I grew up witnessing various forms of abuse, and although I didn’t realize it at the time, those experiences likely influenced my decision to study psychology. I earned my Ph.D. in 1986, and a few years later, began volunteering at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. It was there that the idea for Of Home, Family and Future began to take shape.
At the shelter, I saw firsthand the struggle women faced when, after leaving, they found themselves with nowhere to turn. Many, with no options left, would return to their abusers, caught in a painful cycle. I also noticed a significant number of women who were stuck in an economic gray area, earning too much to qualify for government aid but too little to truly support themselves and their families. Despite their determination, they faced enormous challenges in moving forward. With this in mind, my husband Rob and I spent time researching and ultimately developed a proposal for a program aimed at providing comprehensive support to highly motivated employed survivors of domestic violence. Our goal was to help these women rebuild their lives. The proposal was accepted by a major charity, and from there the Of Home and Family program was born.
During this time, Rob and I also became aware of the unique struggles that young people in the foster care system faced when trying to attend college. Many of these students lost foster care support at age 21, leaving them without a safety net just when they needed it most. They were left to navigate higher education with little help, and often faced additional challenges such as trust issues, life skills gaps, and housing insecurity.
Determined to find practical solutions, we expanded our focus beyond domestic violence survivors. In 2004, we parted ways with the charity that had supported Of Home and Family and, with the help of generous friends who volunteered as Board Directors and Officers, we established our own nonprofit, Of Home, Family, and Future. In addition to continuing our Domestic Violence Initiative, we created an Educational Mentoring Program to support foster care students who have been accepted into college.
In 2008, we decided to focus on the charity full-time to realize our mission: to provide comprehensive support to help individuals develop the skills they need to lead happy, productive lives. We aim to empower them to become successful members of society who will one day, hopefully, pay it forward by mentoring others who have faced similar challenges.
We’re a small organization and work to ensure that 100% of donations go directly to those we help. We’re committed to dedicating the rest of our lives to making a difference, one person at a time.
Your support can help us achieve this goal. Please consider donating. Every dollar makes a difference.
Nancy Schulman
Founder
