Shelter Providers Of Orange County Inc

MANAGEMENT

CEO/Executive Director

Gina Cunningham

CEO/Executive Director Experience

Gina Cunningham leads with passion and persistence, driven by one goal: ensuring that every person is cared for. Gina’s commitment to caring for others began at a young age when she was a volunteer at the YMCA Summer and Day Camp programs. She spent 30 years of her life serving at the camp in various roles. The values she learned at camp are the same values she applies to her daily life– caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Her professional career began in the 1980s, starting at the Taco Bell Corporation. She was a part of the Architecture and Engineering Department, where she had the opportunity to learn the critical components of construction and development. Gina is proud to have been a part of the team that rebuilt a Taco Bell restaurant in just 48 hours after it was burned down in the LA riots. In 1997, Gina came across her dream job - one that was centered around service to others but had roots in homebuilding and construction. This dream job, of course, was with HomeAid. After being hired for the role of Executive Assistant by the founding Executive Director of HomeAid, Gina worked diligently to learn as much as she could and connect with as many people as she could, sharing the importance and significance of HomeAid’s mission. Through her driven work ethic, Gina worked her way up the ranks, becoming HomeAid’s Chief Development Officer in the early 2000s. During her time as CDO, Gina was responsible for fundraising millions of dollars to support HomeAid’s mission. She also played a critical role in engaging thousands of people in the community in HomeAid’s community engagement efforts. Finally, in October of 2019, Gina was chosen by HomeAid’s Board leadership to serve as HomeAid Orange County’s new Executive Director. Immediately upon stepping into the position, Gina was tasked with leading the renovation of the 70,000-square-foot Yale Navigation Center: a first-of-its-kind emergency shelter for adults experiencing homelessness in the County of Orange. With a very tight timeline and a firm budget, Gina led the HomeAid team to complete the project in just one year. The pandemic made Yale Navigation Center even more critically needed. So, Gina stepped up to the plate and led the team on an expedited timeline, welcoming its first resident into the facility in December 2020. Gina's dedication to community-wide efforts to end homelessness has motivated her to take up leadership positions on the United to End Homelessness Council, in addition to the City of Orange Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Beginning in 2024, Gina is serving on the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness. Lending an open hand to those in need takes courage. Gina is proud to be driven by that sense of courage and responsibility to care for others. She firmly believes that housing is a human right and that building enough affordable housing truly will resolve the crisis of homelessness. Gina is an Orange County native, born and raised in the City of Orange. She currently resides in the Floral Park area of Santa Ana. Gina is an Orange Chamber of Commerce Board Member, as well as a member of the Orange Elks Lodge #1475. Gina enjoys golfing, traveling, live music, sporting events, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.

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