Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel and Tiffany Holmes.
Hi Daniel and Tiffany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From the moment we met, we discovered that we shared a similar goal: discovering other people’s passions and helping them find the tools they need to succeed. Originally with our love of event planning and charitable work, we wanted to open different food service establishments (cafes, bakeries, etc.) and donate proceeds to various charities. As we started researching organizations, we realized there was a large issue when it came to employment for people with disabilities. So, we thought, what if instead of just donating money, we worked to help solve the bigger issue? From that moment on, we decided to use the things we love to help others find what they love. We are combining our love of the fall season, fabrication, and event planning to create our first big fundraiser in October. We are using our love of training and development to create job opportunities and vocational training. We are excited to connect with people to raise awareness of this issue and we feel very lucky to use the things we love for the greater good. Over the past year, we have been able to register as a 501 (c) (3), put together a board, create a virtual web series “The Mor You Know” that debunks myths behind disabilities and challenges, started fundraising, created websites/logos/social media, worked on business plans and budgets, and so much more. We are thrilled to get to learn and grow with this experience. With each day that passes, we learn more about the process, the people we are helping, and each other.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Covid-19 has definitely had an impact on us and on Abermor. We had talked about creating this nonprofit for a long time, so when we got engaged we really hit the ground running. The plan was to have a very small wedding in September 2020, and the rest of our wedding budget would go towards a large fundraising event to start our new life and our new organization together. Due to Covid-19, we of course had to change the plan. We were fortunate to have the wedding we wanted, but we were sad that we had to postpone our fundraiser to October 2021. However, being the optimists we are, we think in the end it will help us create an even better event this year. So many of our customers and employees could have health concerns, and we want to put their safety first. This may mean that our process and growth take longer, but it is worth it in the end.
We’ve been impressed with Abermor, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Aber (ˈæbə) Definition: an estuary, or the mouth of a river where different bodies of water come together Water represents new life and new opportunities– a fresh start. When different types of water from different places come together, they create a much larger beautiful body of water. We want people to be able to come together in the same way. Abermor is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that will create sustainable work opportunities in the food service/food retail industry for people with mental and physical challenges here in Central Florida. Our goal is to develop a more equal and inclusive community that will help the millions of disabled Americans become more independent. We want to focus on a person’s abilities and not their limitations. This focus does not only apply to the disabled but to everyone. One in four people in the United States has a disability, but less than 20% of those people are employed. Florida ranked number 39 amongst the 50 states in disability employment according to the 2019 US Census. Most employers are worried about liabilities or cost of accommodations, and because of that, people with disabilities are often discriminated against. Our goal is to not only provide job opportunities and training but also inspire other businesses in the community to pledge to hire more people with mental and physical differences.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Some couples may struggle or find conflict while starting a nonprofit or business. Luckily, from a very young age both of us have shown strong will, determination, and eagerness to take on projects. It takes a lot of time management, patience, and willingness to learn, but we aren’t afraid of the challenge.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@abermor.com
- Website: www.abermor.com
- Instagram: @abermorgroup
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/abermorgroup
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRTBKDP6T6ylzzv8cbI4rEg
Image Credits
Personal Photo credit: Brooke Finlayson
