Athenae Evans

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

It’s a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for the opportunity to share my story. My name is Athenae Evans. I’m originally from Newport, New Jersey, and I’m now based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I serve as the Administrator of Roxborough Home for Women.

I bring more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with leadership experience in residential services and senior care. I hold an entry-level degree in Social Services, a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science, and credentials in personal care and assisted living administration.

My daily focus is on the people we serve—making sure our residents feel respected, our staff feel supported, and our Home remains connected to the community.

My faith and commitment to service shape how I lead. I believe leadership means listening, following through, and using your experience to improve someone else’s life.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

One thing I love about Philadelphia is how much history there is to discover. I recently watched a documentary about Strawberry Mansion, the neighborhood where I currently live, and was fascinated by the stories of immigrants who helped build the community and its connection to jazz legend John Coltrane, who once lived here.

I also love the green spaces, especially Fairmount Park. Being surrounded by nature reminds me of home in Newport, New Jersey, and gives me a sense of peace within a busy city.

What makes Philadelphia special to me is the opportunity to get out into the community and connect with people from different backgrounds. I enjoy hearing their stories, learning about their experiences, and finding common ground.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

Roxborough Home for Women is a nonprofit personal care home in Philadelphia that has served senior women since 1887. It began with a mission to provide women with a safe, supportive place to live, and that purpose continues to guide our work today.

We provide housing, meals, assistance with daily living, medication support, and opportunities for social connection. We recognize that each woman comes to us with her own history, preferences, and needs, so our approach centers on preserving her dignity and independence while providing the support she needs.

For our residents, the Home offers companionship, stability, and a sense of belonging. For their families, it offers reassurance that their loved ones have people available to help. We also connect with volunteers and community partners to bring meaningful activities and relationships into our residents’ lives.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My advice is to start with a clear vision and a purpose you believe in. Roxborough Home for Women began through an endowment from the Gorgas family. Their generosity helped establish a mission that continues to serve women generations later. It shows how one person’s idea, supported by commitment and resources, can become something lasting.

We are a nonprofit, but I believe purpose matters just as much in a for-profit business. Ask yourself: Who do I want to serve? What need am I addressing? How will my business improve someone’s life?

Visionaries create missions, but turning a mission into a business takes planning, listening, and consistent work. Understand the people you want to serve, build a sustainable foundation, and let your vision guide your decisions. I believe businesses work best when they provide a service people need and stay connected to the purpose behind it.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

One expression of trust I will never forget came from my early years, when I owned and operated a family daycare. Years after I had closed it, I would run into former clients who wanted me to care for their grandchildren. Knowing they remembered the care I provided and wanted that same experience for another generation meant so much to me.

Children have a way of showing you whether they feel safe, comfortable, and loved. That experience helped shape a principle I have carried into every role: do the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Today, at Roxborough Home for Women, I feel that same sense of purpose when residents’ families tell me how much they appreciate my efforts to make sure their loved ones receive the care they need. Across generations, being trusted with someone’s family member is something I never take lightly.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see Roxborough Home for Women continuing to grow as both a home for senior women and a resource for older adults in our community. I work alongside a phenomenal Executive Director, Tom Wilcox, whose leadership has helped move our mission forward.

With support from an LSA grant and grants from The Penn Home Foundation, we have made improvements to our building and infrastructure. We are also seeking additional funding for our Legacy of Care fund, which will help residents who need financial assistance with boarding fees. We know that needing a safe, supportive home does not always mean having the means to afford one. Our goal is to reduce that financial barrier so more women have the opportunity to call Roxborough home.

We are developing initiatives that invite seniors from the surrounding community to join our residents for activities and events, creating more opportunities for companionship and connection. As residents’ needs become more varied and complex, we also want to strengthen staff training so our team can respond with understanding, compassion, and practical skills.

Whatever the future brings, we want “A Legacy of Care” to remain our driving force—guiding how we support our residents, invest in our staff, and serve our community.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The biggest misconception is that a personal care home can meet every level of care. Families sometimes use “personal care home” and “nursing home” interchangeably, but they provide different types of support.

At Roxborough Home for Women, families often connect immediately with our warm, family atmosphere. They can picture their mother or aunt living here, and it can be difficult to explain when someone’s care needs exceed what we can safely provide.

A diagnosis alone does not tell the whole story. We have to consider each person’s individual needs, including assistance with mobility, cognitive changes, behavioral support, and medical care, alongside our staffing, building, and licensing requirements. Some individuals need a nursing home or another setting equipped to provide more specialized support.

Those conversations are hard because we understand that families want the best for someone they love. We want that, too. Being honest about what we can safely provide is part of caring. Our responsibility begins with making sure a person’s needs can be met in the place they call home.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

While I don’t own Roxborough Home for Women, as its Administrator I help lead its daily operations and move its mission forward. I wouldn’t describe that work as a struggle. When you’re doing work you’re passionate about, you approach challenges with a different mindset.

That doesn’t mean every day is easy or that every answer is immediate. It means I see a problem as a situation I’m fortunate enough to be in a position to help resolve. I listen, assess what’s needed, and work with our Executive Director and staff to find a practical solution.

My focus is always on the people depending on us. That sense of purpose keeps me grounded and turns challenges into opportunities to make things better.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

This answer often surprises people! I grew up surrounded by different kinds of music. My mother listened to gospel, my father loved country, my uncle listened to the blues, and my siblings played Motown. Somehow, I gravitated toward rock.

Some of my favorites were Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne, and The Police, and my favorite song was “Dream On” by Aerosmith. But my taste has always crossed genres, from jazz to opera. Two songs that inspire me are “Optimistic” by Sounds of Blackness and “Holy Room” by Somi.

Looking back, I appreciate how much that musical variety gave me. Everyone in my family brought a different sound into my life, and I found my own favorites along the way. No favorite athlete.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Absolutely! I want to give a special shoutout to our Executive Director, Tom Wilcox, who joined Roxborough Home for Women about a year after I did. His commitment to our mission and his support have made my job as Administrator easier.

Tom’s work on grants and major projects helps strengthen our Home and allows us to continue providing services to our residents and the broader community. I appreciate having a partner in leadership who shares that sense of purpose and works alongside me to move our mission forward.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Readers can learn more about Roxborough Home for Women by visiting roxboroughhomeforwomen.com or finding us on Facebook.

You can also connect with me on LinkedIn by searching for Athenae Evans. I share articles and series about senior care, staffing, and leadership, drawing on my experience and passion for supporting residents and the people who care for them.