October HOPE Hero
Rosemarie - HOPE Board President
About our HOPE Hero:
Rosemarie has an inspiring heart for helping those affected by domestic violence. Prior to moving to Florida, she lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and for 12 years served on the Board of Sojourner Truth House, the local domestic violence agency. Since 2003, Rosemarie has been dedicated to supporting the mission of HOPE Family Services; serving as a Board member for 16 years! She currently serves as Board President and is committed to sharing HOPE’s resources with the community.
What have you learned while volunteering?
HOPE has an incredible staff that is dedicated to keeping the organization organized and running smoothly. Most people don’t know, HOPE’s programs for survivors and their children cover not only emergency action and long term care but also support prevention education for youth in the community.
Is there something that excites you so much it keeps you awake the night before?
Packers football!!! From February to July, I go into a mild slump waiting for football to start again. I also love having visitors; friends who come from out of state and stay for a week or more. I also love to have guests for dinner and try new recipes, even though it can be risky.
What advice would you give to a future volunteer?
Learn as much as you can about all of the programs HOPE offers. Share your passion for HOPE with friends and the people around you as often as you can. You never know when services may help someone who wasn't familiar with HOPE.
What would your pet say about you if we asked for a reference?
My dogs, Ditto and Toby, would say, “She's our mom, she loves us and takes good care of us.” Ditto would say that she doesn't like it when I jump on her. Toby would say that she makes sure I get my three pills a day at different times, but I remind her by barking anyway. We all love our neighbors and their canine friends too!