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Our Team
Each member of our team is a vital part of our movement and together we are actively involved in building our volunteer base, connecting to local church partners, providing support and supervision for Hosting and Support Friend arrangements, and sharing the gospel with families through relationships.
Over the past 30 years, Lanna has served in various leadership roles in the field of adoption, foster care, and family preservation. Most recently, she served at Safe Families for Children as Director of Central Indiana and as State Director of Indiana. Together with her husband Tim, Lanna has also ministered as Cru staff at Purdue University, UCLA, and Chicago's inner city project. They feel blessed to have had the opportunity to adopt 5 children from Korea and adore their new grandbaby! Lanna is passionate about spending time with family & friends, getting some exercise to de-stress and listening to podcasts that spur her on to love God and love people deeply. One of her favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Lanna Blanchard
Executive Director
Kim and her husband Steve attend Church at the Crossing and have been married almost 31 years. They have 5 amazing children and adopted their youngest daughter after being her foster parents. Kim graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelors degree in Nursing and is passionate about Maternal-Child Health, working for many years in labor, delivery, and nursing education. Kim sees the desperate need for moms to have a support system and resources to grow and longs to serve in that area. Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Kim and Steve love to lead mission trips to Roatan, Honduras to share the gospel. In Kim’s free time, she loves to walk, cook, and is an avid reader.
Kimberly Baker
Support Coach Supervisor
Carissa, her husband James, and their daughter Gracelynn attend Emmanuel Church in Greenwood. She has served in family preservation work for the past 5 years and obtained her Master's degree in Social Work from IUPUI. Carissa and James met through volunteer ministry work and now volunteer as a Family Hope Host Family. Carissa enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with friends and family along with her puppy, Moose. Carissa's favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 3:20: "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."
Carissa Kas
Church Engagement Coordinator
Bethany Lewis
Intake Coordinator
Bethany's passion to serve with Family Hope started when she began volunteering to answer the Hope Line once a week. That passion, paired with her family becoming approved hosts, led Bethany to accept the Intake Coordinator position. She and her husband, Jason, have 2 kids, Hadley and Bennett. They attend College Park Church. In her spare time, Bethany enjoys playing tennis, cooking/baking, and spending time w/family and friends. One of her favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Laura has been married to Dave for 19 years and they have three (tween and teen) children. After getting her degree in Social Work, Laura worked in the foster care system as a case manager. Since that time, her heart for seeing families strengthened before abuse or neglect occurs has only deepened. It is a privilege for her to see first-hand the ways in which the Church is called and equipped to circle around families facing crisis. Laura enjoys camping and hiking with her family, throwing pots on the pottery wheel, and long walks with good friends. Her favorite verse is Isaiah 43:18-19, “ Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Laura Mann
Support Coach Supervisor
Amy, her husband Matthew, and their 4 children attend Antioch Church. Amy is a homeschooling mama with a background in Elementary Education and has served in a variety of community needs. Currently, she teaches at their co-op and church while also teaching pitching lessons and running her kiddos all over to their activities. Amy and Matthew love that they can serve both overseas and in our local community by just being willing to say a simple yes. They have been longtime supporters of family preservation and have served in various Family Hope roles including hosting children, coaching parents, and supporting families in need. Amy is always up for a relatable book or movie but really loves gathering her people around a fire or good meal to share time together. One of her favorite passages is Philippians 2:1-4. Amy shares, “It reminds me all too often that as I strive to achieve and help that I need to be mindful of being ‘of the same mind, have the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.’"
Amy Tenney
Intake Coordinator
We also welcome Melody Gandy and Angela McColgin to our team as a part of the Family Advocacy Ministry at College Park Church covering Family Hope. We are grateful for their passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable families and to recruit and engage volunteers within their community.
Melody and her husband Dylan have been married for fifteen years and have three children. She is a graduate from Ball State University with a degree in Speech Communications. She and her family attend College Park Church in Indianapolis, Indiana and have served in family preservation work for five years. Melody enjoys time with her family and friends, being outside, trips to the beach and reading while being on a porch swing. Melody's favorite Bible verse is Psalm 73:25-26: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Melody Gandy
Ministry Coordinator
Angela and her husband Scott attend College Park Church where Angela serves alongside Melody, leading the Family Advocacy Ministry at College Park. She is a mama to two spunky, curly-haired girls and her family has been involved in family preservation for the past 10 years since beginning their first open adoption plan for their oldest daughter. Whether it's fixing a fancy meal with all the extras, or ordering pizza and sharing a bag of Oreos, Angela shows her love through cooking and baking and gathering people around her table. Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"
Angela McColgin
Ministry Coordinator
Meet our Board of Directors
Rex Bennett and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 41 years, and have two adult daughters. They worship at Christ Community Church. As an attorney, Rex has spent his career in the private practice of law, and higher education fundraising. His ministry and non-profit work has included board service for United World Mission/Overseas Council, Haven Sanctuary for Women, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, the Greenville University Board of Trustees, Heartland Film Festival, and the International Baseball Association. Rex tries, mostly in vain, to follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:1-3: “As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Conner Bland is the Founder of Terra Capital. He and his wife, Kaitlyn, have been a Host Family since 2014. They believe deeply in the passion and mission of Family Hope to enter into the space of the vulnerable child to bring Jesus’s love, hospitality, stability and support to families in crisis. Conner is eager to serve Family Hope in the role of Board member with vision and diligence. Conner’s favorite verses are Ephesians 2:4-6, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Brent Clodgo and his wife Megan have been married 33 years and have four adult children. Brent and Megan have been active members of College Park Church since 2005. The Clodgo family has been actively involved in family preservation work since becoming a Host Family in 2011. Brent has spent the past 33 years working professionally in IT for Systems Integrators in Michigan and Indiana. Brent’s favorite verses are Psalm 86:10-13, “For you are great and do wondrous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will give thanks to you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul, from the depths of Sheol.”
Chris Haynes is an IT and business process consultant with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. He and his wife, Tara, felt called to engage in the Kingdom work of serving children and families in crisis, just as God has brought us into His family and showed us love and acceptance. Chris’s family has hosted 16 children in their home. Chris’s favorite verse is Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Jennifer Manning is an Executive Coach and Business Consultant with over 20 years working within large companies in the corporate sector. She and her husband, Brian are the very proud parents of two boys, Oliver and Asher. They became involved with Family Hope as they have a deep desire to serve those in need. Jennifer’s heart for this work began when she was a child, as her father ran homes for abused and neglected children. She is extremely passionate about helping families stay together and parents receiving the support they need to be fully engaged with their children. Jennifer serves Family Hope as a Host Family, Support Coach, and board member. Her drive and strength comes from the Lord and Jennifer leans on the Word, particularly Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” and Philippians 4:6 ” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Jasmine Porter-Taylor and her husband have been married for ten years. They attend Psalms Missionary Baptist Church along with their 2 daughters. Together they serve in their family business, Brotherly Love. Jasmine has a background in Intervention and Prevention Family Services and is passionate about serving vulnerable populations. Her favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9- “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Email: indiana@familyhope.info
Hope Line: 317-456-5220
Mailing Address: 9801 Fall Creek Rd. #244 Indianapolis, IN 46256
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