Meet Carrie Owen

We recently connected with Carrie Owen and have shared our conversation below.

Carrie, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I believe that most people have a desire to help others. People who have experience with families with developmental disabilities, either first hand, or through a family friend or acquaintance are more likely to give to these families. Most people who feel empathy or compassion towards those with developmental disabilities are motivated to help, even if there is no personal benefit to themselves. As more statistics come out on how these families struggle, I believe that more people will step up to give them the support they so desperately need. Increased awareness of the struggles faced by families with developmental disabilities could lead to more support from the public.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have been the Executive Director for the Anchor of Hope Foundation for 8 years. Anchor of Hope is a non profit organization providing financial and spiritual support, encouragement, community resources, and services to families with developmental disabilities. There are so many needs. Through our scholarship program, we have provided over 1000 scholarships for families with developmental disabilities in Georgia! We are so proud to have reached this goal, but there is so much more we want to do. Our future goals include supportive employment and housing for individuals with developmental disabilities that have aged out of the system. So many young people with a disability sit alone at home after graduation with no future opportunities. But, we have to “dream big” to move forward with these endeavors. This brings us to our next chapter to “Dream Big By Asking Big”.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
How are we going to achieve our goals for these adults with developmental disabilities? Of course by prayer, but also by getting the word out, and enacting our new mantra of “Dream Big By Asking Big”. In order to achieve our goal of supportive employment and housing for adults with developmental disabilities, we not only need big monetary donations, but potential real estate donations. I recently reached out via letter to Tyler Perry’s The Perry Foundation and Shaquille O’Neal’s The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. Although I haven’t heard back, I will keep trying to reach out to those who are able to invest in charities, and have giving hearts. Some people have said that it’s a long shot, but you never know unless you try. I truly believe that God will lead us to the right people at the right time to provide more services for these precious families.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We will continue to reach out to as many people as we can who are willing to learn more, donate, and have the ability to help these families with developmental disabilities. No matter if it is a celebrity, politician, business owner, innovator, or your “average Joe”. If they educate themselves on the struggles that these families face every day, the statistics of financial challenges they face, and the lack of support through government agencies; they will learn that this is a demographic worth helping. Our mission through Anchor of Hope is to provide as many resources as we can through finding “Hope For The Future & Joy In The Journey”.

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