About Hadassah's Hope
Hadassah means compassion. Our ministry is called Hadassah's Hope because of the compassion we hold for others and the HOPE we have in JESUS. We love because Jesus first loved us, and He told us that the world will know Him and will know we are on Team Jesus by OUR LOVE for one another.
We are a non-profit ministry to reach women who work in the adult entertainment industry. The goal is to offer friendship and love by sharing the hope we have in Jesus.
What if Jesus was serious when He identified you in Matthew 5 as the "light on the hill," the one who was meant to "go and be the light of the world?" What if he had a plan to deeply impact the lives of many women through you? Would you want to be part of his plan?
We believe that is exactly what He desires! We believe God wants to use us to meet the needs of women in Jacksonville with His love and connect with them in ways that allow you to build relationships, bring encouragement, speak life, and share the Gospel.
We are a non-profit ministry to reach women who work in the adult entertainment industry. The goal is to offer friendship and love by sharing the hope we have in Jesus.
What if Jesus was serious when He identified you in Matthew 5 as the "light on the hill," the one who was meant to "go and be the light of the world?" What if he had a plan to deeply impact the lives of many women through you? Would you want to be part of his plan?
We believe that is exactly what He desires! We believe God wants to use us to meet the needs of women in Jacksonville with His love and connect with them in ways that allow you to build relationships, bring encouragement, speak life, and share the Gospel.
Hadassah's Hope Founder and CEO, Tami Taunton
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Tami is a servant of God and a Jesus girl, who loves to help others realize that their past does not define them. Tami Taunton is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She has been married to Brad for 28 years and 2 adult daughters, Shelby and Isabella and a son in law, Chandler. Tami loves being outdoors and "salt therapy" at the beach. Tami believes in loving people where they are. Be real. Be authentic. Don't be weird. Point people to Jesus while equipping and empowering them to break generational curses for them and their children. God is clear in His word to tell us to GO MAKE DISCIPLES. Tami is passionate for women to know their identity is in Christ. He created them in His image for His glory and they were created on purpose for a purpose.
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Hadassah's Hope Board of Directors
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Suzanne Corey, Chairman of the Board
Suzanne is a strong believer that the love of Jesus is for all people. She has witnessed miracles through Jesus in her life and those around her and uses her experience and hardships to relate to others. She has been married to her husband Ryan for 13 years and enjoys mountain biking and spending time outdoors with her three German shepherds. She is the Vice President and Director of Accounting of an automotive company and enjoys problem-solving and getting things done! |
Tiffany Britts, Secretary
Tiffany doesn’t feel complete unless she is teaching others about God’s love and grace. She has been actively involved in local jail ministry and community outreach for the last 7 years. She is a branch VP at a local credit union and has been in the financial industry for over 14 years. Tiffany enjoys reading, teaching, and spending time with her family. She has been happily married for 9 years and has 3 beautiful children.” |
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Tawny Rountree
Tawny is a native of Florida, currently living in St. Augustine with her husband Nick of 36 years and her two sons, Cayman (22) and Terren (19). Tawny received her law degree from Georgia State University in 1992, where she practiced until moving back “home” to Florida in 2006. For more than 25 years, she has practiced primarily in the area of family law, including divorce, custody, support, alimony, domestic violence injunctions, etc. She thoroughly enjoys her career and helping her clients, but her primary passion is spending time with her family. She is an avid reader and loves the beach. |
Becca Perkins
Becca joined the Hadassah’s Hope Board in 2022 and is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Chair for the 2023 Hope for Her Gala. She lives in Jacksonville Beach with her husband Nate and her two kids, Beaux and Ellie. Becca received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida in 2018 and practices in the areas of healthcare, technology, and corporate law. Becca is currently working as corporate counsel for a local Jacksonville healthcare-tech company. In her free time Becca enjoys reading, playing board games, and spending time with her family. |
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Julie Terry
Julie is a pastor’s wife who is passionate about meeting people where they are, and walking with them into Jesus’ truth and love. She recently joined the Hadassah’s Hope Board, excited to play an active role in a ministry her church family loves and supports. She and her husband Zach have been married for twenty-three years, and they have three awesome teen-to-adult children. Besides being involved in ministry with her husband, Julie has also served as a wedding and portrait photographer for the past ten years, which has been a joy creatively and relationally. To recharge, she enjoys traveling with her family, running, and having coffee and conversations with friends!
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Brad Taunton
Brad Taunton grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated Florida State University in 1994. He met his wife, Tami Taunton, in high school, and they have two daughters, Shelby and Isabella and a son-in-law Chandler. Brad is a career investigator and served the local church as a bi-vocational pastor for 9 years. He is currently the President of Verity Investigations, and Fact Finding Ministry. He loves Jesus most of all and spends his free time outdoors and with family. When all three of those things happen at once, life is good.
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Adam Platt
Adam is one of the Pastors at Eleven22 and serves at the Ponte Vedra Campus. He and his wife Tiffany have been married for 5 years and have two wonderful daughters, Camila and Abigail. He is a Noles fan and loves playing golf, fishing, and being around people. As a member of the board he is excited to see how the Lord will work through Haddasah’s Hope. He is honored to be a part of the work of the ministry and the mission that it serves. His prayer is that the Lord would reach and restore women in the adult entertainment industry by sharing the HOPE and LOVE of Jesus.
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Lauren Spitznagle
Lauren grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. After practicing social work, Lauren graduated with her law degree in order to further her advocacy for women and children. Over the last decade, she has advocated for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. She loves art, traveling, cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers, spending time with her family and her lab Conway.
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Meet Our Team
Joani
Strategic Planning & Financial AdvisorJoani is passionate about women feeling seen and valued, and knowing that their identity is found in Christ. She manages operations, communications, and program development at Hadassah's Hope. She graduated from UF in Accounting and received her MBA from UNF. She has over 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, accounting, and research in both the non-profit and for-profit industries. She has led and written several Bible studies for women and teen girls over the years. She is married to Sam and at the tail end of her homeschool journey with two kids, Maddie a junior at UF and Jake a high school senior. She loves Jesus, coffee, college football, the Gators, and to learn new things. She can usually be found on long walks listening to a new book or podcast…with the frequent stop at a coffee shop.
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Shawn
Administrative AssistantShawn is a proud native of Jacksonville, and lover of people, dance, nature and Jesus. She is passionate about cultivating interpersonal relationships, encouraging and guiding others on their spiritual journeys. As an overcomer of homosexuality, depression, domestic violence and sexual abuse, Shawn is inspired to empower women with similar adversities to love themselves and be who God has called them to be. She has acquired years of experience working in public housing providing counsel to residents to encourage self-sufficiency and implementing curriculums and training programs for quality control. As the administrator for Hadassah's Hope, her goal is to ignite her God given gifts to assist the ministry with innovative ways to expand their outreach in the community
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Alycia
Outreach DirectorAlycia is a member of the Church of Eleven22 and is married to Jeff, who is a pastor and is in law enforcement. They have 2 adult children, as well as a boxer and bulldog. Alycia is a fitness and nutrition enthusiast and loves to encourage others in their individual fitness journeys. She loves reading, good coffee, hanging with friends, hiking in states with mountains and traveling.
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Morgan
Communications CoordinatorMorgan is a Jacksonville native. She enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and her daughter Sawyer doing almost anything outdoors related. She is a part of the cooking team with Hadassahs Hope. As our Communications Coordinator, Morgan uses her love for the Lord to openly communicate the love of God to others. Working for HH has been such an answer to her prayers in building a community of woman that help her too deepen not only her relationship with Jesus but to share that overflow with every person that walks through the door at Hope House.
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Lindsey
Event CoordinatorHi, my name is Lindsey! I am a lover of Jesus and People. I am a wife to my best friend, Nick who is a fireman and together we have 4 beautiful kids, 2 Bio and 2 adopted. Our house is always noisy and our door is often revolving with guests, just the way we like it. In my spare time, I love reading a good book, working on interior design projects, hosting in the home, going on dates with Nick, and playing with the kids outside. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be on staff with Hadassah's Hope and share the heart of the ministry.
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Krysta
Case ManagementKrysta Bishop is a Maryland native that has fallen in love with Florida sunshine and beaches. She enjoyed serving on our Outreach Team for almost 2 years and is currently the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at University Christian. As our Case Manager, Krysta uses her passion for empowering females of all ages by helping them see that their true identity is not reflected of their past but rather found in the value God has already placed on their life through the work on the cross. When she's not at the Hope House, Krysta enjoys spending time with her husband and their children. Our newest Case Manager believes Paul says it best in Galations 6:10, that as we have opportunity we must work for the good of all.
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Why Go Into Strip Clubs?
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This is a question we get - not a lot, to be honest, but enough that we wanted to share our heart and mission in case you get the same question as you faithfully support our ministry and these precious dancers. First and foremost, God calls us to love our neighbors and to be a light in a dark and deeply hurting world. Research suggests (and we have absolutely found) that many of the dancers in strip clubs are disproportionately hurting. So while, yes, for the most part they are there on their own free will to pay the bills, the path to get there was often paved with abandonment, abuse, trauma, lack of opportunities, addiction, homelessness, and more. It causes many to believe their identity is wrapped in these painful circumstances. And dancing further creates the identity narrative that their body and what they do with it defines their value and worth. But as Jesus followers, we know that He is the only one worthy to say who we are. He says that our identity is in Him...as beloved, valued, treasured, purposed, beautiful children of God. So this is the message we go to the clubs to share. We don’t go to shame them or try to get them to leave the clubs. Instead we go to serve them. We go to show them they are loved, seen, and they matter. We bring them a home-cooked meal or gift with no strings attached. We don’t go to preach but to BE the hands of feet of Jesus. We go to build relationships that can lead to discussions about their current needs and their hopes and dreams post-club we can help with...and most importantly discussions about THE ONE who forgives, redeems, restores, saves, and loves unconditionally. That’s why we go!
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