Donor Spotlight - Linda O'Bryant
When a young person comes to us at Ignite, our goal is to do everything in our power to equip them with all the experiences and skills necessary to create their own beautiful future – whether it’s secure housing that feels like home, financial literacy and career readiness skills, or the knowledge that they have a place in a warm and welcoming community that will provide lasting care. Linda O’Bryant, a long-term donor and former board member of Ignite, is one of the incredible Ignite community members that makes our work possible and allows us to continue changing the lives of all the youth that need our help.
After being approached by the former executive director of Ignite, Debbie Hinde, Linda joined the Ignite executive board in 1988. In her four years serving on the board, Linda learned how to fundraise for youth affected by homelessness – a cause that many people were reluctant to acknowledge. She saw Ignite’s mission expand firsthand, meeting the rigorous standards to qualify for United Way funding for the first time, and getting to know the incredible young people we work with.
Linda and her husband Robert now split their time between a home in Estero, Florida, and Chicago, where she’s lived for more than 50 years. She currently serves on the board of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, CA, the Board of Advisors for the start-up company, Undress the Box, in Winston-Salem, NC and the Centennial Committee of the Eno Center for Transportation in Washington, DC.
After her time serving on the Ignite board, Linda never lost touch with the organization, and her support has only grown over the years. In the last year, a year when we’ve faced numerous challenges as an organization, Linda’s donations have helped us change the lives of more young people than ever before. When asked what motivates her to give to Ignite, she explained that it’s important to help others during this formative time in their lives. She noted “When an organization (like Ignite) has a plan that benefits people and society, I want to plant that seed of money and watch it grow and evolve into something even bigger and better than it was.”
We are so grateful to Linda for her generosity, and for being a part of our mission to provide a future with promise to every young person that comes through our doors. Her dedication is the reason why we can keep moving forward every day towards ending youth homelessness and making the world a safer and more equitable place.