Our History

Our founder was born and raised in Harlem, New York. He then moved to Oregon at the age of 50, accompanied by his wife, and three young boys, aged 5, 9, and 10. Unfortunately, shortly after their arrival, Fred's wife tragically passed away from breast cancer, leaving him to navigate a new chapter in his life as a single father. Growing up in Harlem, Fred experienced gun violence at an early age, and still carries a bullet in his body from when he was once shot. However, basketball played a crucial role in keeping Fred out of trouble during his youth, preventing him from becoming incarcerated like many of his peers. For two years, Fred served as the Vice President of the Linn Benton NAACP, advocating for equality and justice.  Fred also sits on the board of the Criminal Justice Commission, where he actively contributes to discussions and decisions concerning the criminal justice system. In addition, he sheds light on the systemic challenges faced by marginalized communities through his work with Oregon's governor, Tina Kotek, on racial disparity and courageously confronts the issue of racism, emphasizing the need for change and representation at every level of society.

 Frederick J Edwards Founded Faith Hope and Charity and opened its doors in 2017 with the vision to create a community of services and a mission to prevent and deter our youth from incarceration while equipping them with the tools and support to build a successful and thriving future, filled with purpose. In 2018, FHC, started going into the youth prisons mentoring and advocating for change. In 2022, Measure 110 funding allowed us to grow and expand our mission employing a team of Traditional Health Workers consisting of Peer Support Specialists, Peer Wellness Specialists, Certified Recovery Mentors, and a Harm Reduction Specialist. Together we serve the tri-counties of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln. FHC is always eager to expand and offer more valuable services to our communities and is currently seeking additional funding to offer transitional post- prison housing and emergency housing solutions for the homeless.