Board of Directors

ELVA E. CHASE - PRESIDENT / FOUNDER


Elva "Precious Love" Chase, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native holds a BBM, Bachelor in Business Management and a BBA, Bachelor of Business Administration. She is the Owner / Publisher of Esquire Publications, LLC, Co-Owner of employment agency, The EAC Agency, Co-Owner of Chase & Chase Enterprise (Elite Realty Group - In Progress) and Founder of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Precious Hearts Foundation, Inc. that aid victims of domestic abuse and homelessness. Elva was a victim of domestic violence that later led to homelessness by her ex-husband of 15 years duration, 19 years out, but she was determined to not allow the effects of her abusive marriage affect her children.  She knew that self-sufficiency was the key to regaining her power as a woman and mother and began her journey of healing and transformed from victim to victor.


Elva is a newly sworn in Board of Directors member of Harrisburg Police Athletic League (PAL), Program Advisory Committee (PAC) at Everest University Criminal Justice Department, National Association of Professional Women, and National Association of Women on the Rise. Mrs. Chase is a past member and served on the Board of Directors of the Palm Coast Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club of Flagler County, the Palm Coast Lions Club, as well as the Flagler Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Chase was awarded the "Pass It On" Award from the Flagler County Commissioner's Office for being an active advocate serving the community, as well as received 30 hours of Comp Core Domestic Violence Training Certification and 30 hours of Sexual Assault Training Certification. This selfless woman of God is committed to breaking the cycle of abuse, bullying and homelessness.  


Elva Chase is also an author of a slew of nonfiction novels. Her current bestseller is "A Mother's Cry" an inspirational story about her life as a survivor that talks about her struggle and ordeal of homelessness, living with domestic abuse and how she was able to set herself free physically, mentally, and emotionally. She wants abuse survivors to know they are not alone and if she survived it, they WILL too!  Her latest works are "Battered Secrets: MEN of Domestic Violence" a tell all nonfiction novel regarding men who are victims of domestic abuse.


Elva aspires to offer solidarity and hope to others through Christianity.


BISHOP SIMS E. JONES - VICE PRESIDENT


Bishop Sims E. Jones, The Pastor of God’s Love Ministry Soul Saving Station.  The Board Of Elders Chairman of the Soul Saving Station Organization, Chaplin for The Medical Reserve Corps Flagler County, The Vulcan Men’s Club Palm Coast Chaplin, and the Treasurer of the Flagler Area Ministerial Association ( FAMA ).  On the Board of Team Flagler CDC.  Runs the People Helping People Center Bunnell.  Chairman of the Religious Affairs Flagler County NAACP.  On the 7th District DJJ Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee.  On the Board of Focus On Flagler Youth Coalition.  A Member of Palm Coast Kiwanis Club.  A Foster Parent in Flagler County. 


He is a devoted husband and a loving father.  He is an ordained minister of the gospel.  Pastor Jones has been in the ministry of God for over 20 years.  He Teaches, Preaches, and Ministers to God’s people in many ways.  He has worked with others faith based organization in the homeless and food ministries.  Pastor Jones has ministered in churches, homes and abroad.  Pastor Jones is devoted to God and His people. His goal is to show the love of God to all he comes in contact with.

DANIEL ROBINSON - TREASURER

Daniel Robinson is a graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a BA in Political Science. He has built a strong reputation within the Commonwealth, having served as a legislative assistant within the offices of Representative Ron Marsico and Representative Lynn Herman. Strongly adding to his experience and valued relationships within state government, Mr. Robinson has additionally served as the development manager for Governor Tom Ridges Team Pennsylvania Foundation, an organization devoted to promoting economic development in Pennsylvania.

Daniel is also a new asset to the Habitat for Humanity Team. After leading economic development initiatives within both city and county environments for more than two decades, his expertise has contributed to the growth of Dauphin County and the cities of York and Reading. There, he found much success in his varied development efforts, and forged strong relationships with his region's executive team and local officials.

Rounding out his vast experience in working within state and local governments, Daniel Robinson was elected as Councilman to the Borough of Paxtang, where he served admirably from 1998-2002. Still a resident of Dauphin County, he resides in the Hershey area.

AMBER C. CHASE - SECRETARY


Amber Cachét Chase is our Victim's Advocate and holds (4) Bachelor Degrees, one in Graphic / Web Design, a second in Business Administration and Management, a third in Marketing, a fourth in Digital Cinematography and an Associate Degree in Media Communications. Amber is the founder of Cachét Co., A My Size Modeling Company. She is the President and Founder of U Shine, Inc., a nonprofit organization that empowers, uplift and encourages young girls and women between the ages of 7-19, utilizing several programs to help them grow in their daily living and in Christ. She is the owner of Designs Unparallel, LLC. , a design & marketing firm, as well as Co-Owner of employment agency, The EAC Agency, Co-Owner of Chase & Chase Enterprise (Elite Realty Group - In Progress) and is the VP of Marketing and Media for Esquire Publications, LLC.


Amber believes that hard work and determination is the key to success. She has a passion for giving back to the community by offering her marketing, graphic/web design and printing expertise to local organizations. Amber Chase is the oldest of 5 siblings and currently resides in Harrisburg, PA.

JAMES JONES - BOARD MEMBER


James Jones was born in Wilmington, Delaware June 23rd 1950. He moved to Harrisburg, Pa. with his family when he was in the 1st grade. James is a product of the Harrisburg School District. He was an All-American quarterback and graduated with honors from John Harris High School in 1968. James attended the University of Southern California and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a minor in communications in 1972.


He enjoyed a celebrated and successful college and professional football career before retiring in 1980. During that same year, James answered his call to ministry. James has spent the past 39 years serving the Will of God. He serves under the ministry name Church of Truth. He has earned the reputation of having a special gift in working with young people and has focused a large part of his ministry serving youth. James retired from the Susquehanna Township School District in 2013. He continues to consult, counsel, and carrying out his obligations as a Minister and Servant of God.

PATRICIA L. GADSDEN - BOARD MEMBER


Patricia L. Gadsden is the founder and President of Life Esteem, a personal and professional enrichment training/consulting firm and Women-CONNECT, a quarterly magazine which focuses on connecting women of all cultures, backgrounds, ages and experiences.  She is an entrepreneur and respected workshop and seminar leader who works with businesses, state agencies, colleges and schools, educational and human service organizations.  


Mrs. Gadsden has made numerous presentations and speeches at conferences and conventions. She co-hosts (with husband Nathaniel Gadsden) a weekly television program called Life Esteem focusing on community issues, airing Sunday mornings at 6:00 am on the CBS affiliate WHP-TV 21.



DAKOTAH MARIE THOMPSON-GRIFFIN - BOARD MEMBER

Dakotah Marie Thompson-Griffin is our Victim's Advocate and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services and Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and is a Licensed Nutrition Specialist. This Fall, she will be pursuing her Masters and her Bachelors in Accounting and Business Management.

Dakotah is adamant about victim advocacy, as she has experienced first hand domestic violence. In her past experience and education, she has assisted survivors with the proper legalities and steps in courtroom settings. 

Dakotah is a single mother of an 8-year-old son who is her motivation and inspiration that keeps her focused. Her only goal is to serve God to the fullest and assist those in need.


KATHERINE "KATIE" KADE - BOARD MEMBER

Katherine “Katie” Kade is our Victim's Advocate and is a proud transracial adoptee, who was reared in Effingham, Illinois, a small rural farming town in central Illinois and has twelve brothers and sisters- ten of whom are adopted. Katie graduated in 2012 from Eastern Illinois University and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science; to complement her degree and expand her knowledge base, she minored in sociology and pre-law studies. During her undergraduate studies, she completed two legal internships- one of which focused on victim/witness advocacy in the Coles County Court System.

Shortly after graduating, Katie relocated to a small town in eastern Ohio to work as a shelter and hotline advocate for a local domestic violence shelter: Harbor House. Due to the paucity of work and social opportunities, Katie decided to relocate to the closest urban setting: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she continued her advocacy and work with victims of domestic violence at the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, until late 2014. Since 2014, Katie has held various positions at different levels in child welfare.

Currently, she is working in the legal department at the Lancaster County Children and Youth’s Office, while simultaneously working on her MSW at Shippensburg University, located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. For her graduate-level research assignments, she loves to analyze and investigate racial disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare system, transracial adoptions, and adoption disruption and dissolution. Aside from her normal duties, she also assists the Permanency Department at Lancaster Children and Youth’s Office with transracial adoption education, advocacy, and training.

She’s a new member of the Young Professionals of Color in Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and a seasoned member of the writing committee at the organization where she’s employed. She loves to spend time with her friends, write, read, learn history, travel to historical sites, shop, and listen to a panoply of music and podcasts. After graduation, Katie hopes to continue her work in child welfare and advocacy in an executive role.

DR. IVY R. BUCHAN - BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Ivy R. Buchan fell in love with volunteerism and board governance in high school as president of a community service club. Then, while working at a domestic violence shelter in college, she decided to focus her career in the nonprofit sector. For the last 19 years Ivy has worked with nonprofits to raise funds and develop their leaders and programs. Since starting Helix four years ago, Ivy and her team use strategic solutions for fundraising/development and leadership challenges to achieve sustainable success. Ivy is also a Licensed Consultant through PANO’s Standards for Excellence (legal and ethical standards for nonprofit management), a board member of the Susquehanna Valley Council of Charitable Gift Planners, and an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)- Central PA Chapter.

 

Ivy earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Administration and Leadership Studies in the Nonprofit and Public Sectors. Her dissertation research focused on multidisciplinary team collaboration. Ivy completed her Master’s Degree from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor’s Degree from York College of Pennsylvania. She also edited three nonprofit textbooks.

 

She co-founded two nonprofits and currently serves on several community boards including the West Shore Young Professionals Advisory Board, York College Alumni Board, Financial Institution Young Professional Advisory Board, Cumberland County Library System Future Task Force, and is the Co-Chair of the United Way Bridges Society. Ivy was a 2020 winner of the YWCA Tribute to Women of Excellence, 2018 finalist for the Conference for Women Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018 winner of the Central Penn Business Journal’s (CPBJ) Women of Influence Community Achievement Award, 2018 winner of Leadership Harrisburg Area’s The Extra Mile Award, 2017 winner of the CPBJ’s Forty Under 40, 2017 winner of City State PA’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars, and a graduate of the Leadership Harrisburg Area Class of 2018.

 

During her free time, Ivy enjoys reading, making assemblage art, kayaking, exploring new cities, yoga, and spending time with her husband Ross.