Staff 

Ron Chase, Executive Director (email Ron)

Ron Chase has been Executive Director of Sponsors since January, 1988. Ron was born in New York City, and after completing military service in Vietnam in 1967, returned to New York where he received his BA in sociology at New York University in 1971.While attending college, Ron worked for Addiction Services Agency and later the Manpower and Career Development Agency, two of New York’s many anti-poverty agencies.

Since arriving in Eugene, Oregon in April, 1972 and in addition to his work at Sponsors, Ron has been active in a number of local groups and organizations besides Sponsors. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Public Defender Services of Lane County, the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC), and is the public member of the Oregon State Bar Legal Services Committee.

Since he was hired as Executive Director, he has led the effort to develop the employment, education, and housing resources needed by ex-prisoners to make a successful transition back to the community. From a drop-in center which distributed food boxes and clothing and provided crisis counseling, Sponsors has evolved into a full-service transition program housing over 300 men and women released from Oregon prisons to Lane County each year.

Ron has a strong commitment to rehabilitation and a belief in the ability of people to change given a decent opportunity. He looks at that change as not only benefitting ex-prisoners, but also the community they share with us. He looks forward to the day when the number of people incarcerated has declined to the point that programs like Sponsors are no longer needed.

Jean Daugherty, Director of Women's Services (email Jean)

Jean Daugherty, MSW, is the Director of Women’s Services for Sponsors Inc.  She has helped to expand the women’s program from 5 to 19 beds over the past ten years.  She developed a drop in center for women working the street in 1999 to 2000 and is still active in the community addressing the needs of women with prostitution issues.  She also co-conducted a research project investigating the possible connection between domestic violence and women in the criminal justice system.  To keep her spirit renewed, Jean spends her weekends at the local raptor center assisting with the rehabilitation of injured birds and glove training permanently injured owls & falcons for education.    

Paul Solomon, Director of Men's Services; Director of Development (email Paul)

Paul Solomon, BS, has been working for Sponsors since 2001. As Director of Men’s Services he oversaw Sponsors men’s programs in addition to working with and advocating for, Sponsors most stigmatized sub-population; clients with mental illness, physical and cognitive challenges, and histories of lengthy incarceration. He also doubles as the Information Technology Specialist for the agency while balancing the joys and responsibilities of co-parenting four fabulous children. In August of 2007 Paul agreed to become Sponsors Interim Director of Development where he will work to complete Sponsors ambitious capital expansion plans and the agency's vision for the future.

With an extensive background in accounting and social services, Paul also brings an awareness of the inherent problems within the criminal justice system. Paul serves as president on the board of directors for the Partnership for Safety and Justice.  Paul also serves on the boards of the Safety and Justice Action Fund, the Emerald Valley Development Professionals, and is a citizen member of Lane County's Public Safety Coordinating Council.  Additionally, Paul serves on the national steering committee for the Inside/Out Prison Exchange Program and is on a work group for the Governors Reentry Council.  Paul is dedicated to creating positive systemic change; promoting public safety while fostering ex-offender access to rehabilitation, education and re-entry opportunities.  

Joseph Ches, Office Manager (email Joseph) 

Joseph Ches has worked for Sponsors for eight years as our office support person. Joseph also handles the physical donations to Sponsors, the clothes, household goods, tolietries, and appliances our clients need both in the program and when they leave to live on their own.

If you would like to donate new or used men's and women's clothing, bedding, tolietries, kitchen appliances, furniture or other household goods, email Joseph or call M-F 8:30-4:30 p.m. 485-8341. We even will pick up you donation.

Sponsors Staff Gordon Scott, Case Manager (Lincoln St); Tony Meyer, Case Manager and Workforce Developer (Lincoln St); Garvar Brummett, Case Manager (Willamette St); Cheryl MacGinitie, Case Manager (Women's Program); Cleve Hadnott, Resident Manager (Lawrence St); Jerrid Wolflick, Resident Manager (Lincoln St); Jamie Peterson, Resident Manager (Willamette St); Nelda Daugherty, Resident Manager (Women's Program); Trina Renfrow, Relief Resident Manager (Women's Program); and Chris Swires, Executive Assistant.