Tamara Chant named Safe Haven's new executive director

MILFORD — Tamara Chant has been named the new Executive Director of Safe Haven of Pike County.
"She was unanimously chosen by Safe Haven’s Board of Directors as the visionary to build on Safe Haven’s New Beginning platform, designed to create an even stronger agency to serve the needs of Pike County," said a statement from Safe Haven, whose mission is to is to eradicate domestic violence, sexual assault and other serious crimes through prevention, empowerment and the promotion of social justice."
The former executive director was Elisabeth C. Heij, who was named in March.
The statement about Chant continued: "While there is a misconception in the community that the agency is closed, the reality is it is rebuilding. Our clients are currently being serviced by sister agencies as the Board of Safe Haven, along with the new Executive Director, rebuild and restructure the agency to meet the critical needs of Pike County. As Socrates once said, 'The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new.'"
Chant says she's excited to join Safe Haven.
“There is great hope here," she said. "We will offer a listening ear, and active encouragement for each client along with a safe place for those in need to lay their head, so that everyone can envisage their new beginnings.”
'A high level of expertise'Chant is a native of Milford and the daughter of Davis Chant, a businessman and philanthropist. For the past 31 years she has lived in Europe and the Middle East, recently returning to Milford to join her children and parents. She is a graduate of Delaware Valley High School and Smith College graduate.
"Tamara brings a high level of commercial and non-profit expertise to Safe Haven as well as a personal connection to the community," the announcement stated.
After winning a scholarship to New York University and attaining a certification in fundraising, she shifted her focus to nonprofit organizations, including Nepali women and girls, focusing on the need for education to escape poverty. In her Paris community, she worked with women’s urgency centers and Global Potential, a youth empowerment organization that brings mentoring to Paris’ most disenfranchised youth. Since 2012, she has been on the Board of Directors of Nepal Orphans Home, a not-for-profit agency.
Board officers namedIn addition, the Safe Haven Board has unanimously elected board member Valerie Seitz O’Hare as its new president, replacing veteran Board member, Karen Kontizas, who resigned due to a family illness.
The Board expresses its gratitude to Kontizas for her extraordinary contribution to the agency.
O'Hare says she is highly committed to the success of Safe Haven and am looking forward to a new beginning with our new Executive Director. Together, with the help of our highly dedicated board, I believe that we can promote community awareness, prevention and education to the people of Pike County.”
Allison Taylor has been named Vice President. Brian O’Hare continues as Board Treasurer.
If you need immediate assistance please call VIP at 570-253-4401 or Women's Resources at 570-421-4200. Thank you for your continued support during this transition period.
Editor's note: Tamara Chant brought the documentary “What It Takes to Be Extraordinary” to the Black Bear Film Festival. For more about this contribution see the story "Films with the power to transform lives shown at Black Bear": http://bit.ly/2een1Ky.