Jenesse Center, Inc.

Letters of Gratitude 💜

This Mother’s Day, we are honored to highlight the Connie Orlando Foundation and the generosity extended to mothers, survivors, and families within the Jenesse community through special gifts shared across our shelter, drop-in programs, and extended Jenesse family — because once you’re with Jenesse, you’re family forever.

The joy, tears, hugs, and heartfelt letters shared in this collection are a powerful reminder of what community support can mean during difficult seasons. More than financial support, these acts of kindness created moments of dignity, restoration, relief, and hope for survivors rebuilding their lives and caring for their families.

We are deeply grateful to the Jenesse Center staff, leadership team, board members, Jenesse Angels, partners, and supporters who continue to help make moments like this possible.

Over the next few days, we’ll also be sharing reflections from members of the Jenesse team who helped bring this effort to life and witnessed firsthand the impact of this generosity. 🌹

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Jenesse Center. 💜

This Mother’s Day, we’re honoring the voices of mothers supported through Jenesse programs and the generosity of our community.

These reflections and words of gratitude offer a glimpse into the strength, resilience, and hope carried by the mothers we have the privilege of supporting every day.

Thank you to every survivor, supporter, partner, and community member who helps make healing, restoration, and new beginnings possible. 🌹

This May, we’re honoring the strength, resilience, and love of the mothers in our Jenesse community. 💜

Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing heartfelt letters and reflections from mothers and survivors whose lives have been touched through Jenesse programs and the generosity of our community. These stories are reminders that healing happens not only through services, but through compassion, support, and people willing to show up for others.

To every mother rebuilding, surviving, leading, and loving through it all — we see you. 🌹

Join us this weekend as we celebrate the voices, gratitude, and resilience of the Mothers of Jenesse.

A Day in the Life at Jenesse.
CEO Karen Earl and Board President Riaz Patel in conversation—brainstorming ideas, strengthening alignment, and moving the mission forward.

Jenesse stands in solidarity against violence—and with every individual, child, and family impacted by it.

Recent tragedies are a painful reminder that violence does not exist in isolation. It ripples through homes, through communities, and through the lives of children who often carry its impact long after the moment has passed.

We remain committed to creating spaces of safety, support, and healing—because everyone deserves to feel protected, seen, and cared for.

If these events have impacted you, or if you or someone you know needs support, please email [email protected] or call our hotline at +1 (800) 479-7328.

This weekend’s tragedy in Shreveport, LA is a devastating reminder
that domestic violence doesn’t only impact partners—it impacts
children.

These were young, innocent lives that should have been
protected.

Homes are meant to be safe. For too many, they are not.

We are holding their families and loved ones in our thoughts and
prayers during this unimaginable time.

This is why the work matters. Because children deserve to grow up
in homes where they are safe, protected, and free from violence.

We honor the life of Dr. Cerina Fairfax—a devoted mother, accomplished dentist, and woman deeply committed to her community.

A graduate of Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Dentistry, she built a career rooted in care, compassion, and service. Through her practice and outreach, she didn’t just treat patients—she showed up for people.

Her life was tragically taken in an act of domestic violence, a devastating reminder that even the strongest, most accomplished women are not immune to harm behind closed doors.
This is not just a loss—it is a call to pay attention, to support more intentionally, and to continue the work of protecting those at risk.

At Jenesse Center, we remain committed to uniting with organizations to support survivors, raise awareness, and work together toward a future where stories like hers no longer exist.

Nancy Metayer Bowen was a leader, a public servant, and a force for her community — a trailblazer who dedicated her life to bringing people together and creating lasting change.

Her life was rooted in purpose. Her impact, undeniable.

She was taken from this world in an act of domestic violence — a devastating reminder that this issue affects all communities.

At Jenesse Center, we honor her not only in grief, but in action.

We remain committed to uniting with organizations to support survivors, raise awareness, and work together toward a future where stories like hers no longer exist.

Her legacy deserves more than remembrance — it demands change.

This March, we honored the women doing the work—leading, rebuilding, advocating, and rising.

But behind every woman is a story, a family, a future she’s fighting to protect.

At Jenesse Center, we know that when women rise, families heal.
And when families heal, entire communities transform.

Women’s History isn’t just something we celebrate—
It’s something we build. Every single day.

Viola Davis - Jenesse Angel

Adai Lamar - Jenesse Angel