OUR MISSION

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The Assistance Center of Collin County brings carefully qualified and prompt short-term assistance to individuals and families in financial crisis to help them regain self-sufficiency. Through discerning programs, guidance and funds, we help stabilize Collin County families’ home economies to fight homelessness, hunger and poverty. 

Our Staff

For more than fifteen years Colleen has been raising funds and awareness for both local and national organizations in the North Texas area and she has spent much of her non-profit career working in the Collin County community. Before joining the Assistance Center, Colleen served as Director of Development for a statewide organization that works to improve the quality of life for children in Texas. Prior to that role, Colleen was Executive Director for a Frisco based organization that serves underprivileged children. Colleen was also a Corporate Market Director with the American Heart Association where she launched the first Heart Ball in Collin County and she spent over six years working with Susan G. Komen in North Texas. Colleen is an experienced leader in management, strategic planning, organizational growth, fundraising and event planning and execution. Colleen graduated from the University of Texas Dallas with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and she is a CPA with an extensive software background. Colleen is committed to helping those in need and has served on several local boards that help women and children. 

  Azaria started at the Assistance Center of Collin County as an Intern for Eastfield Community College in 2015, where she received an associate degree in Social Work. Azaria has since graduated to Program Director. Azaria is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in “Human Services”. Azaria has worked in human services for 13 years now and has developed a passion for helping others. In addition to the skills she puts to use for our clients daily, Azaria also loves to spend time with her family and friends. In addition, she loves to travel or sit and watch her children play basketball.

In 1977, the population in Plano was slightly below 60,000 and in Collin County was just slightly above 121,000. Initially named the Information and Referral Center of Collin County, the Center was established as a not-for-profit organization to “inform, guide, direct, and link people to appropriate human service resources." Senator Florence Shapiro, along with other forward-thinking citizens of Plano, formed the Center’s first Board of Directors. Fast forward over 40 years later, the Assistance Center has grown as well as the needs of the community. In response to that growth and greater needs of the county, the Assistance Center seeks to stabilize the family’s home by providing rental and utility assistance. Once the home has been stabilized, the family then is engaged in self-sufficiency strategies designed to change their economic condition.