Mark is a retired journalist and legislative communications director who has lived in Elk Grove since 1981. "Doing so much in-depth reporting on the plight of the homeless and the controversy that often surrounds them has motivated me to do something to help in any small way that I can," he said. He has been an active volunteer in a number of the community groups over the years, and was honored as Elk Grove's Citizen of the Year in 2011. He is also co-director of Elk Grove Winter Sanctuary, M.C. for the Strauss Festival, and is helping to start up a new anti-poverty initiative called Uplift Elk Grove. Mark earned his B.A. (Cal State University Chico) and his M.S. (Indiana University) in telecommunications and journalism.
Frank grew up in South San Francisco, 10 miles south of The City. After graduating from San Jose State University, Frank and his wife Nancy obtained teaching jobs in Elk Grove in 1974. They raised a family and have lived in the Elk Grove area for over 40 years. After 36 years in the EGUSD, including 16 years as a high school principal, Frank retired. Looking for a worthy cause to "give back to the community" after retirement, Frank connected with Debbie Schoeneshoefer at the Elk Grove Food Bank. Both saw a need to provide support and services to the homeless in Elk Grove. Together they cofounded HART in 2010.
Chuck has served both as President and Treasurer for Elk Grove HART and has mentored some of our clients in the past. Chuck is currently a tennis coach for Franklin HS. He is also actively working with his wife Susan to build a School Garden at Foulks Ranch Elementary School. Chuck is a minority owner for Vandelay Industries, an Information Technology Support company based in Sacramento, CA. Chuck previously was a National Account Executive at Apple, Inc, a General Manager in Sacramento for GE IT Solutions, and a Regional Manager for Intergraph. He was enlisted in the US Air Force, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Management from Southern Illinois University.
Debbie grew up in Iowa and graduated with a Social Work and Psychology degree from St. Benedict's College in Minnesota. She served as the Chief of Staff while working in the California State Legislature in Sacramento for 15 years. She left in 1999 to raise her newly adopted daughter. While volunteering at the food bank she noticed an alarming increase in homelessness after the housing crash. She and Frank Lucia founded HART with the goal of helping to get the homeless back on their feet. She says it is the most rewarding job she has ever had.
Linda received a BS at UC Davis, and then obtained her Physical Science/Chemistry teaching credential through UC Berkeley. After spending 18 years as a middle school science/math teacher, Linda entered the field of educational administration at both the school and district level for Elk Grove Unified School district, before retiring as the Associate Superintendent for Student Services. In addition to her service to HART, Linda has been a volunteer for the Elk Grove Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program since 2005. When Linda retired, she embraced the opportunity to give back to the wonderful Elk Grove community where her family has lived since 1981. The talented, passionate leadership of the founders of HART was what first attracted her to its mission and it is what continues to inspire and motivate her years later.
Diane is a retired teacher and school counselor from the Elk Grove Unified School District. As a coordinator for the EGUSD Healthy Start and Student Support Centers she connected families to resources to help remove barriers so students could be in their desks ready to learn. She is an advocate for student mental health and spent 5 years at the Sacramento County Office of Education as a coordinator for student mental health and bullying prevention projects. Her last 2 years working as the Educational Homeless Liaison at both the county office of education and district level fueled her passion for working with students and families experiencing homelessness. Diane is grateful to serve alongside such a dedicated team to further Elk Grove HART's mission.
Dave Neves is a retired elementary school principal. Dave worked various positions within the Elk Grove Unified School District from 1981 until he retired in November in 2020. Since his retirement, Dave has resumed working at various elementary schools subbing as a school administrator. Prior to becoming a school site administrator, Dave was a school social worker and subsequently developed and led the Office of Child Welfare and Attendance which offered a variety of services for students and their families ranging from supporting students in foster care, assisting students facing severe disciplinary actions, students with attendance problems, and providing counseling support for all EGUSD staff through the districts Employee Assistance Program. In addition to Dave’s dedication to serving people in need, Dave’s true love lies in his love for music. Dave loves to sing and plays a variety of instruments. Dave was thrilled to join the HART Board in January of 2021.
Gina grew up in the Central Valley and enjoys gardening, soccer (watching, playing, coaching), and traveling the world with her family. She's a Director of Public Affairs for External & Legislative Affairs at AT&T and in June 2022, through several mergers and acquisitions, she celebrated 32 years with the company. Gina and her husband Rob, an EGUSD teacher, have lived in Elk Grove since 1994 and have two children. Gina has been active in her community for decades, supporting many nonprofit agencies through extensive volunteerism and Board membership. As an EG HART mentor and now a Board Member, Gina was drawn to EG HART for its compassion and mission in helping homeless individuals and families regain their independence.
Greg studied at Sacramento State University and American River College, receiving a degree in Liberal Arts. Greg also obtained a degree in Paralegal Studies which opened the door to a 27-year career as a Legal Specialist for the State of California, Franchise Tax Board. Greg, who is now retired from civil service, has lived in the Sacramento area for nearly his entire life and in Elk Grove since 2002. Many years ago, Greg discovered his passion for assisting the homeless and began volunteering by helping the homeless with their daily needs, such as food and clothing. In those efforts, he volunteered for non-profit programs such as Love, Inc., Elk Grove Winter Sanctuary and Safe Ground. Since 2016, Greg has drawn on his life-experiences and passion to address the homeless crisis in Elk Grove as a HART mentor.
We are a 501c(3) non-profit organization;
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Tax ID# 46-4162394