-1985-my-farewell-to-israel-the-thorn-in-the-mid-eastl.jpg)
