Madelynn Hirneise

(Matthew Morgan)

Chief Executive Officer

Families Forward

Madelynn Hirneise is the chief executive officer of Families Forward, an organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for at-risk families in Orange County. A passionate housing advocate, she has guided the organization through exponential growth, improving the lives of nearly 16,000 people in 2024 alone. That year, Hirneise oversaw the prevention of homelessness for 642 families and the distribution of over 62,000 meals. A key recent innovation was the transformation of the food pantry into The Community Market, a grocery-style space providing a more dignified experience for the 800 families served monthly. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Hirneise serves on the boards of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce and OneOC. Under her leadership, 97% of families graduating from the organization’s housing program in 2024 remained stably housed one year after completion.