Raphael House, San Francisco’s oldest family shelter, announced today the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors.

Sophie Azouaou, Kevin Brennan, Chuck Doyle and Laurie Kopp joined the Board of Directors.

“We are fortunate to have such a talented group of new directors bringing such strong support from the San Francisco business community,” stated Executive Director, Fr. David Lowell.

“The Board of Directors plays an important role at Raphael House. They provide oversight and insight into the day-to-day operations of the shelter and play a critical role in our development efforts.”

Sophie Azouaou, owner of SophiSticate Interiors, a prominent design firm in the Bay Area, joins the board after spearheading several pro bono design projects benefiting Raphael House families.

In partnership with Benefit Magazine and CitiApartments, she redesigned two apartments for former Raphael House residents Most recently, Azouaou donated her time and resources to a complete makeover of Raphael House’s AfterCare building and Teen Room.

Kevin Brennan, executive vice-president and co-managing partner of Studley, Inc. joins the Board after several years of volunteering at Raphael House. Brennan brings a wealth of fundraising knowledge and experience to the board.

Chuck Doyle, president of Business Capital, also brings his years of fund development experience to Raphael House. “Chuck has a long history of fundraising for several east and west coast organizations. His tireless passion for the work of Raphael House is a huge asset for our organization,” said Fr. David.

Laurie Kopp, associate at Capital Group Companies, Inc., has a strong passion for hands-on service. Kopp was recently awarded Volunteer of the Year by Capital Group for her work in the community.

What is Raphael House?

Established in 1971, it was the first shelter in San Francisco for families experiencing homelessness. Raphael House has a dedicated staff and Board of Directors from the local community along with a small core of live-in staff. In the last 36 years, Raphael House has sheltered more than 17,000 individuals with the help of 12,000 friends who have invested financial and volunteer support. Raphael House relies solely on private resources to meet its annual budget. Support is received from individuals, foundations, corporations, businesses, civic groups and churches that are committed to promoting stability for at-risk families.

(Article from the “San Francisco Sentinel”; Thursday, April 17th)