Our Family

In 2012, The Rev. Dr. John Forney and his two sons, Jonathan and Christopher, founded Forney Charities, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Their overarching goal is to improve communities as a whole by helping its residents, one person at a time. Over time, our mission and team “Family” has grown to include brilliant individuals that share the “Forney Family Vision.”

John
While Forney Charities, was chartered in California, the Forney Family has deep roots in West Virginia. The Forneys first settled in the vicinity of Bethany in1804. The Forney Farm (1804) is still in the family and will sponsor its third annual Wounded Warrior event in August, 2019. Dr. Daniel C. Forney is an alum of Bethany College and his father, Jonathan Buchannan Forney, taught there.

Jai
The teacher, the caretaker, the “GLUE” .

Christopher
Is a Doctoral candidate at Yale University, presently working on his dissertation in medieval history. He first proposed the idea of Forney Charities being part of the solution to the opioid crisis in West Virginia. He presently, in his spare times, assists with the editing of materials for the House of Hope.

Christopher expects to be in Morocco this coming year, preparing the English translation of a six hundred year-old manuscript concerning the expulsion of Muslims from Spain and their migration to Morocco.

Barbara
Barbara Ann Kimball is a member of St. Francis Episcopal Mission, and the House of Hope – San Bernardino planning team. For six years she was the church secretary, before she resigned to become a teacher and later an elementary school vice-principal. Barbara worked for the San Bernardino City Unified School District for 30 years. She has two adult children and five grandsons.

Alexis

Alexis Forney is currently a Software Engineer at JPMorgan Chase where she blends her background in the arts with her passion for technology. Her journey from studying Art History at Binghamton University to delving into the world of tech in the Grace Hopper Program at Fullstack Academy showcases her dedication to continuous learning and growth.

At CollabraLink, she contributed to enhancing data management systems for federal healthcare programs. Beyond her technical vocation, Alexis is passionate about fostering diversity in technology. She is helping to empower the next generation as a tech instructor with America on Tech and as a mentor with CodePath.org, teaching and guiding diverse and low-income students with technological expertise.

Influenced by tech leaders like Timnit Gebru, Alexis is dedicated to making technology accessible and inclusive. Her commitment extends beyond her professional life into her volunteer work and personal hobbies, which include reading, board games, and outdoor sports.

As a board member, Alexis brings not only her technical expertise but also her fervent belief in technology as a tool for social good and empowerment.

Scott

Scott Evenbeck joined CUNY in 2011 as Guttman Community College’s Founding President. He served as professor of psychology and founding dean of University College at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. He joined the psychology faculty there after completing his Masters’ and Doctorate in Social Psychology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Indiana University at Bloomington.

Scott has long been involved in designing, implementing and assessing programs for students in their first years of university study. He played a major role in various initiatives to support student achievement in Indiana, including efforts to keep students in college. He has given more than 100 presentations on serving students as they enter college, and he has written many articles and chapters on academic achievement and persistence. Scott was a task force advisor for the Foundations of Excellence in the First

College Year and a board member of the American Conference of Academic

Deans.

He has been a resource faculty member at the Summer Quality Academy of the Institute  for Higher Education Policy and for the General Education and Assessment Institute of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. He served on the advisory board for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, and as a faculty member for the Learning Community Institute of the Washington Center for Undergraduate Education. The National Learning Community conference recognized  him with the lifetime achievement award. He has been on accreditation teams for three regional associations, focusing on general education, assessment and programs for entering students.