Praying for Pennies, Inc.

Beverly Simmons was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Lake View Terrace, California. She always volunteered from the young age of 5 until the present. At 11 years old, she stocked snacks at the local baseball fields. She was involved in walk-a-thons, parades, plays, sports events, and services, hoping to shed light on desolate communities. She graduated from San Fernando High School in 1981 and worked for a finance company for 4 years. She transferred to a new Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley, CA, and became their first Girl’s, Program Director. She enjoyed teaching dance, cooking, and leading a dance group called “Krazy Girls,” which toured with the Los Angeles radio station 1580 KDAY. Beverly entered the Air Force in 1988 as a logistics technician but never let go of her passion for helping people. In Panama, she dug trenches where no running water existed and led many military Christmas Campaigns for children to receive toys, desks, school supplies, and more. 
She was hand selected as the Noncommissioned Officer in charge in Surinam, South America, because of her compassion for aide people. In 2009, she cross-trained to become a Paralegal. In 2010 Beverly retired from the Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. She served 22 years of honorable and faithful service. Although she is a 100% disabled Veteran, she will not let this stop her! 
In 2010, God whispered in her ear and said, “Praying for Pennies,” this idea will one day feed the needy and shelter the poor. Beverly accepted this God-given assignment knowing one day it would be around the world serving the small, the big, the little, and the great alike because all are God’s people. She desires to do God’s will.  

Shellie Purnell-Brown is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with over 20 years of internal auditing and financial analysis experience.  She graduated from Seton Hall University with a B.S. in Accounting.  She spent the majority of her career in the private sector and worked in various industries including telecommunications, manufacturing, and retail.  Shellie previously served as the Treasurer for the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) DC Chapter, which is a national professional non-profit organization, for three years before moving to the Board of Governors.  She currently sits on the Board of Governors Audit and Financial Review Committee. She also previously served on the Board of Directors for Collingbrook Homeowners Association, Inc., as the Treasurer until  she moved from the development. She humbly accepted her nomination as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Praying for Pennies.  Shellie loves to travel, enjoys dancing, and is a proud member of not one but two book clubs.

Phillip Parson was born and grew up in Tidewater, Virginia.  He was always told (even from a young age) that he would one day have a major impact on the world.  Although at such a young age, he had no idea of exactly what that meant or exactly what that meant; he knew that it had to be true as he continued to hear those sentiments throughout his adulthood.  He maintained a journal of every one of his ideas that could possibly have major impact on the world which he still maintains to this day.  He graduated from Nansemond River High School in 2001 and subsequently graduated from Tidewater Community College in 2005.  He immediately went to work for the shipbuilding industry in 2005 as his college tuition was covered via a co-op program offered by local employers in the Tidewater area.  He continued to both work and pursue higher education as his employer (at the time) offered a college reimbursement program which is how he was able to receive his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology in 2016 from Old Dominion University. gTo this very day he contemplates returning to the University, however his desire to fulfill his life’s purpose outweighs his desire to continue along that path.  Phillip learned to invest as a child as his mother began to give him stocks as birthday gifts at an early age. He learned to apply those skills to his employer’s 401K programs as he grew older.  At this point in time Phillip considers himself a creative investor with strategies in both the stock market and in the market of crypto currency.  He feels that any opportunity to increase one’s wealth as an opportunity that should be considered when looking at ways/areas to place one’s money for a better tomorrow. He also strongly believes that a wise man plans for his children’s children.  With this in mind, he is always looking for ways to outpace inflation with the ultimate goal of living off of interest rather than income.  Throughout this journey he is looking to teach others how to ultimately achieve this as well.

Darlene is an Army veteran, licensed minister and the founder of HBH Recovery, ( HBH Recovery ), a Grief Recovery coaching program. She was born at Fort Knox, Kentucky but grew up in Detroit, MI.  When she graduated from high school, she followed in her father’s footsteps and joined the United States Army.  Darlene traveled the world and across the United States for 20 years until she retired.  After retirement, she worked in Non-profit organizations, corporate organizations and now for the government in the US Senate. She has over 40 years of administrative and organizational experience. Darlene has a heart to minister to young women, children and those in need.  She believes she can utilize her administrative skills to assist Praying for Pennies in developing a good foundational structure and in building an organization that will leave a legacy of impacting the world for Jesus Christ.

Patricia is a native Washingtonian born and raised in Washington, DC.  She became a Christian in the summer of 1993 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden under the leadership of Pastor John K. Jenkins.  She feels blessed from learning and practicing discipleship traits taught at this amazing church.  Patricia is glad she met and became dear friends with the founder Praying for Pennies, Beverly Simmons.  Patricia has participated in many ministry projects over the past 25 years utilizing her God given gift of photography and in some rare cases, acting.  She maintains faith knowing the love of God has caused her persevere in life no matter the storm or blessing.  Therefore, she’s truly inspired to help and serve others as a board member on the Praying for Pennies committee.  She believes her services can be greatly used to help feed the poor, guide in vocational training and promote healthy life style changes for all who will be blessed by Praying for Pennies.  Patricia loves promoting God’s Kingdom and she looks forward to applying her unique photography gifts to effectively produce memories that will last a lifetime.