How did you get started in your field?
I retired from my career in managed health care in 2003 and started volunteering with nonprofits where I felt I could make a difference. In 2008, I was asked to chair the Chocolate Fantasy Ball and join the Ronald McDonald House board. Fast forward to 2012, I was recruited to serve as the capital campaign chair to raise $9 million to build our current 32-bedroom house, and, three years later, I was chosen to become the organization’s leader.
What do you love best about what you do?
I love getting to know the families who stay at Ronald McDonald House. Most are far from home and share the story of their child’s illness and daily progress in the hospital. We help them ring the Good News Bell on good days and hold them close when they need support. Getting to see the sense of relief on their faces after they experience what donors have made possible at the Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock is so rewarding.
Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of our territory expansion and the new programs we have in development in Arkansas and north Louisiana. Nothing rivals being part of the global reach and compassionate care of Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Is there another “power woman” in your life who inspires you?
I’m in awe of the resilience of the moms staying with us, who are dealing with their child’s critical illness and hanging by a thread. Somehow, they manage to keep themselves together without losing their spirit while maintaining their family.
