Stronger systems. Brighter tomorrows.
When systems create gaps, families shouldn't fall through them.
Discovering Purpose Foundation strengthens the pathways connecting individuals and families to trauma-informed care, practical resources, safety, and community support throughout Brevard County and surrounding Central Florida communities.
Ideas inspire.Systems sustain.Purpose propels.
Why DPF exists
We saw the gap firsthand.
Families can be doing everything right—seeking care, building trust, making progress—and still lose access to the support they depend on.
Insurance changes
Financial hardship
Eligibility requirements
Fragmented systems
Difficult life circumstances
Discovering Purpose Foundation was created to help build the infrastructure between “this family needs help” and “this family can actually receive it.”
Our mission
To strengthen access to trauma-informed care, practical resources, and coordinated community support for individuals and families facing barriers to safety, stability, and well-being.
Our vision
A community where no individual or family is left without a path forward because the systems meant to support them are difficult to access, disconnected, or out of reach.
- People
- Systems
- Community
- Possibility
Our work
Four areas of focus.
Our work centers on the points where families most often lose access to support—and on the partnerships needed to close those gaps.
Mental Health Access
Supporting connection to trauma-informed care and behavioral health resources.
Family Safety & Stability
Supporting individuals and families affected by trauma, family violence, instability, and circumstances that threaten healthy functioning.
Navigation & Community Connection
Helping families connect with local resources, advocacy, social services, and continued support rather than navigating fragmented systems alone.
Prevention & Education
Building skills, education, early intervention, and community-based approaches that strengthen resilience before families reach crisis.
Experience & credibility
A new foundation, built on years of work in the field.
Discovering Purpose Foundation is newly established, but the experience behind it is not. Foundation leadership has spent their careers inside the systems families depend on—seeing where those systems hold, and where they fall short.
Leadership experience spans
- Behavioral health
- Clinical supervision
- Community mental health
- Child welfare & family services
- Trauma treatment
- Justice-involved adolescents
- Guardian ad Litem service
- Private behavioral healthcare
- Operations & business
- Financial stewardship
Our leadership
A team rooted in experience and purpose.
Four equal Directors bringing executive leadership, strategy, operations, financial stewardship, clinical expertise, and community perspective to the Foundation's work across Brevard County.
Dorothy “Lori” Perver
LMHC, QS, EDTC
Founder &Chief Executive Officer
Director
Benjamin Landes
Vice President &Chief Strategy Officer
Director
Beatriz “Betty” Peraza
RMHCI, EDTC
Secretary &Chief Operating Officer
Director
Spencer Doyen
Treasurer &Chief Financial Officer
Director
All four board members serve as equal Directors of Discovering Purpose Foundation, Inc. Executive, officer, and operational responsibilities are assigned separately to establish clear accountability while preserving equal fiduciary and voting authority among the Directors.
Community & partnerships
Better systems are built together.
Discovering Purpose Foundation welcomes collaboration with organizations and leaders working alongside families throughout Brevard County. If our missions align, we would like to hear from you.
- Behavioral health providers
- Victim-service organizations
- Family-serving agencies
- Advocates
- Community organizations
- Funders
- Referral partners
- Local leaders
Serving
Brevard County & surrounding Central Florida communities