Who We Are
Bridging the gap between crisis and stability
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How It All Started
ECHO was founded in 1987 in partnership with the Brandon Ministerial Association and the business community. It was created so churches and others could send people in need to one central location. ECHO was orginally housed at a local firehouse and only provided emergency food and clothing. At this time, volunteers staffed it completely.
In 1992, we hired a part-time executive director and became an incorporated organization. That same year we moved to our current location, 507 W. Parsons Ave. Julian Craft, a local business executive, is credited for securing the present site. He worked with the country from the very beginning to ensure all went right. His family financially supported ECHO in its early years.
In 2006, ECHO hired its second part-time employee, Eleanor Saunders, current executive director, to work the front desk.
The Welcome Center was created in 2012 to provide stability, and rebuilding programs. This is when we began to apply for grants. Now we have eight revenue streams, offer rebuilding programs five days a week in Brandon and Riverview, and are open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and Tuesday (Brandon) and Thursday (Riverview) evenings from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
In September of 2018, gauging the need in our community, ECHO opened a second location to serve neighbors in Eastern Hillsborough County. Also that year, ECHO added the Job Coaching staff and Advocacy Department in order to bring a higher level of assistance to our neighbors.
ECHO most recently opened two thrift stores from which all sales help fund the Empower program, job coaching initiative, financial counseling, workshops, emergency food and clothing, and much more.
ECHO’s mission is to assist residents of Eastern Hillsborough County in crisis with emergency food and clothing, offering life-stabilizing programs and resources.
Accountability
ECHO is committed to giving the public online access to our financials (Form 990, Audited Financials, and Annual Report). Also available on our website are the following: Whistle Blower Protection Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, Donor Policy, Donor Bill of Rights, and Client Privacy Policy. Being transparent and fiscally responsible is important to ECHO. We are proud to have received the highest rating of approval from Charity Navigator and Guidestar.
- % of your donation going to support programs 86%
- % going to administrative cost 7%
- % going to fundraising 7%
Our 2023 Annual Report
Our Leadership
Eleanor Saunders’s career has been exclusively in the non-profit sector. Her past employers have included: The Children’s Home, Junior Achievement, and Bay Life Church.
Eleanor received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. She has received certifications from the National Parents as Teachers Association, as well as Volunteer Management through the Points of Light Foundation. She is a recent graduate of the 10,000 small business program through Goldman Sachs and Inner City Capital’s entrepreneur program.
Her community involvement in Brandon has included directing the Brandon Cold Weather Shelter, partnering with Family Promise, volunteering at I am Hope Cafe, as well a pioneering the creation of the Seeds of Faith Community Garden.
Eleanor has been recognized as a Hometown Hero by the Tampa Tribune (12-14) as well as Fox 13 News (3-15)
She resides with her family in Brandon, Florida.
Our Board of Directors
Your Donations Make a HUGE Impact
Funds donated in excess of need will help us continue to serve the hungry and vulnerable in our community, throughout the year. Echo of Brandon, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization. A copy of the official registration (CH15550) and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state 1-800-435-7352. Registration doesn’t imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. Gifts to ECHO are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.