While searching for Regent University graduates within the federal government, I found several of them at a non-profit, the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI).
Coincidentally?, one member of the NFI staff, Heather D. (Thurman) Creekmore, shares both alma maters with Monica Goodling. Like Goodling, Creekmore received her undergraduate degree from Messiah College in Speech Communications. Creekmore received a masters degree in Public Policy from Regent University in 1998. Goodling is a 1999 alumni of the Regent University School of Law.
Heather D. Creekmore,
Director of Marketing
Prior to joining NFI, Heather was the Campaign Manager and Chief Fundraiser for two U.S. Congressional races, and the Director of Development for a $12 million dollar/year non-profit organization. Heather manages NFI's development, communications and marketing activities. She holds a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from Messiah College and a master's degree in Public Policy from Regent University. Heather lives with her husband, Eric, in central California.
In this dKos diary, MrMichaelMT asks an important question:
Does the Department of Justice fund faith based programs??
and adds this information:
But here's a winner:
Prior to joining Regent in 2003, Jim [Davids] was the Deputy Director and Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Task Force for the Faith-Based & Community Initiative. As Deputy Director, Jim provided guidance on constitutional issues to the White House and the other departmental Offices of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives. In addition, he audited the Department of Justice to determine the barriers faith-based and community organizations faced in participating in DOJ-funded programs, and he monitored cases which impacted the Faith-Based & Community Initiative.
Davids is the Assistant Dean for Administration in the Robertson School of Government at Regent University. He is also the President & Chairman of the Board of the Christian Legal Society.
The answer to MrMichaelMT's question is yes.
One of the faith based programs that receives funding through DOJ is the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI).
NFI has received discretionary Edward Byrne grants from DOJ.
I haven't been able to track all of the money, but in FY2001 it was $3,000,000 and in FY2004 it was $1,600,000.
I started this diary last week as a draft, but I couldn't make the jump to DOJ other than the grant money and the curious coincidence that Monica Goodling and Heather Creekmore share two alma maters and were on both campuses during the same time frame.
Jim Davids came on the collective dKos radar screen when we first started looking at Monica Goodling and Regent University, but I had forgotten about his previous employment at DOJ until MrMichaelMT posted it today.
NFI is probably not the only faith-based organization that receives funding through DOJ, but all things considered, these coincidences have me intrigued.
NFI has also been funded through the Department of Health and Human Services where one of the NFI founders, Wade Horn, recently resigned as Asst. Secretary for Children and Families.
Cynthia Cooper at Talk to Action has done some great work on Horn and NFI here and here.
Other Regent University graduates at NFI are:
Ken Gosnell,
Director of Corrections Programming
Blake Fite,
Director of Work/Family Balance Programming
Bill Covey, Associate Director of Strategic Project Management
In addition to Creekmore, there are several other Messiah College graduates on staff at NFI, including their entire Graphics Design Team:
Mike Yudt,
Director of Donor Relations
Paul McNally,
Director of Graphic Design & Resource Center
Jocelyn Mathewes,
Graphic Designer
Benjamin Jancewicz,
Graphic Designer
Tamika Jancewicz,
Resource Center Assistant
NFI was one of the vehicles though which Maggie Gallagher was paid to flak the administration's policy on family and marriage.
On top of that, says Kurtz: "Gallagher received an additional $20,000 from the Bush administration in 2002 and 2003 for writing a report, titled 'Can Government Strengthen Marriage?', for a private organization called the National Fatherhood Initiative."
NFI mission:
National Fatherhood Initiative’s mission is to improve the well being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. We accomplish our mission through:
Educating and inspiring all Americans, especially fathers, through public awareness campaigns, research, and other resources.
Equipping and developing leaders of national, state, and community fatherhood initiatives through curricula, training, and technical assistance.
Engaging every sector of society through strategic alliances and partnerships.
Or, as we like to say, Educating, Equipping and Engaging.
NFI History:
NFI made its national debut on March 7, 1994 with [Don] Eberly serving as President, [Wade] Horn as Director, and David Blankenhorn as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
In 1996, Horn took over as President and Eberly assumed the role of C.E.O. Also, NFI’s national headquarters were moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Gaithersburg, Maryland. The next few years saw NFI grow in size and reach, with an expanded resource center, contract work for the states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, and a privately funded regional initiative in Pittsburgh.
In 2001, Don Eberly and Wade Horn left NFI to accept positions in President George W. Bush’s Administration. The Board of Directors named Roland C. Warren, former board member and NFI Executive Vice President, as President.
The National Fatherhood Initiative is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.