Meet Our New Board Member, Dani Chen
What would you like the SFFP community to know about you?
Hello! I’m Dani Chen, a native New Yorker who believes that monumental change starts with stretching out a hand for someone in need. In my career, before I transitioned to financial services, I aided the most vulnerable New Yorkers to make everyone feel welcome and treated with dignity and respect. Through outreach at homeless shelters across NYC and the residents at our nursing home, I was able to witness the transformative power of being enveloped in a nonjudgmental community amongst others sharing a diagnosis. Our clients would gather for field trips, groups, art therapy, adult day health programs, or a hot meal in the resident cafeteria. Seeing someone’s world opening up to limitless possibilities upon finding acceptance impacted me. I am excited to see St. Francis developing further upon this model and rolling it out across more residences.
What motivates you to dedicate your time to helping others?
From a young age, I have taken on the role of advocate in one way or another. I joined American Humanics, found an APO chapter, and worked at the American Red Cross, FEGS, and FQHC. These experiences kept me drawn toward mission-driven work. When we care for clients, whether they are HIV+, sex workers, runaway teens, transgender, migrant workers, recently incarcerated, homeless, or struggling with substance use, I feel honored when I can make a difference in the lives of others. This commitment to compassion and care for all has driven me as I navigate opportunities.
How has your career led you to join our board, if at all?
Earlier in my career, I worked to mitigate barriers to care associated with social determinants of health. I implemented trauma-informed care interventions, worked on clinical quality improvement projects, and oversaw marketing campaigns to reach disenfranchised populations. Nowadays, I take on pro bono consulting work with nonprofits, but I wanted to do something more long-term. Board service at SFFP feels like the perfect pairing of applying my prior background and being able to make a lasting impact.
What part of SFFP do you connect to the most?
I feel a connection to SFFP through the clients we serve. It can be a fight every day to achieve stability when facing mental health challenges and lacking the safe space to recover. Having a secure place to live, a reliable family member, a trusted confidant, or a consistent, friendly face is immeasurably valuable. Support is life-changing when stability is not guaranteed with each rise of the sun. It is commendable that SFFP steps into that support role to provide shelter and be there with Meds, Moods, and Money each morning, no matter how someone is doing that day. This is a chance to offer everyone a life-changing start each day.
What are you most looking forward to learning about SFFP?
I enjoy the tenant stories because each tenant's journey has spoken to the great work done at SFFP. But I believe SFFP has an even brighter future as we discover how far we can go. SFFP is at such a crossroads in its story. It has been an inspiring 40 years of organic growth at SFFP, powered by people passionate about making each day better than the last.
I look forward to supercharging that growth alongside the current SFFP family and helping SFFP reach new heights in the coming year!