Karen Olson is an American

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

who is the founder, and president emeritus of

Family Promise Family Promise (formerly National Interfaith Hospitality Network) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States, founded by Karen Olson in 1988. Family Promise primarily serves families with children who are homeless or at ...

, a national

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

dedicated to helping homeless and low-income families.

Early life

Olson was born in Darien, Connecticut. She attended public school in Darien and graduated from

Lasell College Lasell University (LU) is a private university in Auburndale, Massachusetts. Lasell offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields of study. History Lasell was founded in 1851 as the Auburndal ...

in Auburndale, Massachusetts, where she studied Business Administration.

Marketing career

After college, Olson spent seven years in

marketing Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emph ...

, the last three at Warner-Lambert in

Morris Plains, New Jersey Morris Plains is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 5,532,Schick razors, Listermint mouthwash, and Lubriderm lotion.

Engaging the homeless

Rushing by Grand Central Station in

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

to a business meeting in 1982, Olson noticed a

homeless Homelessness or houselessness – also known as a state of being unhoused or unsheltered – is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing. People can be categorized as homeless if they are: * living on the streets, also kn ...

woman she'd passed before. This time, she decided impulsively to buy a sandwich for the woman. When she gave it to her, the woman began a conversation. According to Olsen, "I learned a little bit about her life, and a barrier was sort of broken,” she said. ”Up until that point, I had thought you just don’t go near homeless people." Olson and her two young sons began frequent trips to New York to hand out sandwiches to the homeless. “For a couple of years,” Olson said, “every other Sunday, we would go in armed with sandwiches and got to know (homeless) people by name.”

National Interfaith Hospitality Network/Family Promise

When Olson learned there were hundreds of homeless people, including families, in her home community of

Union County, New Jersey Union County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 575,345, making it the seventh-most populous of New Jersey's 21 counties. Its county seat is Elizabeth.

, she turned to the religious community for help. Within ten months, eleven area congregations were providing hospitality space within their buildings. The local

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...

was providing showers and a day center for families. A car dealer discounted a van for the organization to purchase. On October 27, 1986, the first Interfaith Hospitality Network opened its doors. As word spread, ten more congregations formed a second Network. Programs for transitional housing, childcare, and financial literacy followed. Olson began an initiative to persuade religious communities across the country to provide homeless families with shelter, meals and help. The success of the first Networks led other congregations to seek help in developing similar programs. In 1988 it became a national nonprofit organization, the National Interfaith Hospitality Network. In 2003, its name changed to Family Promise. 4] Olson retired from leadership of Family Promise in January 2016, remaining as president emeritus. She continued to meet with affiliate leadership nationally and volunteers locally with the Union County program. She also gives talks about homelessness,

poverty Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects. When evaluating poverty in ...

, and affordable housing at Family Promise locations, universities, schools, corporations, and businesses. Olson is currently writing a book about Family Promise, volunteerism, and homelessness. She has spoken at the

Clinton School of Public Service The Clinton School of Public Service is a branch of the University of Arkansas system and is the newest of the presidential schools. It is located on the grounds of the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. The school is housed in the Choct ...

) at the University of Arkansas on Mobilizing Communities to End Homelessness and the University of Kansas">University_of_Arkansas.html" ;"title=") at the University of Arkansas">) at the University of Arkansas on Mobilizing Communities to End Homelessness and the University of Kansas.[9] According to Olson, "It's up to each one of us to develop a public will to make a difference and to solve this tragedy of homelessness."

Awards, works and recognitions

Olson received the 1992 Annual Points of Light Award from

President George H.W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

, the New Jersey Governor's Pride Award in Social Services, and the Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service. She has been profiled by

CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio service CBS. CBS News television programs include the ''CBS Evening News'', ''CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs '' CBS News Sunday Morning'', '' 60 Minutes'', and '' 48 H ...

, published in The Huffington Post, and she is featured in the book ''Courage is Contagious: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the Face of America'', written in 1999 by Ohio Congressman John Kasich. Olson served on the Family Homelessness Task Force of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the New Jersey Interagency Council on Homelessness

Works

*“Poverty and Homelessness in the United States,” an essay from Just Preaching (Andre Resner Ed. for Family Promise, Chalice Press 2003)

Notes

1. "Family Promise congregations open doors to host homeless families." Episcopal News Service. 2. “Karen Olson taps religious groups to help the homeless." csmonitor.com. The Christian Science Monitor. 3. "Interfaith Hospitality Network changes name to Family Promise." The Fig Tree. 4. "A conversation with national Family Promise founder Karen Olson on her vision for fighting homelessness.” Alabama Media Group. 5. Karen Olson, “An Act of Kindness.” CBS News. 6. Karen Olson, Huffington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2014. 7. "Karen Olson appointed to Interagency Council on Homelessness". NJ.com. 8. "Clinton School of Public Service Speaker Series". clintonschoolspeakers.com. University of Arkansas. May 1, 2011. 9. "Community Speaker Series: Karen Olson". calendar.ku.edu. University of Kansas. October 2, 2013.

References

*Hallmark Magazine, November, 2007, "Room at the Inn" *Courier News, April 27, 2007, “Interfaith Hospitality Network launching anti-poverty project” *Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, February 18, 2007, “Homeless advocate to speak in city; Local leaders to hear talk on interfaith group” *The Daily Journal, February 10, 2007, “‘I’m asking for help. Not a handout’: Families work to get back on feet” *Sarasota Herald-Tribune, February 8, 2007, “Ray of Hope; Interfaith networks are forming in Manatee and Sarasota counties with a focus on helping homeless families” *First Coast News, November 2, 2006, “Local Churches Providing Shelter to Homeless Families” *Asbury Park Press, January 18, 2006, “In times of trouble, churches become ‘home’” *Modesto Bee, December 25, 2005, “Home for the Holidays” *The Houston Chronicle, October 19, 2005, “Recovering from Rita: Trailers offer shelter close to home as repairs made; Up to 2,000 East Texas families are eligible, but some anti-poverty groups are critical” *Courage is Contagious, Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the Face of America (Main Street Books 1999)

External links

Family Promise home page

Karen Olson addresses the Clinton School for Public Service
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olson, Karen Living people American philanthropists People from Darien, Connecticut Year of birth missing (living people)