Pinellas County, Fla. (Sep 23, 2020) – RCS Pinellas has provided help and hope in Pinellas County to those in need since its inception in 1967. The organization was founded by 15 congregations of diverse faiths and ethnicities to create solutions to the community’s increasing demand for social services. Over time, changing community needs prompted the addition of new programs and services. Today RCS’ mission of assisting those facing hunger, homelessness and domestic violence is advanced through five distinct but integrated programs that support more than 130,000 participants and guests annually.
Announced this morning at an annual meeting, the RCS Pinellas board and leadership have committed to increasing the organization’s scope and service area under a new brand: Hope Villages of America, Inc.
“Providing help and hope to those in need is the common thread that binds all our programs and services together,” said Kirk Ray Smith, President and CEO. “We consider it a blessing to be in a position to continue our mission of providing help and hope for those in need. Unfortunately, the need for the programs and services we provide seems to be increasing daily. It is our desire and intention to grow and expand throughout this region and beyond—to be on the frontlines addressing hunger, housing, abuse and other basic needs. For this to happen, we have to be prudent enough to stay nimble and flexible enough to pivot. As RCS Pinellas continues to enhance existing programs and services and move into a new era of expanding the reach and diversity of programs and services, rebranding as Hope Villages of America reflects our continued commitment to the enrichment and strengthening of our community.”
The new name comes with a new tagline, “Addressing Hunger, Housing and Abuse,” a new logo and a new mission statement: “We provide hope restoration with dignity to those in need through innovative programs and services.”
“Hope Villages of America keeps us seamlessly aligned with our long-standing message of hope and hope restoration,” Smith said. “It also embodies and communicates community ownership and collective obligation to address the needs of our neighbors through a circle of programs and services.”
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About RCS/Hope Villages of America: RCS Pinellas (RCS), established in 1967, is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that addresses the needs of the hungry, homeless and victims of domestic violence in Pinellas County. This mission is advanced through five distinct but integrated programs: RCS Food Bank, RCS Basic Services, RCS Affordable Housing, The Haven at RCS Domestic Violence Shelter and RCS Grace House. These programs operate in more than 60,000 square feet of service space and serve more than 130,000 participants annually throughout Pinellas County. In 2019 RCS was awarded GuideStar’s Gold Seal of Transparency for the second year in a row and the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce Biggest Community Impact award. For more information, visit www.rcspinellas.org or call 727-584-3528.