Debbie Mitcham Represents the Newest Addition to the Leadership Team Behind the Scenes at the Georgia Nonprofit Dedicated to Breaking the Cycles of Homelessness, Poverty and Domestic Violence
Duluth, Ga., August 21, 2020 – While COVID-19 has slowed many industries to nearly a halt across the globe, the needs of families facing homelessness, poverty and domestic violence are greater than ever before. Rainbow Village – a Duluth, Ga.-based nonprofit that provides a community of transformation for families in need through transitional housing, programs designed to serve the whole family and a system of accountability, remains steadfast in its mission to help pave the way back to self-sustainability. One of the many ways it stays the course is by building a board of directors – made up of community leaders who are passionate about making an impact. After the recent announcements of the additions of Michelle Livingstone – VP of Transportation for Home Depot, Dr. Jann Joseph – President of Georgia Gwinnett College and Jill Edwards – Senior VP of United Community Bank, Rainbow Village is pleased to also welcome Debbie Mitcham – President & CEO of Northside Gwinnett Hospital to its board.
Mitcham first learned about Rainbow Village when Michelle Alcorn, a dear friend and Community Engagement Director for the nonprofit, invited her to attend the annual We Are Family Benefit Gala last year. She was immediately impressed and liked the fact that Rainbow Village’s mission was right in line with her desire to give back to the community that surrounds her hospital. No stranger to giving back, Mitcham has previously served on the board for Sacred Hearts – a Georgia-based nonprofit that helps girls who’ve been sexually trafficked in Costa Rica. She has also been on mission trips to Haiti, volunteered with Missionary Flights International, served as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and participated in education sessions with Street Grace – an Atlanta nonprofit that seeks to end domestic minor sex trafficking. In addition to her wealth of involvement with other nonprofit organizations, Mitcham hopes her 30 years of experience in business – a large part of which is in the financial arena – will prove valuable to the board. She has served as CFO and VP of Finance for Northside Hospital since 2004 and assumed the role of President & CEO of Northside Gwinnett Hospital in August 2019.
When asked why she was drawn to Rainbow Village, Mitcham shared, “If you don’t have safety, structure and security – and by security, I mean things like food, an education, a home – it’s difficult to find your way and succeed in this world. I really like the residential aspect of Rainbow Village. They have room enough to serve 30 families at a time, and that goes such a long way in providing that safety, structure and security needed to help families get back on their feet and flourish. Knowing that I have even a small hand in helping people find their way back to self-sustainability will be extremely rewarding for me.”
“We have been truly blessed to add Debbie, Jann, Jill and Michelle to our Board in the midst of a pandemic,” said Melanie Conner, CEO of Rainbow Village. “That speaks volumes about their dedication to this community and their passion for helping families in need. Debbie’s reputation as a consummate leader and true visionary paired with her down-to-earth personality will undoubtedly prove invaluable to our leadership team and the families that Rainbow Village serves.”
For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.
About Rainbow Village: Established in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, Rainbow Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence. Committed to serving as a “community of transformation”, Rainbow Village applies a holistic, two-generational approach to serving homeless families with children. With the goal of helping families achieve emotional stability and financial independence, Rainbow Village provides housing, early childhood education and after-school care, child and youth programming, financial planning, career counseling, workforce readiness, mental health counseling, community events and more. Rainbow Village accepts applications from homeless families with minor children throughout Georgia. To learn more about Rainbow Village, register as a volunteer or make a donation, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.
