New executive director at Help & Hope Center
Eric Coronis took over leadership as executive director of Help & Hope Center in early January.
If you need help, there is hope.
That is the essence of the Help & Hope Center (H&H), which serves Douglas and Elbert counties. Visiting the nonprofit, you will find food, clothing, emergency financial help and other resources you and your family might need during financial crisis or challenging times. H&H is home to client services, Mela’s Pantry and Treasures Thriftique, right in the heart of Castle Rock on Park Street.
Eric Coronis is the new executive director of H&H in what he described as a dream job. “Transitioning from volunteer work to the executive director role was both surreal and profoundly humbling. One day I was stocking shelves, listening to the stories of neighbors in need, and contributing my small part to the mission. The next, I found myself responsible for guiding that mission forward.”
Eric is no stranger to what it takes to lead. He studied business and human resources and organizational management at CU Boulder, which prepared him for his career in human resources with Fortune 50 companies like Boeing, US West and Walmart.
For more than eight years, Eric volunteered at H&H, learning firsthand insight into the mission, the people who are behind it and the community H&H serves. Eric explained, “I already knew the heart of the organization, its staff, the volunteers, its clients, its rhythm of service—but leadership revealed it from a whole new vantage point. Every challenge became more significant, every decision more personal.”
Eric said he does not take his new role lightly and there are real challenges: the need for H&H services is growing at nearly twice the rate of population growth in Douglas and Elbert counties. “We are rapidly outgrowing our current facility,” Eric shared.
Eric has lived in Colorado for 40 years and in Castle Rock for 30 of those years. His wife, Vicki, works for the Douglas County School District. They are proud parents of Holden and Devan, both graduates of Douglas County high schools. The family lives near downtown Castle Rock with their two Maltese pups, Piper and Zoe and they are all huge hockey fans. In fact, Eric still plays.
For more information, visit helpandhopecenter.org.
Help &Hope volunteers Eric Coronis and Janessa Runyan having some fun at Treasures Thriftique before taking this tandem bike out for spin in the parking lot.
Eric Coronis and his sons, Holden (middle) and Devan (right), at a Colorado Avalanche game.
Vicki and Eric Coronis at their home in Castle Rock with their two dogs, Piper and Zoe.
By Karen Leigh; photos courtesy of Eric Coronis
