Madison Sanders

executive Director

Madison joined Family Promise of Athens as Service Director while completing her Master’s of Social Work and certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at the University of Georgia (2021). She was selected to be the Interim Executive Director in the fall of 2021 and quickly was appointed Executive Director.

A Georgia native, Madison grew up in Marietta and received a B.A. degree in Economics with minors in Education Policy and Poverty Studies from Washington and Lee University. Prior to moving back to Georgia, Madison worked in Washington, DC in the fields of poverty and early childhood research and policy. Madison also has experience in case management, family therapy, evaluation, training, and grant writing. She has always been passionate about creating opportunities for families to thrive and loves using her time and talents to support families in Athens.

Clyde Whitworth

Chief Impact Officer

Clyde joined Family Promise of Athens in December of 2021 as the Chief Impact Officer. He comes to the team with a background and experience in both the business and the non-profit world. Clyde has a combined 25 plus years in the business world as the CFO of a real estate development company in Atlanta, as a commercial lender with the BB&T and PNC banks, and as a small business consultant. He also has 15 plus years as a full-time minister in churches in Atlanta and New York City as well as serving on the Board of Directors for a non-profit in Patterson, NJ and an adoption agency in Atlanta.

Clyde earned his bachelor’s degree (BS) in accounting from Lipscomb University Nashville, TN which he attended on a basketball scholarship.

Tenaja English

Shelter coordinator

Tenaja joined Family Promise of Athens as a Case Manager in 2022. Tenaja has an extensive background in case management where she started as a Case Manager in 2013 at a Nonprofit agency in south Georgia. Recently she worked for the Department of Family Children Services as a case manager for 2 years. Tenaja also has a history in mental health therapy with adults and adolescents.

Tenaja earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga. In May of 2021, Tenaja earned her Master's Degree in Social Work at Valdosta State University.

Hannah Dolan

Prevention coordinator

Hannah Blair joined Family Promise of Athens as the Prevention Coordinator in the fall of 2022. Having decided to stay in Athens after graduating with a Bachelor's in Social Work from the University of Georgia, she has continued to pursue working alongside families. Most recently, she was a Behavioral Aide with Project Family, and worked as the local director of Athens PBJ, a nonprofit working to bridge the gap between those experiencing homelessness and not. 

Class of 2025

Duane Bernt (President)
Chief Financial Officer
Stadion Money Management

Harry Shuford (Treasurer & Interim Bookkeeper)
Retired Banker

Stacie Carson
Principal
Stroud Elementary School

Tammy Gilland
Executive Director of Philanthropy
Piedmont Athens Regional

Eric Linder
Rabbi
Congregation Children of Israel

Tom Rodgers
Retired
UGA Faculty & State 4-H Director

Class of 2024

Rachele Gibson (Vice-President)
Special Assistant Attorney General
Div. of Family & Children Services

Weyman Johnson
Retired Attorney

Don Nelson (Secretary)
Retired Journalist
Athens Banner-Herald

Ally Simmons
Assistant Project Director - IOTIS
Realtor - Greater Atlanta Properties

Callie Waller
Realtor
CJ&L Real Estate

Class of 2023

Emily Harbin
Minister
First Baptist Church, Athens

Angela Pope
Lead Social Worker
Clarke County School District