The Brighter Tomorrows Foundation announces the election of Melissa Hodge-Penn who will help lead the charge to increase philanthropy for behavioral healthcare and developmental disability services in DeKalb County, Georgia. During the last 10 years, public providers of behavioral healthcare and developmental disabilities services in Georgia have been under tremendous pressure to meet the growing demand for these services while facing millions of dollars in State and local funding cuts. Spurred by this lost funding, the Brighter Tomorrows Foundation, Inc. has increased its efforts to raise awareness and funding for these services in this community.

Melissa Hodge-Penn is a longtime resident of DeKalb County. Since 2006, she has been employed by the Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Adult Education. Previously, she worked for Georgia State University’s Senior Corps Programs and is a former employee of DeKalb Community Service Board. Melissa is active in several civic, community and professional organizations. She holds a master’s degree in Counseling/Human Relations from Liberty University and is a doctoral candidate for Public Administration for 2013. Melissa is married to Derex and together they have one daughter.

Ms. Hodge-Penn says, “I got involved with the Brighter Tomorrows Foundation to provide support for a cause that I believe impacts everyone's life in one way or another. Through the services offered by the DeKalb CSB, residents of DeKalb County are able to get the assistance needed to end addiction, live productive lives and be immersed into the community in ways that otherwise would not be attainable.” 

About the Brighter Tomorrows Foundation The Brighter Tomorrows Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in 2006 to support behavioral health and developmental disability services provided by the DeKalb Community Service Board (CSB). Each year, the DeKalb CSB provides more than 10,000 uninsured and underinsured adults and youth a full range of community-based public mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services. DeKalb CSB employs more than 500 staff, operates more than 20 locations and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). For more information about the Brighter Tomorrows Foundation and DeKalb CSB, visit www.btfdekalb.org or call 404-508-7875.