WHo We are
New Found Family is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and assist others in recovery. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover. New Found Family is not allied with any denomination, politics, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy or debates. Our primary purpose is to recover and to help others achieve recovery.
New Found Family Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in the Tampa Bay region of Florida actively serving across the country and abroad. We provide principle based resources to individuals and families, enabling them to effectively meet challenges faced in all areas of life. New Found Family guides people step-by-step through proven principles that result in a new way of life.
New Found Family was founded by Jonathan Farris and Rose Smitley out of a desire to help people reach their greatest potential through educating, equipping and empowering them to work through some of life’s most challenging issues. This desire stemmed from a variety of their own experiences, addictions, problems, and defects of character that made life unmanageable for them.
Living by principles is a new way of life and it has the potential to transform any person if they are willing to work for it.
Jon Farris
Founder/CEO New Found Family Inc.
Jon Farris – who has been following the program for over 20 years.
Though he likes to describe himself as “Just a guy” Jon brings to the table 20+ years experience in business. A masters of Apologetics coupled with finance & a heart to serve others has kept him heading up & leading many community initiatives and projects.
What makes him most critical to this group is his extensive journey of recovery… After reaching the financial & professional goals he set for himself early on in life, Jon found himself at a point of desperation as “having it all” wasn’t enough. His darkest point in life would lead him to hope through recovery. Realizing that being able to achieve everything he set out to do wasn’t enough, He needed a power greater than himself! 20 years after that point of desperation, Jon’s confidence is deep rooted and magnetic as it stems from a wealth of years of experience in fields as varied as they are broad.
What he sets out to do he sees through with his principled approach coupled with Spiritual immersion and mentoring thousands of others from a place of desperation in their personal lives and careers to peace and success in all that they approach, building lives from their point of desperation to thriving lives of health, wealth, and happiness!
Rose Smitley
Founder, New Found Family Inc.
Rose Smitley – who has been in recovery programs for over 33 years.
Rose has been in recovery rooms for 34+ years.
She founded New Found Family out of a desire to help people reach their greatest potential through educating, equipping and empowering them to work through some of life’s most challenging issues. This desire stemmed from a variety of addictions and internal self harm that made life unmanageable for her. She wanted something different! Rose went from a life of addiction to sobriety to healing and success!
She now mentors many individuals all over the world and in her own community, including many of our New Found Family mentors and all of the New Found Family Gen Z leaders! She leads our Women of NFF Codependency Meeting every Friday night throughout the year and mentors many women and couples through the Principles of Life books she has helped write and publish. Rose is in the process of writing a new recovery book for those in need of daily recovery based meditations and wisdom. Her intentionality and commitment to sobriety and recovery has paved the way for thousands of others to receive recovery and healing through New Found Family because of her diligent efforts to achieve recovery!
Brad Fenner
Board Member, New Found Family Inc.
Brad Fenner – who has been in New Found Family for over 10 years.
I was at a very bad place in my life. Six people very close to me had died in six weeks. I felt my life was unraveling and I was losing my mind. Two very good friends each came up to me (separately) and acknowledged I was going through a very rough time, but there was a program that could help me. I had what’s known as the ‘Gift of Desperation’. I was willing to try anything. I came to my first New Found Family meeting and something struck a chord in my mind and my heart. Things started making sense and 11 years later, this program continues to give me a peace and an understanding that I have not found anywhere else. You could not talk me (or bribe me) to walk away from the Recovery this program brings and it can work for you, too. This recovery program works if you work it! I continue to realize that I receive way more than I could ever ask. One of the greatest truths is I receive more peace and comfort, the more I give it away. Those two friends that I mentioned earlier are still in the program, too!