The 22-year-old has seen Place of Hope's vision at work first-hand through her parents, Russ and Susan Blom, who have for 1½ years cared for six boys as cottage parents at the organization's 10-acre community campus. Her brother, Daniel Blom, is managing Place of Hope's summer camp program, and her brother-in-law, Patrick Wilson, works at the camp.

As special projects coordinator, Blom, who has a bachelor's in business administration with a major in marketing from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, oversees Place of Hope's mentoring and tutoring programs, coordinates volunteers, arranges monthly staff meetings, and assists Founding Executive Director Charles L. Bender III with any projects involving the advancement team.

Blom chose to join the Place of Hope staff not only because she truly believes in the faith-based child welfare organization's vision and mission, but also because she loves working with children. She was a nanny throughout her college years, and also started a swimming lesson business for children while she was in college.

"Having a job in which I can work for children and try to make a difference in their lives is very important to me," she said. "With my marketing background, I'm hoping to further expose the public to the wonderful work Place of Hope does to help hurting children and their families."

Just one of the ways Blom is working towards this goal is by helping to organize Place of Hope's Third Annual Planned Giving Council Seminar taking place in October 2008 at the Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens. At the event, four speakers will present on investing, charitable wills, and other topics to area professionals, who will receive continuing education credits.

"Stephanie whole-heartedly understands how Place of Hope strives to give abused and neglected children in our region bright futures," said Bender. "The combination of her hands-on experience here, her love of children, and her excellent marketing skills, makes her an ideal fit for our organization."

Place of Hope, located at 9078 Isaiah Lane in Palm Beach Gardens, is a unique faith-based, state-licensed child welfare organization providing family-style emergency and long-term foster care; family outreach and intervention; transitional housing and support services; adoption and foster care recruitment and support; hope and healing opportunities for children and families who have been traumatized by abuse and neglect throughout our region. Place of Hope celebrated its 7-year anniversary in May. For more information, please call (561) 775.7195 or visit www.placeofhope.com.