Mission Empower Board Members
The Mission Empower board has the passion for the mission and vision, and also has skills to provide direct services to the clients and to carry out the day to day operations of the organization.
| Jill Hrinda-Patten, Founder/Executive Director | Jill, who has significant disabilities, has over ten years of experience in advocating for families with children with disabilities and mentoring of youth in her former position as an Educational Advocate/Independent Living Specialist at Voices For Independence. She is also a member of the Gaskin Advisory Panel for the Least Restrictive Environment to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. |
| Vanessa Kefauver, President/Secretary | Vanessa is a successful person with a disability with five years experience in multiple positions at VFI. |
| Anna Fischer, Treasurer | Anna is a parent of a high school student with autism. She has 20 years experience as a bookkeeper. Through her advocacy collaboration efforts, her son is attending school for the first time in three years since being placed into a segregated partial hospitalization program. |
How Do I Apply to Be a Board Member?
We are committed to involving people with diverse skills, backgrounds, and experiences from the diverse communities that we serve. Anyone, with or without a disability, any race, gender, or ability is encouraged to apply. The Mission Empower Board members are volunteers. Members are expected to attend monthly meetings, serve on committees, and make an annual gift in line with the member's means.
If you would like to be considered for election to the Mission Empower Board, please download, print and complete the following application:
EAIY Board Member Application (12 KB)
Election of new board members is held on a biannual basis.