Who We Are
Our story
In 1979, a small committee within First Presbyterian Church of Orlando drafted a document that would lay dormant for a time, but that would eventually become the authority for the Heart of the City Foundation. It was designed in the spirit of the early church—starting in the city and moving outward.
The Apostle Paul’s ministry always started in cities. Ephesus. Galatia. Philippi. It was from these city centers that the good news of God’s love spread into the surrounding villages.
At the corner of Church Street and Magnolia Avenue, the church campus of FPCO is geographically the center of Orlando. It was the desire of the committee that the Heart of the City Foundation would be like a heart, pouring life and love into the city and beyond.
But the church was struggling to survive. They had lost the leadership of their former pastor and were still searching for a new one. People were moving away from the city center and into the suburbs. The church wasn’t able to meet its budget. Without the church, there would be no hope for the Heart of the City Foundation to exist.
The General Presbyter told them, “You folks have to remember you’re a city center church, and city center churches are not surviving these days.” The General Presbyter advised them to find a pastor who would be equipped to undertake the possible demise of the church or a relocation to the suburbs. Former committee member and Heart of the City Foundation board member Donald Brown says, “It was not the best of times for FPCO.”
So with great faith, the committee prayed for a bold and dynamic senior pastor who would be able to shepherd their church into flourishing—and in the city center. In 1981, after two years of searching, the FPCO congregation warmly welcomed Dr. Howard Edington and his wife Trisha from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Still, sandwiched between a Texaco gas station and a funeral home and without a parking garage, the committee and Dr. Edington still wondered if they might need to move to the suburbs.
Finally, they made their ultimate decision: FPCO would continue its ministry in downtown Orlando.
With Dr. Edington’s strong leadership and through unique partnerships with the city of Orlando, FPCO started to thrive. It was time for the Heart of the City Foundation to come into being.
One day, the members of the committee and Dr. Edington sat in the church and spent the day trying to come up with the name and mission statement for the congregation’s future ministry. They felt like the name “Heart of the City” suited their mission: “To create within the heart of the city a place where people are confronted with the power of the gospel and learn to live their lives for Christ in the world.”
One of the next steps was to reexamine the dormant document they had drafted back in 1979. With confidence, they revived it and gave it the name “Heart of the City Foundation.” They believed the Heart of the City Foundation would play an important role in both the life of the congregation as well as in the life of Orlando and in the life of the world.
And thus, the Heart of the City Foundation’s journey of ministering to the people of Orlando and beyond began.
Decades later, we continue to be a witness to how God uses the Heart of the City Foundation to let Christ’s kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven. And now, we lovingly invite and encourage you to join us in this noble endeavor.
“Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Our vision, mission, & Values
Vision
An endowment that endures for generations, to serve God’s Kingdom as the preferred choice of Covenant Partners for legacy giving
Mission
To steward the legacy giving of Covenant Partners, aligned with their values and intentions, to best advance God’s Kingdom
Values
Trustworthy, Christ-centered, Excellence, Generosity, Sustained Performance
Staff
Dennis Brockman
Foundation Director
“I was first drawn to The Heart of the City Foundation because of its devotion to Kingdom work in the church, city, and world. When I learned about all of the amazing, life-changing grants and scholarships people can sustainably create, I knew I wanted to play a part.”
Dennis Brockman is married to Lisa and has five children—three who are married and two who are in college. Dennis and Lisa have been Covenant Partners with the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (FPCO) for more than 22 years. With FPCO, he has led Sunday school classes for children as well as adults as part of FPCO’s formation offerings. He also served with Cru for 37 years in many different roles, where he partnered with others in evangelism and discipleship all over the world. In April 2020, Dennis transitioned to Heart of the City Foundation as the Foundation Director.
Kimberly spencer
Foundation Coordinator
As a Central Florida native, she has deep roots in the community and a passion for serving others. She graduated from the University of Florida and began her career working in psychology within jails and prisons, where she gained a heart for helping people through life's challenges. She later transitioned into a successful decade-long career in medical sales, leading marketing initiatives and building lasting relationships throughout Central Florida.
Beyond her professional career, she is an active volunteer who enjoys serving those in need and giving back to the community. Her faith in Jesus is the foundation of her life and inspires both her work and her service to others.
She has been blessed with a wonderful husband, two amazing sons, and two lovable Golden Retrievers. In her free time, you'll usually find her spending time with her family, working out at the gym, serving others, or growing in her relationship with Christ. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve here at the Heart of the City Foundation and looks forward to connecting with you.
Board of trustees
We have given our LIFE—Leadership, Influence, Finances, and Expertise—to serve you.
Hover (desktop) or tap (mobile) on a board member’s photo to read their bio.
Robby Ball grew up in Eustis, Florida before attending the University of Florida on a football scholarship (“Go Gators!”). After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Advertising & Marketing, he moved to Orlando to work as a branch manager for Winter Park Federal Savings & Loan. After several years, he moved on to work for A.G. Edwards & Sons, a financial services securities firm, and he has enjoyed his work in that industry ever since. He is currently a Financial Advisor/Wealth Manager with Morgan Stanley.
He previously served as an HOCF Trustee for multiple years, believing in the purpose of the foundation to assist and align with FPCO. He was drawn to being a Trustee again by his “everlasting love” for his home church, FPCO, and his desire to serve HOCF in its journey at this time.
He and his wife Margie are proud parents to three children—Clint, Kevin, and Ashley—and grandparents to six grandchildren and two grand-dogs. He loves living in Orlando because he gets to be close to his family. He says, “My faith has grown as I’ve grown as a man, a husband, a father, and now as a grandfather.”
Robby Ball
Chairperson
Chris Jones grew up in Orlando and graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. After graduating, he worked for a bank in Orlando for a few years before moving to another bank where he stayed for 30 years. He greatly enjoyed helping people prepare for their futures through retirement planning. Recently, he retired and is now serving on several boards. He has known about the Heart of the City Foundation for a long time and is delighted to use his 40+ years of expertise to bless the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando as a trustee of HOCF.
In his early 20s, he came to Christ as a counselor for high school kids at First Pres, and since has invested himself in myriad Sunday School classes and small groups, leading many, to continue deepening and growing his faith. He has attended First Pres for 45 years—with the exception of his time in Raleigh, North Carolina—and served with the Session of First Pres as an elder.
He lives in Orlando with his wife, Julie, and their furry family member, a west highland terrier named Bertie. As both of them are UF graduates, Bertie is named after the UF mascot, Alberta Gator.
Chris Jones
Vice Chairperson & Treasurer
Bob Dukes grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Oklahoma. After graduating, he worked at IBM and has enjoyed working with several other companies since. His favorite part of his work has always been building relationships with others. He is now the Sales and Client Services Manager at Stark Tech.
He was raised in a Christian family and came to know Jesus Christ personally at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event in high school. As one whose family has received blessings from the Heart of the City Foundation in the past, and as he witnessed the fruit of HOCF’s mission, he felt called to “pay it forward” and serve to expand God’s Kingdom.
He has two children who are now grown and starting families of their own.
Bob Dukes
Secretary
"Serving with Heart of the City Foundation allows me to see God work through people’s generosity. Each gift becomes a story of hope, blessing, and lasting impact in the lives of others and our community."
Vicky serves on the Executive Leadership Team of Wycliffe Bible Translators, providing strategic oversight of the Communications, Marketing and Church Engagement teams. She also serves as the board chair of the Wycliffe Foundation. She is passionate about seeing God’s Word translated into every language to bring hope and transformation to communities worldwide.
Before joining Wycliffe in 2012, Vicky used her marketing and communications background to serve clients in the agribusiness, higher education, banking and transportation sectors. A native of Vero Beach, Florida, she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in journalism and public relations from the University of Florida.
She is a Covenant Partner at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (FPCO), where she previously served as a Stephen Minister. She is an active participant in Bible Study Fellowship.
Vicky and her husband, Bob, have two grown children — Patrick (married to Amy) and Natalie (married to Rick) — and are the proud grandparents of five energetic grandsons. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling and cheering on the Florida Gators with family and friends.
Vicky Mixson
Donor Relations Chair
Kurt Wood is a Partner and the Director of Client Service for the institutional investment firm, DePrince, Race & Zollo. He began his investment career 34 years ago at Sun Bank Capital Management.
Kurt and his wife of 31 years, Karin, have been covenant partners of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (FPCO) for 29 years and have three adult children. At FPCO, Kurt has taught Youth Sunday School, served as Upward Basketball Commissioner for three consecutive years, and is proudly serving his second stint as an Elder.
Kurt is a graduate of Clemson University. He is a former board member and past president of the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives (AIMSE) and the Winter Park Little League. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the $120 million Winter Park Health Foundation where he’s the Treasurer and Chairman of the Investment Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association.
Kurt Wood
Chair of Missions
As a sixth-generation Floridian, Susan Brown grew up in First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. She enjoyed countless hours at Weekday School, choir practices, and youth group, and even came to know Jesus personally on a youth group trip in Tennessee. At Furman University, she graduated with her BA in business administration. Susan spent 20 years in the healthcare industry focusing on brand awareness, relationship strategy, marketing development and community engagement. She has worked with large healthcare organizations such as Orlando Health, Nemours Children’s Hospital and OneBlood.
In 2016, she transitioned to work for Family Office as the Director of Philanthropic Services, helping clients develop their legacy through impactful giving. She also leads the National Charitable Fund, Inc.
Regardless of her role, her greatest delight is being able to make a difference in someone’s life when they need it most.
She has the privilege of being an aunt to “some pretty spectacular kids” and a godmother to three others.
Susan Brown
Scholarships Co-Chair
Jenie Kolar was born in Orlando, Florida as a 5th generation Floridian. She graduated from Winter Park High School and went on to complete her undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University in psychology and Spanish. Afterwards, she earned her MBA from the University of Florida, where she met her husband Alan. Once she had finished her studies, she worked in corporate marketing for Darden Restaurants and The Coca-Cola Company.
She grew up at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, enjoying worship alongside her grandparents, parents, siblings, and other family members. FPCO has been at the center of milestone memories such as her wedding to Alan. Once she returned to Orlando after her studies and a six-year stint in Atlanta, Georgia, Alan and Jenie were happy to come back to her church home to raise their family. From growing up in FPCO’s youth programs to helping to lead the Arise and Build Capital Campaign, leading Bible studies and creating the SHINE Children’s Ministry, FPCO has always been a spiritually influential and nurturing part of her life.
Jenie and Alan have three children: Clayton, 25; Sara, 23; and Mary Caroline, 20. They also have an English yellow labrador, Remi, whom they all adore. Jenie is delighted to serve on a few local boards and enjoys playing tennis, cooking and traveling.
Jenie Kolar
Scholarships Co-Chair
Ellen Arnold was born in Columbus, Georgia, and grew up in The Episcopal Church. Her faith grew even stronger as she attended Bible Study Fellowship for 14 years. She got her first taste of Orlando while attending Rollins College for her first two years of college before completing her BS in business administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, becoming a lifetime fan of the Tar Heels.
Once she graduated, she came back to Orlando to work at Boston Company of the Southeast, an investment firm where she greatly enjoyed managing portfolios. After she had her twin daughters, she became a stay-at-home mother, bringing one more daughter into the world. Today, she loves caring for her grandbaby, Anna Kay, two days a week and spending time with her 17-year-old cat, Nala.
She put in 8 years on the Board of Samaritan Village, always grateful for the support Heart of the City Foundation gifted to them, and ultimately was inspired to be a part of the gifting of support to Christ-centered ministries and young people pursuing higher education.
Ellen Arnold
Trustee
Michael Kelley was born and raised in Orlando. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rollins College and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida, working in litigation and transactional law as a partner of Shutts & Bowen, and as outside general counsel for numerous Central Florida businesses. Eventually, Mike left “big law” to start the Orlando office of the boutique law firm Lawson Huck Gonzalez, where he enjoys providing his clients with Christ-centered legal services, defending clients against injustice, and using his God-given gifts and skills to vigorously pursue peace (a paradox he loves to explain over a cigar!).
One of Mike’s earliest memories is of his mother teaching him to patiently wait for God to speak to him, listening intently for that still, small voice. At 11, his father also placed a Bible in his hands and told him to read it every day. Since then, he has read through the Bible more times than he can count. As a trustee, he views his service as a continuation of his support for Orlando Heart of the City Fellows and Arts Fellowship Orlando, as well as of his affection for the servant-leaders at FPCO, complementary to his service as an Elder.
He has been blessed to be married to his wife Chandy for almost 20 years. They have a daughter, Charlotte; a son, Mac; and two children in heaven, Michael-Samuel and Vivianne. Michael also loves to cook and is the founder of the Orlando Society Room, a large-form debate club that engages in lively discourse over topics such as justice, masculinity, and the influence A.I. is having on modern Christianity.
Mike Kelley
Trustee
Charles is an Orlando native, graduating from Boone High School, earning a degree in finance from the University of Central Florida, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Rollins College. He has an extensive background in business operations; having served for over 25 years in various roles in financial services, corporate banking, information technology, and finance/administrative services in the real estate, hospitality, and title industries. In addition, he brings experience in the non-profit space, having served operational roles in his church and as an interim COO/CFO for a local organization focused on at-risk youth. He is now the COO of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. He is married to Kimberly, a fellow Orlando native, and has three children.
Charles Bell
Trustee
Brian grew up in New Smyrna Beach and after college moved to Winter Park, Florida where he and his wife Nicole have raised their three children. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida in system accounting. As a certified public accountant he has worked as an auditor, tax preparer, and advisory CFO in a variety of industries most recently focusing on nonprofit organizations and construction companies. He has held numerous CFO and Senior finance positions for private and public companies.
In 2009, he and Nicole became Covenant Partners of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and have served in various groups and ministries of the Church, most recently as a host family for three Orlando Heart of the City Fellows. He has a natural interest in the Foundation’s mission and is honored to be a trustee.
Brian Millard
Trustee
Paige Greninger
Trustee
Joel Hall
Trustee
Scott Broughton
Trustee
“All gifts come from the Lord and when considering the blessings of wealth and talents, it is our job to multiply and enable them to work for his glory. I see that as the very essence of what we can all do, in and through him for the Kingdom, in our little part of Orlando.”
Doug Meiser grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With both of his parents holding leadership positions in their local church, he and his family spent every Sunday together in worship. He attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania and, upon graduating, became a paramedic. He loved helping people in their times of greatest need. Eventually, he transitioned into medical sales and spent 35 years in the field before recently retiring, after 30+ years in a variety of leadership roles at Quest Diagnostics.
He’s been married to his wife Debbie for 35 years and they have two sons, Brian and Alex. Brian also lives in Orlando with his wife Lacey and their two young daughters.
Doug Meiser
Trustee