covenant house missouri: The nonprofit empowers homeless, runaway and at-risk youth to live independently and become contributing members award winner of the community by providing shelter and support services.
Q| How long have you been a volunteer?
A| I joined the board in August 2009.
Q| What made you interested in this particular cause?
A| As a mother of three boys, I always wanted to get involved with an organization that helped children and where I could really make a difference. When I was asked to join the board, the cause lined up with those passions and I was at a point in my life where I had time and resources to give. I didn’t realize how big a problem homelessness among youth in St. Louis was until I got involved with Covenant House. The key thing with Covenant House is that we expect every child who walks in the door to get on a path of productivity. The only way they can stay is if they commit to completing their education and finding employment through our resources so they won’t become chronically homeless adults. We give them a purpose and a reason for waking up.
Q| What kind of volunteer work are you involved with?
A| I have many different roles, and it’s an extremely active board so our involvement goes well beyond meetings. I’m on the executive committee, which works closely with the board president to provide expert counsel to the executive director. I’m also board treasurer and chair of the finance committee, which makes me responsible for the physical health of the program. We do a monthly review of numbers and plan for our annual budgeting process. We have to be very in tune with dollars raised so we can expand programs needed by our youth. We have two major events every year, the Hall of Fame Gala (of which I’m co-chair this year) and the Executive Sleep Out (which I co-chaired in 2013). It’s fun to get dressed up and have a nice dinner at a gala, but for the sleep out, donors get to experience what these kids go through on a daily basis, what it’s like to be homeless. Local executives come to Covenant House for a tour of the facility and to meet with some of our youth. It’s a great way for them to hear these kids’ stories and really understand what we do. And then we hand them a sleeping bag and everyone goes outside for the night! It really makes people aware that kids in St. Louis are struggling.
Q| If you could do anything for the organization, what would it be?
A| Covenant House has an open door policy, meaning we don’t turn anyone away. But once these kids turn 21, they ‘age out’ and can’t return. It’s so early to put them out on their own, and we would love to continue support into adulthood by providing an apartment complex and extended services. It’s definitely in our strategic vision and would be wonderful to do in a few years, but right now we want to make sure we’re doing the best for youth we currently have.
In the words of Covenant House: “Because of the leadership and dedication of board members like Diane, Covenant House has been able to make remarkable strides in the past 15 years, like expanding our services and moving all of our Missouri sites to one location. Diane brings her knowledge and passion for the organization to every meeting, and her professional insights have been invaluable during our transitions and periods of growth.”
[meet the covenant house board]
From left: Kathy Peterson, Monsanto; executive director Suzanne Wagener; Colleen Raley, Edward Jones Investments; Jon Nienas; Diane Compardo, Moneta Group; Vincent Sechrest, SSE; Marty Neville Hereford, Armstrong Teasdale LLP; and board chair Paul Kindl, Kindl & Associates. Not pictured: Dan Woods; Jim Klimt, Duke Manufacturing; Dave Ryan, Audi of America. Photo: Bill Barrett
Pictured: Diane Compardo
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton
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