From Heartbreak to Helping 1 Million Families: Karen Olson on Founding Family Promise

Karen Olson, the founder and CEO emeritus of Family Promise , and author of  Meant for More , whose work continues to shape how communities address family homelessness. has dedicated her life to transforming the present and futures of homeless and low-income families. Karen has rallied more than a million volunteers nationwide, fostering an extensive network of support for the vulnerable. Also, because of all the efforts of the volunteers, the organization has been able to assist over a million people experiencing homelessness. Before her remarkable transition into the realm of social advocacy, Karen demonstrated her leadership prowess as a manager at Warner-Lambert. However, her leap into the world of nonprofits truly underscored her compassionate spirit and steadfast determination. Karen’s efforts have been duly recognized, and she has received numerous awards. Some of them include President George H.W. Bush honoring her with the prestigious Annual Points of Light Award , and the New Jersey Governor’s Pride Award recognizing Karen’s remarkable social-service contributions. The American Institute of Public Service also bestowed upon her the Jefferson Award, acknowledging her tireless public-service efforts. In 2019, Karen experienced a freak accident that left her in a wheelchair. While it has changed her life, Karen continues to be involved. https://www.karenolsonauthor.com/ https://familypromise.org/ Contact Kendra Rinaldi to  be a guest or to be added to the Newsletter Show Highlights: Unspoken Suicide Loss: Karen recounts the tragic loss of her mother to suicide at age 12, and how she had to navigate her grief completely alone when her family refused to speak about it. A Fateful Sandwich: How a simple act of buying lunch for a homeless woman named Millie shifted Karen's trajectory from a corporate career to a life of service. Founding Family Promise: Turning her childhood pain into empathy by creating a nonprofit that has helped over one million homeless men, women, and children. The Hidden Homeless: Karen breaks down the difference between the chronically homeless and the often-invisible population of homeless families who live in cars, shelters, or doubled-up with friends. Meant for More: Discussing her book, Karen explains why true fulfillment is found in going outside of yourself to serve others rather than acquiring material things. Radical Resilience: How Karen adapted after a severe spinal cord injury from a cryotherapy accident left her in a wheelchair, including how she learned to become a left-handed impressionist painter. The Power of Receiving: The vulnerability required to accept help after a lifetime of serving others, and how Karen now views her physical therapists and aides as extended family

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