House of Refuge, Inc welcomes new leadership team
MESA, AZ — House of Refuge, Inc. welcomed two new officers to its leadership team to lead its fundraising efforts and programming for families.
Annette Sellers was named Chief Development Officer and will oversee a team dedicated to all fundraising efforts for the Mesa-based nonprofit organization which include securing in-kind donations, annual gifts, endowments and grant opportunities. Sellers will also oversee volunteer programming and the House of Refuge Donation Center. Sellers brings nearly 20 years of development experience to her new role, most recently at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce where she spent over 11 years as Vice President of Member Services.
House of Refuge also announced Sofia Spanarkel as the new Chief Programs Officer. Spanarkel has over 15 years of working in human services, specializing in providing Trauma Informed Care to individuals. Prior to her arrival at House of Refuge, Spanarkel was the Associate Director of Programs at Sojourner Center, a domestic violence shelter in Phoenix. Spanarkel will be responsible for all programming delivered to House of Refuge families including case management, employment counseling, educational services and special programming for children.
Both Sellers and Spanarkel join an organization under the leadership of Kayla Kolar. Kolar was named president and CEO of House of Refuge in January 2021 after serving 15 years as president and CEO of HD South in Gilbert.
About House of Refuge, Inc.
House of Refuge provides transitional housing and social services to Arizona families that are experiencing homelessness. Working with staff and nonprofit partners, participants work towards self-sufficiency while having a safe, dignified place for them and their families to live. The House of Refuge campus, situated on 20 acres in Southeast Mesa, maintains 80 two-bedroom single family homes. Over its 25-year history, House of Refuge has created a healthy and safe neighborhood environment through partnerships with state, county, and local governments, the local community, and our faith-based partners and supporters.
