Remembering Mom Inspires Generations of HSI Support

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the extraordinary women who shape our communities through their compassion and dedication. The Schwartz family—Donna and her daughters Jacqueline and Amanda—exemplify how a mother’s values can create positive change that extend far beyond her immediate family.

Donna and her husband Joe first connected with Homeless Solutions at our Dream Builders’ Bash ten years ago. Inspired by the evening’s events, Donna began to volunteer at HSI while Joe joined our Corporate Advisory Council a few years later.

When Donna’s mother passed away on Thanksgiving of 2019, the family honored her charitable spirit by assembling care packages for shelter guests, their first big endeavor for HSI. “Being around Tamala Reynolds (HSI’s Volunteer Manager) and honoring my mother’s legacy brought us comfort during a difficult time,” Donna shares. “It felt like carrying forward her values in a tangible way.”

For Donna, the commitment to service wasn’t new—it was a lifelong value she had always shared with her daughters. “Our mom taught us volunteering was about gaining new perspectives and stepping outside our bubble,” Jacqueline reflects. “She never just said ‘do as I say’—it was always ‘do as I do.'”

After entering cancer remission and realigning her priorities, Donna committed to serving lunch at our shelter every Thursday for two and a half years – only deepening her connection to our mission. During one of her shifts in which Amanda accompanied her, they found themselves moved to tears afterward. “Experiencing that together, especially serving families with children, connected us in a new way.”

Jacqueline’s journey with Homeless Solutions began independently when she attended an HSI Young Professionals event. Seeking to channel her energy into meaningful service, she found her place with us and has remained a dedicated Women’s Day Committee member while engaging the company she works for, Rockefeller Group, to become a steadfast sponsor for both our Women’s Day event and Dream Builders’ Bash. She particularly values introducing colleagues to HSI’s mission through our events, noting that “the guest testimonies are the most impactful part—they help my associates truly understand what HSI is about and inspire them to get engaged themselves.”

What began as a simple act of honoring their mother and grandmother has blossomed into ten years of steadfast service to our mission—through volunteering, stewardship, and genuine care for the people HSI serves. Thank you to the Schwartz family for your compassionate service to our community.