About the Foundation
Welcome to our foundation!
At Becoming Grace Foundation, our mission is to break barriers to freedom for women and children who have experienced abuse. Founded by Grace Bishara, a survivor and advocate, the foundation was born from a deep personal commitment to breaking the cycle of abuse and offering a lifeline to those in need.
We recognize that abuse takes many forms—physical, sexual, emotional, financial, and psychological—and that every survivor’s journey is unique. That’s why our programs are designed to address the immediate and long-term needs of those we serve. Through initiatives like Becoming Free: Survivor Support, we provide critical assistance, which can be financial or case support, to develop safety plans, referrals, and emotional support during a crisis. Meanwhile, the Becoming Whole: Healing & Education Workshops provide holistic wellness opportunities and education, allowing survivors to rebuild their confidence and community connections.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment where every individual can find the strength to move forward. Whether through direct assistance, community partnerships, or awareness campaigns, we strive to be a beacon of hope and empowerment for those navigating the darkness of abuse. Together, we can create lasting change and help survivors find their way to a brighter, more secure future
Grace Bishara – Founder & Board Member
With a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, Grace founded Becoming Grace Foundation to empower women and children after experiencing her own journey as a survivor. Her expertise in strategizing, fundraising, and volunteer management is the backbone of the foundation’s success.
From our Founder:
I believe that God is our lighthouse giving us the way forward through the storms of life! God gave me specific dreams over the past several years of helping women who were homeless, protecting children from sex trafficking and my father visiting me who had passed away telling me to "remember the number 313, its God's purpose for your life." On March 13th, 3/13, I received the approval for the 501c3 quicker than anyone has been known to be approved. I truly know we will make a big impact, step by step.
Join us in making a difference today!
Our Team.
Our Board of Directors & Volunteers at Becoming Grace Foundation is composed of passionate and experienced professionals who are deeply committed to our mission of empowering and uplifting survivors of abuse. Each board member brings unique expertise and personal dedication to guiding our organization’s vision and ensuring that we provide the best possible support to those in need. Their diverse backgrounds in nonprofit leadership, mental health, business, and community service reflect the broad scope of our work and the comprehensive care we aim to deliver.
Chris Cline –
Board President
Chris is a seasoned real estate professional with a commitment to serving the community. His expertise in housing and real estate development is instrumental in advocating safe and stable homes for the families we serve.
Rosa Hernandez
Board Member
Marketing & Partnerships Director
Rosa has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade specializing in leadership and communications. She is a survivor of domestic abuse from her childhood and wants to help others find a way out like she did.
Yvonne Bishara –
Board Member
Faith Partnerships Director
Retired Ministry Leader & President of Bishara Endowment Fund, Yvonne brings a wealth of experience in public service.
As a mother and grandmother, her passion for helping others is deeply rooted in her commitment to family and community support.
Jessica Ortiz –
Board Member
Workforce & Empowerment Director
With 20 years in HR across various industries, Jessica is currently HR Manager at Bank of America. With multiple life-coach certifications and over 200 volunteer hours logged annually, she brings a wealth of resources to her role here, eager to help those in need confidently embrace their next chapter.
Dwight Lavender – Board Member
Risk Management Director
With a diverse background in human resources, accounting, operations, and corporate law, Dwight brings extensive leadership experience to the foundation.
His commitment to community involvement and strategic development is key to our organizational growth and outreach efforts.
Laura Oropeza –
Board Member
Survivor Care & Volunteer Engagement Director
A survivor and thriver of abuse, Laura has led mission-driven projects with empathy and compassion. She has a heart for encouraging women & the power of sharing their story to bring comfort & healing to others. Her work in volunteer management and community support is vital to fostering the inner strength of women.
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Carolyn Cavalier, LPC –
Board Member Behavioral Health & Crisis Response Director
Carolyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief through a collaborative, evidence-based approach. Her experience in crisis intervention and primary care enhances our ability to address the mental health needs of survivors.
Eric James –
Board Member
Youth Leadership & School Partners Director
Eric is a personal trainer and motivational speaker who has worked extensively with leadership education for at risk children. With his expertise it will enable us to develop preventative & leadership education for youth.
With a background in education, sports, and personal childhood experience, his focus on physical wellness and recovery helps survivors rebuild their strength and confidence.
Rhyan Brandt –
Board Member
Data & Operations Director
Rhyan brings extensive expertise in nonprofit CRM systems and Salesforce integration. His focus on data accuracy, compliance, and donor engagement helps streamline our operations and maximize our impact. He has assisted with developing our salesforce for case management and donor relations.
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Emma Cline–
Volunteer Team
Creative Design
Emma Cline specializes in UX design, website development, and branding. She brings a creative and user-focused approach to our digital presence, ensuring our mission is visually impactful across web and social media platforms.
Workshop Facilitators
Brianna –
Somatic Workshop Instructor with HummingBody LLC
Brianna is a survivor, certified social work and somatic practitioner.
She assists BGF with conducting group somatic workshops where she leads different Somatic Techniques to help survivors move stored trauma from the body and learn grounding techniques.
Contact
We are always looking for new and exciting opportunities. to partner! Let's connect.