ABOUT US

ECHO’s mission is to assist residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County who are in crisis by providing emergency food and clothing, along with life-stabilizing programs and resources.

1987 – Founding
ECHO was founded in 1987 in partnership with the Brandon Ministerial Association and the local business community. It was created to provide a central location where churches and others could send people in need. Originally housed in a local firehouse, ECHO provided only emergency food and clothing, staffed entirely by volunteers.

1992 – Incorporation and Move
In 1992, ECHO hired a part-time executive director and became an incorporated organization. That same year, we moved to our current location at 507 W. Parsons Ave. Julian Craft, a local business executive, helped secure the site and worked closely with the county to ensure a smooth transition. His family also provided early financial support to ECHO.

2006 – Staff Expansion
Eleanor Saunders, our current executive director, joined ECHO as the second part-time employee to work the front desk.

2012 – Welcome Center and Program Growth
The Welcome Center was created in 2012 to provide stability and rebuilding programs. This marked the start of ECHO applying for grants. Today, we operate with eight revenue streams, offering rebuilding programs five days a week in Brandon and Riverview. Our hours are:

Monday–Friday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Tuesday (Brandon) & Thursday (Riverview) evenings: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

2018 – Expansion and New Services
In September 2018, ECHO opened a second location to better serve neighbors in Eastern Hillsborough County. That year, we also added Job Coaching staff and an Advocacy Department to provide a higher level of support to our community.

Recent Developments – Thrift Stores
ECHO recently opened two thrift stores, with all sales supporting programs such as Empower, job coaching, financial counseling, workshops, emergency food and clothing, and more.

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% 86%
% going to administrative cost 7.5% 7.5%
% going to fundraising 6.5% 6.5%

OUR LEADERSHIP

Iris S. Thurman serves as Chief Executive Officer of ECHO, leading the organization’s mission to empower neighbors in crisis through emergency assistance and pathways to long-term stability. With a passion for servant leadership and community impact, Iris is committed to strengthening partnerships, expanding ECHO’s reach, and creating sustainable solutions that help individuals and families thrive throughout Hillsborough County.

A native of Miami, Florida, Iris earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix. Her professional background includes nonprofit leadership, healthcare, fundraising, community engagement, and executive coaching.

Beyond her role at ECHO, Iris is an author, Certified Professional Life Coach, motivational speaker, and founder of IS Transformation Coaching and the I AM ME Movement. She is guided by the belief that “the most important legacy in life is the impact you have in the lives of others,” a philosophy that continues to shape her leadership and service to the community.

ECHO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tom Gallo | Chairman

Kelly Azzarelli | Secretary

Christine Peters | Treasurer