Page 9 - Hobe Sound Reflections - August '22

Hobe Sound, Page 9

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Habitat For Humanity Of inspire and secure essential Map Your Irish Ancestors

Palm Beach County Announces contributions. With The Martin County

“Our community needs
That Julia Murphy Has Been access to affordable and Genealogical Society
equitable housing more than
Appointed As Its New Chief ever. I look forward to the Genealogy research can be tedious and time consuming. So,
opportunity to continue to
Development Officer expand philanthropic support wouldn’t it be great if you could simply push a button and find
for HFHPBC’s mission to your ancestor? At the Martin County Genealogical Society’s
Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County (HFHPBC) bring people together to September meeting, in a special presentation streaming live
is pleased to announce the appointment of Julia Murphy as build homes, communities from Ireland, professional genealogist, author and blogger
its new chief development officer (CDO). and hope.” John Grenham will explain how to use his website to do just
Julia brings over 13 years of experience in nonprofit “I am very excited that that. Grenham has created a comprehensive database of Irish
management, community organizing, advocacy, program Julia Murphy will be joining records – including parish registers, surname directories and
development, and fundraising in public health and education Habitat for Humanity of Julia Murphy census data – and the digital tools to use this information to
related to social justice. She received her bachelor’s degree in Palm Beach County as our Photo by Capehart map an ancestor’s origin based on their surname.
social work from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s chief development officer,” Free and open to the public, the meeting will be at the Blake
in social work from Barry University. said Peter Gates, CEO of HFHPBC. “Julia’s expertise, Library in Stuart from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16. The meeting
Julia’s most recent role was as the chief development experience and knowledge will all play an important role as is in person, but the presentation will be virtual. To participate
officer for Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center where she we expand our mission to serve more low-income families via Zoom, go to mcgsfl.org and register before Sept. 15.
shaped the agency’s fund development strategies in public with our affordable home ownership and home repair Grenham has more than 40 years of experience as a
relations, communications, marketing, donor stewardship, programs. Julia’s commitment to ‘helping others’ will serve genealogy researcher, blogger, software developer and
monthly and annual giving, cultivation of events, corporate her and Habitat very well as we continue the pursuit of our author. In the 1990s, after working on the Irish Genealogical
and foundation giving, major gifts, and legacy planning. vision that ‘everyone deserves a decent place to live.’ We Project, he created his own genealogy software, Grenham’s
Julia is a trailblazer and serves as a community leader couldn’t be more pleased with the addition of Julia to the Irish Recordfinder. From 1998 to 2016 he ran the Irish Times
and advocate. She has led the way in cultivating a stronger Habitat team!” “Irish Ancestors” website, and during that period he wrote
community in Palm Beach County through her leadership About Habitat For Humanity Of Palm Beach County the “Irish Roots” column and blog for the paper. Both “Irish
and engagement as a board member for the Chamber of Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, founded Ancestors” and “Irish Roots” are available on his website,
the Palm Beaches, trustee for the Palm Beach Chamber of in 1986, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building johngrenham.com, which includes a wealth of genealogy
Commerce, board member of Barky Pines Animal Rescue strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Each information. His publications include the standard guide to
and Sanctuary, graduate of The South Florida Fair’s Beyond Habitat partner family is required to invest sweat equity Irish genealogy, Tracing Your Irish Ancestry, as well as Clans
the Fair Program Class of 2022, graduate of Leadership Palm hours of their own labor into the construction of homes before and Families of Ireland, Generations, and Grenham’s Irish
Beach County 2020, recruitment chair for Junior League of being eligible to purchase their home utilizing a 30-year, no- Surnames. Grenham also has taught genealogy courses online
the Palm Beaches and a member of the Forum Club of the profit, no-interest loan. HFHPBC has constructed 249 safe, and at Dublin’s city college.
Palm Beaches. affordable homes throughout a service area extending from In addition to its monthly meetings and special
As CDO, Julia will be responsible for leading the vision Hypoluxo Road in the south to the Martin County line in the courses, the Genealogical Society offers a variety of
and developing the strategy for HFHPBC philanthropic north and from Palm Beach to Lake Okeechobee. A robust services at the Genealogy Room in the Blake Library in
support. She will direct the fundraising teams, cultivate critical home repair program also serves the community. For Stuart including an extensive research library, access to
lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with donors, more information, visit www.habitatpbc.org or call (561) several genealogy websites and assistance from MCGS
oversee major campaigns, and implement innovative plans to 253-2080. volunteers. For more information about membership,
activities and services go to mcgsfl.org.

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