KANSAS CITY, MO: SAVE, Inc. – a non-profit organization specializing in providing comprehensive housing solutions that empower socially and medically disadvantaged people to improve their health and lead stable lives with dignity – announces the addition of six members to their Board of Directors. New board members include Steven M. Baugh, Angela Culp, Blake Dankert, Stephanie Parker, Samantha Ruggles and Ron White.
SAVE, Inc. believes that housing is a fundamental human right. SAVE, Inc. has provided permanent, transitional and emergency housing assistance to Kansas City’s most vulnerable for over thirty-five years. Each year, SAVE, Inc. provides services to nearly 2,000 individuals. SAVE, Inc. works tirelessly toward a world free of homelessness and discrimination in housing.
Angela Rizzo, Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, said “These individuals bring a variety of diverse perspectives and backgrounds to the SAVE, Inc. Board of Directors.” She continued, “We are thrilled to include them on our board and expect that with their demonstrated success as effective business and community leaders, they will help SAVE, Inc. in our efforts to end homelessness in Kansas City.”
Steven Baugh currently serves as an attorney with the federal government. His legal background includes work in real estate matters, including advising on construction projects and involvement in previous SAVE, Inc. projects as well. Baugh is a trustee at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood and was previously involved in the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles, California, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has a heart for LGBT advocacy as well as nonprofit fundraising, noting his experience as the Co-President of the University of Notre Dame LGBT Law Forum. “We had to recruit, fund & plan for succession without access to any of the resources to which other student groups were entitled as we were not formally acknowledged by the university. The experience I gained was invaluable and what I look forward to bringing to the SAVE, Inc. Board.” Baugh currently serves on the SAVE, Inc. Programs Committee and is Co-Chair of the SAVE, Inc. DEIB Task Force.
Angela Culp (she/her) has vast experience as a sales professional specializing in relationship building, business development and market penetration. Her background spans over 20 years – all in the Kansas City metro area. Culp has a direct correlation with SAVE, Inc.’s services, having provided affordable transitional and permanent housing to men & women exiting drug rehabilitation services in the Kansas City urban core. Culp also served in the United States Army Reserve, being specifically recruited to attend Officers Candidate School in her experience there. She looks forward to using her direct experience along with her skills to serve SAVE, Inc. “I have served this community for a number of years and I believe that my professional and personal life experience will equip me to expand the reach of SAVE, Inc.” Culp currently serves on the SAVE, Inc. Development Committee.
Blake Dankert (he/him) is looking forward to a higher level of service after being part of the SAVE, Inc. Development Committee and HomeComing event for many years, being crowned HomeComing royalty in 2017 and serving as Co-Chair in 2018. Dankert is a realtor with the Murphy Group KC. His community involvement is vast: Dankert is currently serving as an Ambassador for the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Co-Chair for AIDS Walk for the last three years and founded the Brunswick Redevelopment & Revitalization Committee in his hometown of Brunswick, MO, in 2008. With a heart for the KC community, Dankert looks forward to making at difference at SAVE. “I have enjoyed my previous involvement with SAVE, Inc. and love the mission. With my background in nonprofit & fundraising, I look forward to being part of a board that shares the vision and makes strides to serve others.” Dankert currently serves on the SAVE, Inc. Development Committee.
Stephanie Parker (she/her) has made a career of chasing the thrill of big ideas and weaving them through everything to ultimately impact the trajectory of a brand and looks forward to how this experience can help create big impacts at SAVE, Inc. She currently serves as the Chief Client Experience Officer at Barkley, leading the Brand Leadership & Brand Operations team. Her current community involvement involves serving with the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association, 4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies) based in New York, NY, and working with nonprofits like the KC Symphony, Children’s Mercy / Big Slick, the Kauffman Foundation and more, through her work at Barkley. Parker’s personal beliefs about service is what led her to want to be involved at a leadership level at SAVE, Inc. “I believe our community is only as healthy as our most vulnerable citizens,” she says. “SAVE’s aims to provide home, hope and dignity strikes an emotional connection I’m excited to support.” Parker currently serves on the SAVE, Inc. Development Committee and led a major partnership between Barkley & SAVE, Inc. for our 2021 HomeComing event.
Samantha Ruggles (she/her) is a well-known Kansas City leader and trailblazer. Ruggles was the Executive Director of the Kansas City Center for Inclusion from 2015 – 2020. Coming out as a transgender woman later in life herself, her experiences have led to speaking at universities, hospitals and more on DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion) through the lens of a transgender woman. In addition, Ruggles was selected as an honoree for the Buck O’Neil Legacy seat on the inaugural Pride Night at Kauffman Stadium in 2019 and was named the Outstanding Alum at the UMKC LGBTQIA Pride Awards in 2021. Her continued community involvement has included work with Transfinity KC, Stonewall Sports, KCAVP (Kansas City Anti-Violence Project), ReStart, Equality KS and more. Ruggles’ advocacy & personal experiences have led to a passion for local involvement. “It is a fundamental obligation we have to be compassionate to those less fortunate. I am excited to continue to advocate for marginalized communities and build collaboration through outreach at SAVE, Inc.” Ruggles currently serves on the SAVE, Inc. Development Committee.
Ron White (he/him) is known by many at SAVE, Inc. As a longtime supporter of the organization and a decade-long board member from 2010 – 2020, he is thrilled to continue his work with the organization. White currently serves as the CFO & Vice President of MDR Management, Inc., a family-owned business that provides economical lodging with a focus on the corporate industrial industry (over-the-road drivers, railroad engineers, construction and more). He is also a current member of the Hope Care Center Board of Directors, a supporter of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and AIDS Service Foundation and a volunteer for Rediscover. White’s greatly enjoyed his service with SAVE and strives for that personal connection. “I have always enjoyed learning more about the people we serve through our programs and listening to others I serve with to create change.” White currently serves on the SAVE, Inc. Finance Committee and was a previous ten-year member of the Board.
All of our new SAVE, Inc. board members first became involved in SAVE, Inc. through volunteer committees and fundraising efforts. Rizzo notes, “One of the best first steps for consistent involvement at SAVE, Inc. and potential board membership is through our committees.” She encourages folks interested in learning more about SAVE, Inc. to learn about our committees and get involved. SAVE, Inc. committees include the Development Committee, Programs Committee, Finance Committee and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) Task Force. To join a committee, click HERE.
SAVE, Inc.’s Board of Directors is a volunteer board consisting of 15 directors. These individuals assist the SAVE, Inc. leadership team with policy, DEI, public relations, strategic planning, fundraising, and more. To learn more about joining the SAVE, Inc. Board of Directors, contact CEO Blaine Proctor at bproctor@saveinckc.org or Nominations Committee Chaiperson Angela Rizzo at rizzokc@gmail.com