The Friendship Place Community Congratulates Jean-Michel!
Hear what people are saying about the Exponent Award going to our Executive Director...

"Jean Michel,

Congratulations on the very much deserved Exponent Award.  I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor.  You have made such an incredible difference at Friendship Place.  Your convictions, knowledge and skills have resulted in a renewed organization that has a laser-like focus on solutions.  Your smart and creative work – and that of your staff – have made Friendship Place an organization that all of us on the board, in the neighborhood, and in the city can be proud of.  You have made the organization a leader in the city, bringing others along behind you.  

Thank you so much for all your hard and persistent work and congratulations on your success.  Our organization, and all of us – housed and otherwise – who live in the neighborhood (and now the city) are awfully lucky that you came to Friendship Place."
Nan Roman, President and CEO of National Alliance to End Homelessness

“Jean-Michel is well deserving of the Meyer Foundation’s award. His leadership and compassion in the provision of services to those who experience homelessness in our community – from street outreach to permanent housing – are enhancing the capacity of the entire DC provider community to offer services that work effectively to end homelessness.”
Laura Zeilinger, Deputy Director for Program Operations, D.C. Department of Human Services

 
“Jean-Michel has a done a wonderful job of creating a culture at Friendship Place that’s entirely committed to putting the clients first. He’s been deeply engaged in our collective policy-making at the DC level through his role on the Interagency Council on Homelessness; he’s great about stepping forward and speaking for all people who are homeless in DC.”
Scott McNeilly, Staff Attorney at Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and Chair of the Steering Committee of DC’s Interagency Council on Homelessness.

“Jean-Michel brings good leadership to the organization, because he brings a human touch to it. He really listens to the consumers with an open ear, so that Friendship Place can go forth and be a better place. He really wants the programs to work well.”
George Siletti, president of the Friendship Place Consumer Council.

"Jean-Michel is a talented leader, a valuable authority on how to be effective in helping people recover from serious challenges, and a person of deep humanity."
Mike Durst, Co-President of the Board of Friendship Place


“I’ve been on the board of Friendship Place since 1991 when it was founded by volunteers meeting in homes and churches. From my perspective, the advances that the organization has made since Jean-Michel Giraud assumed the position of executive director four years ago are astounding. He has professionalized our internal operations, stabilized our finances, instituted best practices in all service areas, overseen unprecedented growth and become a tireless and effective advocate, not only for those we serve, but for all the homeless residents of D.C.”
June Kress, Co-President of the Board of Friendship Place

Read more about the Exponent Award...