Contact: Tabitha Talbott, Director of Development
Sanford, FL. April 25, 2022. The new Executive Director of Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, Chris Ham, earns praise his first quarter on the job. Ham jumped into the role mid-January with a passion and a plan. He quickly set out to maximize a three year 2.85-million-dollar ARPA grant by enhancing the organization’s “Housing First” model and addressing critical infrastructure needs while developing a passionate staff and solidifying community support.
ROM’s Board of Directors Chairperson, Mike Towers, expresses relief and confidence in having Ham at the helm. “Chris brings more than twenty years of executive leadership to this role. Plus, he has been active throughout Seminole County with other nonprofits giving us great access to valuable partnerships.”
A native of Winter Park, Chris has worked for fortune 500 companies before spending almost two decades in churches as a Presbyterian Pastor throughout the South and Mid-West. In 2018 Chris moved to Longwood to raise his family and help care for his aging parents. Ham’s prior role was at The Sharing Center in Longwood, Fl where he was involved in fundraising efforts and community outreach. He is an experienced nonprofit leader skilled in public speaking, fundraising, networking, and community organizing. He is active in the Seminole County Chamber and continues to volunteer with the Scouts.
“I am so passionate about what we do here at ROM. We have an opportunity to care for the hurting and the lost. We have so many people that come through our doors every day and it is my goal to make sure everyone at ROM treats our guests with respect, compassion, and dignity. These are our neighbors here in Seminole County and I think it is a blessing and a privilege to help them when they need it most,” Ham says.
Ham holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Social Studies and a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary.
Rescue Outreach Mission serves disadvantaged people throughout Central Florida by providing resources that help prevent homelessness and assisting those who are homeless to become self-sufficient. The organization was founded in 1987 and is based in Sanford.