Why is it called Visitation House?
‘The Visitation’ refers to Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth’s home in the hillside. Mary had just discovered her pregnancy by the Holy Spirit and learned of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, who was considered too old to conceive. Mary and Elizabeth shared great joy over their pregnancies, despite the challenges they faced.
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Luke 1:41-42
Visitation House vows to be part of the solution.
Visitation House Inc., a nonprofit organization in DeLand, FL, was founded in 2007 by members of St. Peters Catholic Church. In 2015, we became a free-standing 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides a safe, secure, and caring environment for pregnant women in crisis and prepares them for self-sufficiency.
We operate a small, private residential living facility in West Volusia County that can house nine women concurrently. We accept women without regard to race, nationality, or religion.
Our three-phased program attempts to break the cycle by allowing residents to continue their education, learn vital parenting and life skills, and pursue employment. Ninety-three percent of women leaving Visitation House are gainfully employed and self-sufficient heads of households.
Our Leadership Board
An independent volunteer Board of Directors leads Visitation House, Inc. and employs a small staff in a private residential setting in western Volusia County. Our board members support Visitation House through governance, strategic planning, managing our annual budget, applicant screening, resident coaching, training, and mentoring, transportation to medical appointments and job interviews, coordinating volunteers, creating community awareness and outreach, grant writing, and fundraising.
We would love to tell you more about our program! Please let us know if we can speak with your organization.
Erin Kappiris, President
Erin Kappiris grew up in Queens, New York and moved to Florida as a teenager. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University with degree in Business Administration. Erin is married to Stan and they have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. She has held management and finance positions in the healthcare, education, and technology fields, and most recently served as the Finance Controller for the company that operates SunRail.
Erin is a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Daytona Beach and has volunteered for Visitation House for 5 years.
Rae Brammer-Wilson
Rae Brammer-Wilson is a retired Licensed Mental Health Professional with a graduate degree from Rollins College. Rae grew up in Iowa and lived in many places including Germany, where she met her Army Colonel husband of 26 years. Together they have seven children, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Besides being a family therapist with the Army, Rae was previously the Clinical Director of Harbor House of Orlando, a certified Men’s Domestic Violence group leader in Orlando, Germany, and Augusta GA, and a private therapist.
Jennifer Thompson-Truglia, Vice President
Jennifer Thompson-Truglia is a Florida native with three daughters, three grandsons and a granddaughter. Jen currently invests in properties that she actively manages and maintains. The property business has allowed Jen the flexibility to follow her passion, giving back to the community and sharing real-world advice in the hopes of changing the lives of women.
Jen served in various volunteer roles for approximately six years and served on the Board of Directors at the Pregnancy Crisis Center in Daytona Beach. She worked with underprivileged women in the early stages of pregnancy to assist them in finding resources, referrals for social services and medical care.
Jen joined the Visitation House in early 2019 as a mentor and soon after was invited to serve on the board of directors.
Maryalice Hopkins
Maryalice Hopkins was born and raised in Sayre, Pennsylvania. She attended Misericordia University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
Following graduation, Maryalice moved to Baltimore, Maryland where her two girls were born and raised. Maryalice worked in Maternal-Child Nursing and Women’s Health for 39 years. Retiring in 2016, she and her husband Bob moved to Florida to be closer to family, including their grandson, James.
Maryalice is an active member of St. Peter’s Church and the Catholic Council of Women. She is also active in the Victoria Gardens community and the Victoria Gardens Women’s Club. Maryalice has been a volunteer at Visitation House for six years and a Board Member for five.
Amy Wooley
Amy Wooley grew up in Milton, Florida, and has spent her adult life in Central Florida. She has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Auburn University and an MBA from UCF. Amy, along with her husband Eric, are raising two boys, ages 8 and 14. Prior to starting a family, Amy worked full-time as a transportation drainage engineer for a private consulting company. She now works part time at her own engineering consulting business allowing her the flexibility to volunteer. At St. Peter Catholic School, she serves as Junior Achievement Coordinator, home room parent, and gala auction chair. For the past ten years, she has served as treasurer for Helpers of People Enslaved ( HOPE) spreading awareness of the dangers of human trafficking and raising money to support survivors. Amy has volunteered for Visitation House for over ten years where she currently leads a weekly bible study and teaches residents about budgeting and finances.
Jacquelyn Mosness, Treasurer
Jacquelyn (Jackie) Mosness was born in Lowell Massachusetts into an Air Force family and lived in several US cities. She graduated from Daytona State with an A.S. degree in Radio and Television Communications and Journalism. Jackie married early but raised two children as a single parent. Jackie ran a successful home daycare program and taught preschool for many years, earning an Early Childhood Education certificate. She also worked in office administration for a local OB-GYN office.
Jackie and her husband Brook have been married for 11 years, are active members of St. Peter Catholic church and have three beautiful granddaughters.
Jackie has volunteered for Visitation House for more than 10 years, starting as a mentor and joining the board of directors. Jackie served as President from 2019-2023.
Maribeth Embras
Maribeth Embras is the oldest of seven children and grew up in several states including Delaware, where she lived for 45 years. She earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Early Childhood Education and taught Kindergarten for 25 years. Maribeth and her husband Joe adopted a child from Catholic Charities. Maribeth is an active member of St. Peter Catholic Church and has been volunteering with Visitation House for six years.
Ishykeya Barr, Resident Director
Ishykeya was born in New Jersey and has lived in DeLand for four years. She is the mother of three boys and two girls, ages 10 to 24. She has business administration and criminal justice degrees from Daytona State College as well as Mental Health and CNA certifications. She has served as the Resident Director for Visitation House since the end of 2023. Her favorite part of working at Visitation House is seeing the residents blossom and overcome obstacles.
Our Supporters
Visitation House Inc.
PO Box 25 | DeLand, FL 32721
(386) 822-6014
admin@VisitationHouseDeLand.org
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll free (800-435-7352) within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State. Registration Number: CH49431