By offering paid work, social services and transitional housing, Ms. McDonald has empowered people to achieve economic self-sufficiency and true independence.
NEW YORK, NY, September 27, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ — Harriet Karr McDonald has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
When she was hired to write a screenplay about a young homeless girl living in Grand Central Terminal, Ms. McDonald was introduced to an individual by the name of April. After spending a week with April and learning about her difficult life circumstances, they developed a connection. April was very talented and intelligent, but struggled with a vicious drug addiction. Ms. McDonald wanted to help her, and even made plans to adopt her and relocate her to California. Tragically, April died by suicide before these things could happen.
At April’s funeral, Ms. McDonald met an advocate for people experiencing homelessness, whom she later married. Together, they co-founded The Doe Fund. The couple acquired a contract with the city to hire homeless men and renovate a building to provide them with shelter. Initially working with 70 homeless men, Ms. McDonald and her husband grew the program to include paid work, transitional housing and comprehensive social services to help people overcome addiction and take control of their lives.
As president of The Doe Fund, Ms. McDonald has helped nearly 28,000 people in New York over the past 30 years. She is proud to have designed and implemented solutions for some of America’s most challenging social problems. By offering paid work, social services and transitional housing, Ms. McDonald has empowered people to achieve economic self-sufficiency and true independence. She notes that it is key not to look at homeless people as a monolithic group, but as individuals with human potential, capable of becoming contributing members of society.
Ms. McDonald has attributed her professional success to her vision and tenacity. Looking toward the future, she plans to scale the Work Works model nationally to address homelessness, recidivism and racial and economic injustice. Additionally, Ms. McDonald plans to continuously adapt to the changing economy and provide better chances for those in need by implementing skilled-trade training courses that lead to higher-paying jobs. She also plans to continue teaching others that if you open your heart and recognize the potential in every human being, you can help solve homelessness.
EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS
Notably, Ms. McDonald holds an honorary degree in humanities from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
About Marquis Who’s Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who’s Who titles, including Who’s Who in America®, Who’s Who in the World®, Who’s Who in American Law®, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who’s Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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