[email protected] / June 19, 2026

Recommendation For Citygate Network

To whom it may concern,

I’m pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Citygate Network. It is a distinguished nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening mission-driven agencies that serve individuals experiencing homelessness and crisis. Its commitment to leadership development, operational excellence, and collaborative impact has positioned it as a highly regarded organization within the nonprofit sector.

Citygate Network offers a comprehensive range of services designed to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of its member organizations. These services include leadership training, executive development, accreditation programs, operational consulting, peer networking opportunities, and strategic resource support. Through these structured initiatives, it equips nonprofit leaders with the tools, standards, and guidance necessary to improve governance, service delivery, and long-term organizational stability.

A defining strength of Citygate Network is the calibre and dedication of its team. Its professionals bring deep sector expertise, strategic insight, and a collaborative approach to every engagement. Their commitment to excellence, thoughtful guidance, and responsiveness ensures that member organizations receive informed support tailored to their unique missions and communities.

In summary, Citygate Network exemplifies integrity, professionalism, and meaningful impact. With its comprehensive services and highly capable team, it stands as an invaluable resource for nonprofit organizations seeking to strengthen leadership, elevate operational standards, and expand their positive influence within the communities they serve.

Sincerely,

Adam Baker and David Dow
Strategic-Partners
Schooley Mitchell

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[email protected] / May 21, 2026

Spotlight for Heartland Community College

Heartland Community College: Growing With Purpose, Serving with Impact

At Heartland Community College, growth is more than a milestone. It is central to the institution’s identity. Established in 1990, after rapid population expansion in Central Illinois pushed nearby colleges to capacity, Heartland began in a small mall plaza. From those humble beginnings, it has grown into a full campus serving thousands of students and remains the youngest community college in Illinois.

“We are a comprehensive community college,” says Noah Lamb, Vice President for Finance and Administration. “We place tremendous value on the community aspect of our mission.” That commitment is reflected in the breadth of its offerings. Heartland provides associate degree programs and career-ready certifications, along with a robust non-credit division featuring professional development, personal enrichment, and continuing education courses.

Lamb’s own journey reflects the transformative power of higher education. A first-generation college student from rural Kentucky, he began as a music education major before discovering his passion through a student job in a university finance office. Today, he oversees finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, campus safety, risk management, and athletics, serving as both CFO and COO. Still, some of his favorite moments happen outside the boardroom. Meeting regularly with the student government association allows him to hear feedback firsthand. “It’s a great way to hear directly from the community we serve,” he says.

Whether serving a recent high school graduate, a working adult pursuing new credentials, or a community member exploring a personal interest, Lamb says the goal is simple: “Just a wide range of opportunities for everyone within our community, and well beyond that.”

Despite its relative youth, the college continues to expand enrollment, donor support, and regional partnerships. Lamb and the college’s president often refer to it as “the premier community college in Illinois,” a phrase he believes is supported by the pride he sees in students each day. “We continue to grow across multiple areas,” he says, pointing not only to academic programs but also to community advocacy and engagement.

Looking ahead, Lamb believes Heartland’s future depends on adaptability. “We can’t just stick with what worked in 1990,” he says. “We have to continue to evolve and meet students where they are.” For him, that evolution is not only about growth in size, but growth in impact, ensuring the college remains a vital, accessible pathway to opportunity for generations to come.

Visit Heartland Community College’s website to learn more.
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[email protected] / May 1, 2026

Recommendation For Gospel Center Rescue Mission

To whom it may concern,

We are more than happy to offer this letter of recommendation on behalf of Gospel Center Rescue Mission. Since 1940, Gospel Center Rescue Mission has been a cornerstone of hope for individuals and families throughout San Joaquin County, providing critical support and a path toward renewed stability.

Gospel Center Rescue Mission delivers essential care and guidance to those experiencing homelessness and hardship. Its comprehensive range of services are designed to promote both immediate relief and long-term independence, including shelter, meals, addiction recovery programs, education, and transitional housing. Each initiative is thoughtfully developed to address the unique challenges individuals face.

At the heart of Gospel Center Rescue Mission is a compassionate and dedicated team. Staff and volunteers work tirelessly to serve every individual with dignity, respect, and understanding, fostering an environment where healing, growth, and transformation can truly take place. Their unwavering commitment to service, faith, and human connection is evident in every aspect of their work.

Gospel Center Rescue Mission stands as a trusted and inspiring force for positive change the community. Its enduring dedication to strengthening the community and uplifting those in need is both admirable and impactful, and we are proud to offer our strongest recommendation.

Sincerely,

Adam Baker and David Dow
Strategic-Partners
Schooley Mitchell

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Visit the website

[email protected] / April 29, 2026

Spotlight for Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission

Where Hope Begins Again: Inside the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission

The Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission in Nashua, New Hampshire exists to meet people at their most desperate time and walk with them toward something better. Since opening its doors in 2003, the faith-based shelter has served men across the community, expanding in 2022 with the Hope Center for Women to reach even more people in need.

“We use the two words help and hope,” says Lloyd Curtis, president of the organization. “We provide help with stability, and then we provide the hope, which is in our Christ.”

That dual mission shapes everything the organization does. On a practical level, the Rescue Mission offers beds, meals, clothing, and access to basic services. For many who arrive, those needs are immediate and urgent. “They’re literally trying to survive day to day,” Curtis says. “That’s where we come in.”

By meeting those basic needs first, the organization creates space for something deeper. With daily pressures eased, residents can begin to look beyond survival and start thinking about their future. Programs focus on physical health, mental health, employment and housing, helping individuals take steps toward stability.

At the same time, faith remains central. As the only faith-based homeless shelter in Nashua, the Rescue Mission integrates Biblical teaching and spiritual guidance into its programs, offering residents the opportunity to rebuild not just their circumstances, but their sense of purpose. “We teach the Bible for their spiritual health, as well as their physical and mental health,” Curtis says.

That focus extends into longer term recovery. Staff work closely with residents to rebuild relationships that have often been broken. “Many folks come to us, and literally they’ve burned every bridge,” Curtis says. The goal is to help restore those connections with family, employers, and community, creating a foundation for lasting change.

For Curtis, who spent decades in the corporate world before answering what he describes as a calling to ministry, the work is deeply personal. His role is both administrative and hands on, from managing operations to teaching Bible classes and building relationships with residents.

At its core, the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission is about transformation rooted in faith. It is not only a place of refuge, but a place where people are invited to rebuild their lives with Christ at the center. “I like seeing lives changed,” Curtis says.

And in a space where survival often comes first, that promise of change, grounded in both help and hope, is what keeps the mission moving forward each day.

Visit their website to learn more.
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Terri Braun / April 27, 2026

Featured Client Citygate Network

Originating in 1906, Citygate Network is North America’s oldest and largest community of independent, faith-based crisis shelters and life-transformation centers. It strives to equip ministry leaders and teams with the community, resources, and best practices they need to fulfill their calling with excellence and compassion.