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Changing Lives
Beyond Foster Care

Ready for Life (RFL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Pinellas and Pasco counties dedicated to supporting former foster care youth in homelessness prevention, education and employment, and lifeline support networks. Our solution-based Skill Center offers former foster care young adults and their children an incredible number of programs and services, all guided by the Youth Voice. 

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RFL is a caring environment where young people find basic needs like food and meal kits; personal and hygiene supplies; support networks; access to laundry and shower facilities; disaster preparedness; and so much more. We understand that until immediate basic needs are met, it is nearly impossible to contemplate the future...and RFL believes that all young people deserve the opportunity for a successful future.

Our Mission
Our Vision

Changing Lives Beyond Foster Care

Ready for Life’s vision is a world where every young person has the opportunity to succeed. We work toward our vision by providing a caring environment and wraparound services to the resilient young adults who age out of the foster care system with little to no support.

The Youth Voice

At Ready for Life, Youth Voice is our greatest driver and inspiration. From day one, we have listened intently to the young adults we serve—their stories, trauma, needs, and the challenges they face. We know that the most effective way to serve former foster care youth is to listen and let their voices influence the care and support we provide, so their firsthand knowledge and lived experience guide everything we do.

Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Executive Leadership

Programs

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Jake Ray

Director of Programs

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Falana Shannon

Program Specialist, Pinellas

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Jennifer Daugherty

Therapist

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Kate Atkinson

Program Intern

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Diamond Davis

Director of Family HOPE Center

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Nate Johnson

Program Specialist, Pinellas

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Gloria Richardson

Program Support Specialist

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Sandy Hoglund

Program Facilitator

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Serena Aguilar

Program Specialist, Pasco

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Andrew Brittain

Youth Opportunity Grants

Program Coordinator

Strategic Support

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Haley Klicker

Director of Marketing & PR

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Crystal Zbyszinski

Administrative Assistant

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Katalin Espey

Development Coordinator

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Jasmin Busey

Marketing Coordinator

Board & Advisory Council

Board Members

Our co-founders were approached about developing a nonprofit that would focus on assisting this population through this transition and thus Ready for Life was created.  

Co-Founders   David Fischer    Gerry Hogan    Bud Risser

Advisory Council

Yvette Bean

Kenneth Beattie 

Scott Clendening 

Ben Coughanour

Kay Dillinger

Jennifer Dittman

Alexis Duhmel - Youth Voice

Glenn Gomer

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Chris Kline​

Chris McCabe

Mary Pat McLain - Chair

Sally McLane

Bruce Mitchell

Kathy Mize, CEO

Bud Risser- Founder

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Sarah Sheffield-Marchand 

Brandon Williams

Jamelle Connor

Provost, St. Petersburg College • Co-Chair RFL Advisory Council

 

Bruce Militello

Retired Investment Banking, PNC Bank • Co-Chair RFL Advisory Council 

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Gareth Hughes

Director, Raymond James Financial • Co-Chair Elect

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Glenn Gomer

Attorney • Immediate Past Co-Chair RFL Advisory Council

 

Mary Pat McLain

Chair of the Board of Directors, RFL

 

Kathy Mize

CEO & One of the Founders of RFL

 

Michelle Walag

SVP Public Relations, RFL • Staff Lead RFL Advisory Council

 

Erika Almond

Tournament Director, Suncoast Ladies' Classic & Suncoast Kingfish Classic

 

Mike Brown

Owner, Trunk Bay Designs • President, Santa’s Angels 

 

Laura Connelly

GFWC Florida Federation of Women’s Clubs Second Vice President First Presbyterian • Church of Dunedin Mission Committee Chair

 

Silas Elkins

VP, Banking Center Manager III, Seacoast Bank

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​Terry Farner

Founder Suncoast Kingfish Classic 

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A​nne Gottlieb

Owner & Founder of Profiles Placement Services in Baltimore, MD • Mentor RFL • Chair of the RFL Marketing & Communications Committee

Alan Heinlein

Senior Life Publications Tampa Bay • RFL Marketing & Communications Committee Member

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Uday LeLe

Serial Entrepreneur

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Kate Linde

RFL’s Cooking with Kate Celebrity Chef  •  Major Donor and Contributor

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Kelly Mione

Marketing Professional, Retired  •  RFL Programs Committee Member  •  Former Mentor & Tutor

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Margaret Martin

Re-Design Your Life Coach for Women 50s, 60s, 70s  •  Martin & Associates

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Fawn Moore

Chief Innovation Officer, FSS

 

Debbie Reeser

Broker Associate, Commercial Partners Realty

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Jenn Tran

Chief People & Culture Officer for the Tampa Bay Rays

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Ben Walker

CFO, DuCon  •  Founder and CEO, Buyers Point   •  VP of GZL Educational Foundation  •  Tampa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

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Bill Weiner

Chief People & Community Officer for the Tampa Bay Rays

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Amanda VanLaningham

Director of Partnerships and Prevention, DCF, Office of Child and Family Wellbeing

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