Whatever
it takes.

Our MISSION

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness and Poverty

We are working toward a future where all families have a place to call home – because when families are secure, communities are stronger.
SEE HOW
Serving more than
0
individuals every year.
session with people
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88% of students enrolled in ForKids Education programs advance to the next grade level

ForKids assists nearly 400 families with over 850 children each day.

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cities and counties in Southeastern Virginia receive critical services to help families overcome poverty

Housing Crisis Hotline

Southeastern Virginia's hub for all persons experiencing a housing crisis

The Housing Crisis Hotline receives tens of thousands of calls annually. With one call, families in need are connected to critical resources in the community.

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person receiving calls
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Services

Providing programs to bring families long-lasting stability.

Since 1988, ForKids has delivered individualized services designed to achieve stability for children and families.
Housing Crisis Hotline
Shelter & Outreach
Housing Stability
Economic Mobility
Education
Research & Advocacy

our story

Magic Happens When People Come Together to Create Change

In May 1988, when a few residents of Ocean View noticed an alarming number of homeless families in their neighborhood, they banded together to offer a solution. Haven House was established as an emergency shelter for families and children.

Today, more than 35 years since its inception, ForKids operates the Landmark Center in Chesapeake and the Birdsong Center in Suffolk, with more than 140 staff members and 1,100 volunteers, serving more than 70,000 individuals across Southeastern Virginia annually.

Get Involved
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center

Data Makes Us Happy

Our team loves to crunch the numbers to find out what works and what doesn’t.

At the end of the day, our most valuable feedback comes from our participants. Through surveys, focus groups and our alumni advisory board, our families inform our work.

View Data Insights
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Get to Know Us Better

ForKids is among the best and brightest charities in the U.S.
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We are committed to transparency and accountability, ensuring every dollar is used to maximize impact in breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Explore our audited financials, annual report, and IRS Form 990 to see our strong track record of responsible stewardship and meaningful change.

Latest Audit
Form 990
Audited Financials
Annual Report
Landmark Center

LOCATIONS

Every House Is a Dream House

Every family deserves a safe, inspiring, and hopeful space to call their own. ForKids operates two centers purpose-built to reduce traumatic stress and provide a joyful environment for all who visit.
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center

The Landmark Center

CHESAPEAKE, VA

Every family deserves a safe, inspiring, and hopeful space to call their own. ForKids operates two centers purpose-built to reduce traumatic stress and provide a joyful environment for all who visit.

Landmark Center houses 5 afterschool classrooms, the Housing Crisis Hotline call center, the McCormick Research & Advocacy Center, a commercial kitchen, a rooftop garden, and a family shelter.

64,000 square feet

135-bed family shelter

600+ artworks on display

The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center
The Landmark Center

The Birdsong Center

SUFFOLK, VA

Birdsong serves families in Suffolk, Franklin, and Isle of Wight, and North Hampton Counties with after-school education, a donation center, and trauma-informed meeting spaces.

Every family deserves a safe, inspiring, and hopeful space to call their own. ForKids operates two centers purpose-built to reduce traumatic stress and provide a joyful environment for all who visit.

7,200 square feet

1,400-mile area served

24/7 community fridge access

Leadership

Thaler McCormick Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Johnson Chief Operating Officer
Sharhonda Woods Chief People Officer
Bill Young Chief Innovation Officer
Angela Graciani Education Chief
Shirley Brackett Director of Crisis Response
Danyale Campbell Director of Finance
Mary Crosby Director of Development
Duane Jackson Director of Facilities & Tech
Jessica Milloy Director of Shelter & Housing Services
Shereka Steele Director of Youth Development

Board of Directors

The ForKids Board of Directors provides leadership and oversight to advance our mission. Together, Board members guide the organization’s vision and strategy, set policies, approve and monitor the annual budget, and help secure funding to support thousands of families and children each year.

Blythe Ann Scott Chair
Commissioner of the Revenue, City of Norfolk
Cline Reasor Vice Chair
Managing Partner, Gratus Wealth Advisors
Jenn Pfitzner, CPA Treasurer
Saunders, Matthews & Pfitzner, PLLC, Certified Public Accountants
Thaler McCormick CEO ForKids, inc.
Torae Artis Senior Manager
Deloitte Consulting
Susan Bateman Co-Owner
COVA Brewing Co.
Stuart Birkel Principal
Waterside Financial Group, LLC
Jenni Bivins District Outreach Director,
Virginia State Senator, Emily Jordan
Dr. LD Britt Vice Dean, Clinical Affairs, Surgery EVMS
Jill Broome Community Leader 
Andrew Cohen Managing Member
General Investors Realty Associates
Kate Cross PhD Candidate in International Relations
Old Dominion University
Richard Crouch Principal
Woods Rogers
Mike Cummings Senior Vice President
CBRE Hotel Advisory
George Faatz Director of Market & Commercial Strategy
Southern Company Gas
Dr. Monique Farrington, FNP-C Owner
Farrington Cares, PLLC
Robert Finch Entrepreneur
Nita Jain Owner and Executive Chef
Marigold
Desiree Johnson Benefit Specialist
City of Virginia Beach
Mike Melo Founder & Chief Visionary Officer
ITA International
Amber Miller Teacher
Virginia Beach Public Schools
Chad Outlaw Vice President
Allfirst, LLC.
Deborah Posey Accounting Executive
Kyla Shawyer CEO & Co-founder
Philanthropy & Fundraising North America
Gymama Slaughter Executive Director
ODU Research Center for Bioelectronics
Reverend William Tyree Pastor
First Baptist Church, Berkley
Charles “Ed” White, III Vice President
Starr Motors Inc.

    Foundation Board

    The ForKids Foundation Board manages the ForKids endowment to ensure the long-term financial health and sustainability of ForKids. Its members oversee the Foundation’s investment and distribution policy and advise on planned giving. By providing a reliable, ongoing source of funding, the Foundation helps secure the future of ForKids programs for generations to come.

    Tommy Leeman, Chair Vice President - Investments
    Wells Fargo Advisors
    Rick Clarke President
    MANCON
    Howard Gordon, Esquire Williams Mullen
    Thaler McCormick Chief Executive Officer
    ForKids, inc.
    Jane Short Executive Vice President, retired
    Waypoint Advisors
    Kelly Sokol Author
    Lloyd Taliaferro Financial Advisor

    Lifting Families. Transforming Communities.

    Help us break the cycle of poverty.

    Make a Donation

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