Today we’d like to introduce you to Chey Reynolds.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a pretty independent teenager of the ’60s, I can assure you I behaved more out of stupidity. I was kind of a spoiled rich kid with an eye on the underserved, someone who always gravitated toward those who were less fortunate, and greatly “participated” in the counterculture of the times.
I was the youngest of six with a sister twenty years older. My other siblings were out on their own when I made my appearance. By the time I was fourteen, I was a parent’s worst nightmare. I was crazy about rock music and already gravitating toward bands of the era. This pattern saw me through a few “not optional” private schools, four days at Woodstock, and a few years of living in Europe attending fashion design school and partying in its great cities. Obviously, I survived the gallivanting, saw much, did lots, and met more inspiring people from all walks of life in that short time than most would in a lifetime.
My career has taken me from fashion, to magazine publishing, to advertising and marketing in the corporate world, after 12 years with Verizon and then a VZ spinoff I was introduced to City House a nonprofit sheltering children, youth, and young adults that have been subject to abuse, neglect and homelessness. In 2011, when their previous executive director, a former colleague of mine, asked if I could find time to help them with their annual fundraising gala that was a month or two out.
At the time, I was managing all sponsorships, events, and marketing promotions and had thought often about how I’d like to do what I do, for a nonprofit. And a few years ago, left corporate all together and transitioned my brand engagement and marketing expertise to the cause-related space.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a lifelong self-professed free spirit and non-conformist. Therefore, very little smooth road. Lots of challenges. My formal education prepared me for little. My traveling, adventure seeking personality and experiences prepared me for everything. My greatest challenges are self-imposed.
I have always set a very high bar for myself and others, professionally and personally. My greatest challenge in my career has been the transition to the nonprofit sector.
Pretty sure most fundraisers and marketing people that left corporate for nonprofit would agree it can be a lonely role. We are in charge of raising a great deal of money that people’s lives and a board depend upon us delivering what we say we will deliver.
Every year it becomes more and more difficult to belly over the bar given the number of existing and new nonprofits all vying for the same share of wallet in our communities, making it very difficult for all of us to acquire and retain our donor base.
Having come from a highly strategic yet tactically experiential marketing background has been helpful. Never have a lack of fundraising ideas albeit there’s always a lack of budget to execute. You learn quickly how to lean on others and seek outside funding to make things happen. Nonprofit is very humbling. That is a good thing.
Please tell us about City House of North Texas.
City House provide emergency shelter to children newborns to 17 years and runaway youth in our shelter known as “My Friend’s House, transitional living for young adults in three homes and we have a youth resource center that exists for at risk street youth. The majority of our shelter children have been referred through CPS, and have suffered from abuse and neglect. Out young adults are comprised of young people that have aged out of foster care, struggling on their own, or are homeless.
We were founded by a school teacher and counselor 29 years ago when they noticed high school kids living put of their locker and cars. What started as a 6-bed teen shelter has grown into this incredible agency providing everything from basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), psychological assessments, free counseling, case management, medical assistance, life skills training, furthering-educational, and enrichment.
City House is the only agency in Collin County that takes sibling groups in an effort to keep siblings together during their difficult journey. We are also a very event-driven agency with wonderful community partnerships. On October 21, Friscovania returns to Toyota Stadium, an incredible Halloween destination for the kids by day and adults and fashionistas by night that includes a world-class “haunted fashion” show, with the top people in the industry all out raising money for City House.
Contact Info:
- Address: 901 18th St, Plano, TX 75074
- Website: www.cityhouse.org
- Phone: 972-424-4626
- Email: creynolds@cityhoue.org
- Facebook: city house @texascityhouse
Image Credit:
Scott Bennett Photography
