ROXBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Horizons for Homeless Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young homeless children and their families, today announced that Chip Hazard has been named as Chair of the Board of Directors. A longtime Horizons board member, Hazard will help Horizons extend the reach of its services and cutting-edge programs designed to mitigate the trauma of homelessness.
The former Chair of Horizons' Finance Committee, Hazard has served on the board since 2008 and is poised to lead efforts to expand its early education program in Boston, deepen its work with homeless parents as well as broaden the relationship with shelters partners who host the Playspace Program. Hazard will also continue to support Horizons’ outreach while working to attract, recruit and cultivate the next generation of volunteers and donors.
In addition to Hazard's appointment, Horizons has named Michael Roberge, the President/CEO and Chief Investment Officer at MFS Investment Management, as the Vice Chair. The organization also welcomes five new board members with diverse and impressive backgrounds – all of whom will serve to spread awareness of and drive change for the local community of homeless children and their families. The new board members include: Orlando Watkins, VP of Programs for The Boston Foundation; Sue O'Connell, Partner at Wellington Management; Kate Lubin, Director of Donor Engagement at United Way of Mass. Bay; Scott Haig, Managing Director at The Baupost Group, L.L.C.; and Princell Hair, General Manager of CSN New England.
"There are more than 16,000 homeless children in Massachusetts, yet research shows if you support this underserved population early on, it can have a lasting and significant impact. Guidance from our board is more important now than ever as we embark on significantly expanding our early education and preschool programs and deepening our engagement with parents. We have seen successful outcomes achieved through a two generation model," said Kate Barrand, President and CEO of Horizons for Homeless Children. “We’re incredibly grateful for Chip's contributions to Horizons over the last 10 years, and will continue to rely on his unique understanding of building lasting and innovative organizations as he takes on the Chair of the Board position. We're also pleased with Mike’s appointment to Vice Chair and to welcome such a strong class of new board members and we look forward to their contributions."
Hazard is currently a General Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners, a seed and early-stage venture capital firm with offices in Boston and New York City whose mission is to partner with talented entrepreneurs to build exceptional and valuable technology companies. Prior to co-founding Flybridge, Hazard was a General Partner with Greylock Partners, where he participated in numerous successful investments in the technology sector.
"The quality of services that Horizons provides to children and families in need is what drew me to the organization, and I'm passionate about raising awareness for the issue of homelessness in Massachusetts – something few realize exists to the extent it does," said Hazard. "I'm thrilled to be deepening my level of engagement as the new Board Chair, and look forward to working alongside Kate and the rest of the team as we continue to close the achievement gap for children who experience homelessness."
Hazard succeeds Matt Epstein, who has been a board member for 27 years and served as chair of the board since 2010, playing a pivotal role in leading the organization through tremendous growth. In addition to serving as the Chair of the Board, Epstein also was integral in expanding Horizons' educational centers from one location to three.
About Horizons for Homeless Children
Horizons for Homeless
Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of
young homeless children and their families. Horizons provides high
quality early education, comprehensive family support services,
opportunities for play, and statewide advocacy work. Today, Horizons
serves more than 2,000 young homeless children each week in
Massachusetts through three early education centers and more than 120
shelter-based Playspaces. For more information about Horizons for
Homeless Children, please visit: www.horizonschildren.org.
