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Your Kids' Food Basket Team

Leadership

#IamKFB

Because I believe that healthy, nourishing food should be a right, not a privilege. And KFB is a place where radical love happens, every day.

She/Her

BRIDGET CLARK WHITNEY

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDING CEO

#IamKFB

Good food has the power to shape lives. Together, we are working toward a future where all children have the nourishment they need to thrive.

She/Her

ERIKA ABBO

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

#IamKFB

I can connect necessary resources to making critical impact in our community.

She/Her

ASHLEY DIERSCH

VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

#IAMKFB

I believe in both the inherent dignity of every human and the responsibility to work against injustices, therefore creating a more equitable tomorrow.

CHRISTINE LENTINE

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

#IamKFB

The world needs more love, and I want to be part of it!

She/Her

KIMBERLY MOORE

VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

#IamKFB

Because all kids have a right to healthy food.

He/Him

AUSTIN ROELOFS

Vice President of Programming

#IamKFB

My life is more satisfying when I am serving others; providing children with healthy food that allows them to grow, learn, play and live makes my heart full.

He/Him

RODNEY SAVAGE

DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Staff

#IamKFB

I want to empower people with the tools they need to support themselves.

He/Him

ZACK ALLEN

FARM SITE LEAD

#IamKFB

We are placed on this earth to serve a purpose greater than ourselves. Serving others (especially kids) brings joy to my heart!

She/Her

CHRISTINE BAILARD

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT

#IamKFB

Every kid deserves to thrive and I love knowing that what we do is helping with that.

She/Her

KENDRA BECKSTROM

SENIOR REGIONAL MANAGER

#IamKFB

By providing the necessary foods for optimal growth and development, we provide the opportunity to succeed in school and in life.

She/Her

JANE BERKEY

REGIONAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Our future starts with healthy nourishment of our children.

He/Him

DAMON BOUWKAMP

MANAGER OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES

#IamKFB

Kids need something to look forward to so they can have hope; I want to help with that.

Alexis Coron

Regional Volunteer Experience Coordinator

#IamKFB

I believe access to healthy, nourishing food is paramount to strengthening our community.

She/Her

CHELSI DEGENNARO

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

#IamKFB

You cannot be a community member if you ignore the call from your neighbors in need.

She/Her

LACI DUVERNOIS

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT 

#IamKFB

Because all children should have the freedom to laugh, play and be a kid without worrying where their next meal will come from. She/Her

Christa Ferguson

Communications Specialist

#IamKFB

Teaching children about growing and preparing nutritious food empowers them to make healthy choices for a lifetime.

She/Her

ANNE MARIE FERRATT

ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because representation matters.

She/Her

AMAN FOX

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

#IamKFB

I help connect people to learn and work together as a team, and we can do so much more as a collective team!

She/Her

KAY FRICANO

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Making an impact on my community is important to me; and I am lucky enough to not only enjoy my work, but also feel at the end of the day that I am making a difference.

She/Her

RENAE GAVITT

SENIOR MANAGER OF EDUCATION

#IamKFB

I want more than a job; I want to come to work every day and make a positive impact in my community.

He/Him

NICK GLASER

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

#IamKFB

I want to take part in a proactive role that works to strengthen the community.

She/Her

Noa Gohn

EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

#IamKFB

An opportunity to contribute to the greater good in our community.

SARAH GOUDSWAARD

MANAGER OF HUMAN RESOURCES

#IamKFB

Because a child's success should not be limited to factors out of their control.

She/Her

HANNAH GRANT

DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because increasing healthy food access & education is essential to growing healthier generations.

She/Her

Sara Gropp

Farm Site Lead

#IamKFB

I want my daughter to grow up in a world where no child's future is limited by their inability to access basic needs.

She/Her

ALLISON GUFFEY

EVALUATION SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Every day, I am part of the climb toward equity and social justice.

She/Her

LEAH HEIN

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because access to healthy food should be a right not a privilege.

She/Her

ERICA HUGHES

DATABASE SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

It is my responsibility to be a changemaker for a brighter, healthier and more equitable tomorrow.

STEPHANIE KERR CATHEY

GIFTS DIRECTOR

 

#IamKFB

Because access to healthy food is a right everyone deserves!

BRADLEY LITTELL

FACILITIES SPECIALIST

 

#IamKFB

Growing with community.

He/Him

JASON LUNDBERG

FARM MANAGER

#IamKFB

Because kids are our future.

She/Her

STEPHANIE MELLSTEAD

EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because no one deserves to be hungry in our community.

He/Him

MIGUEL MORALES

NOURISH PROGRAM SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Audre Lorde said it best: "We share a common interest, survival, and it cannot be pursued in isolation from others."

She/Her

COURTNEY MORGAN

REGIONAL VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

#IamKFB

Every child deserves the best.

He/Him

COLIN MOYLAN

Volunteer Experience Specialist

#IamKFB

Because good food is the foundation of good health.

He/Him

BEN NYHOFF

DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL FUND

#IamKFB

To connect with the community and facilitate important conversations.

She/Her

HOSANNA OLAH

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR

#IamKFB

He believes every child has a right to healthy, nutritious food to achieve their full potential.

He/Him

WILL OSMUN, PH.D.

SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR

#IamKFB

Because I believe community and access to nutritious food are central to our health.

She/Her

MICHELLE PLUMSTEAD

Volunteer Experience Coordinator

#IamKFB

I believe that access to nourishing food is an unalienable right of all people.

She/Her

HALEY Rademacher

GRANTS SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because every child deserves food security.

She/Her

KATHY REED

FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST

#IamKFB

Because every day, I hope to add a touch of love to the work that we do in West Michigan!

EMILY RILEY

EVENTS SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because the most important role of a community is to support all of its members.

She/Her

HALEY SCHANER

MANAGER OF NOURISH PROGRAM

#IamKFB

I've experienced the difficulties of growing up in a food insecure household, and I wish to eradicate those difficulties in our community.

He/Him

Eric Schumann

Donor Relations Coordinator

#IamKFB

I feel very motivated by the volunteers and staff here; they encourage me to want to make a difference in kids' lives!

She/Her

OLIVIA SHEA

WAREHOUSE ASSISTANT

#IamKFB

She gets to serve her community and learn from everyone involved with KFB.

CATHERINE SLIWINSKI

PROGRAM ASSISTANT

#IamKFB

Because I believe diversity and representation matters every day, in every way and in every situation.

She/Her

KARLA SMITH

ADMINISTRATION AND TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR

#IamKFB

Everyone deserves the right to basic needs like healthy food.

He/Him

KYLE SZUCS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

I'm able to contribute as a valued employee to an organization that is loved and supported by the community and is dedicated to making West Michigan a better place.

She/Her

TRACY VANDERHEIDE

SENIOR MANAGER OF ACCOUNTING AND ADMINISTRATION

#IamKFB

Children may be 30% of our state's population, but they are 100% of our future. Eating healthy shouldn't be an impossible choice for them.

She/Her

ELIZABETH WASHINGTON

DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND EVALUATION

#IamKFB

The impact this work has on the children and families in my own community.

She/Her

SYREETA WILLIAMS

REGIONAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

Because growing brains and bodies deserve access to and education about healthy, nourishing food.

She/Her

CHRISTINA WILSON

EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

#IamKFB

 I love working with our community with the same goal, nourishing and educating children in West Michigan.

Julianna Wilson

Development and Events Coordinator

#IamKFB

Nourishing, nutritious food is a human right and no one, especially children, should have to worry about the source of their next meal.

She/Her

Carly Zimmerman

Development Coordinator

Board and Advisory Members

Inspired by our mission, every board and committee member is dedicated to making an impact in West Michigan.

Board of Directors

Mary Command – President and Treasurer
Williams Group

Jessie Jones – Vice President
Corewell Health

Mario Cascante – Secretary
Luna Restaurant Group

Mary K. Hoodhood – Founder

Jerry Johnson
Grand Valley State University

Bob Kaser
Grand Rapids Griffins

Phalesha Kyes
By Phalesha Events, LLC

Bill McGee
Huntington Bank

Keith Rothstein
Meijer

Dr. Ronald Grifka
University of Michigan Health-West

Phil Sims
Integrity Tree Service

Menaka Abel
Request Foods

Charen Buyce
StitchFix

Graciela Cruz
Amway

Matthew Cortez
Superintendent of Muskegon Public Schools

Max Gibbs

Muskegon Advisory Board

Chair
Stan Miller

Lisa Tyler
Gary Allore
Elizabeth Briseño
Joy Evans
LaKisha Harris
Amanda Hoop
Tony Laskowicz
Michael Poulin
Sarah Smith
Andy Usik
Linda Vines
Brent Warren
MaryAnn Winsemius

Ottawa + Allegan Advisory Board

Advisory Board Chair
Melanie Downing

Advisory Board Vice-Chair
Barret Bloenk

Penny Bursma
Daniel Sorek
Tracy Umbenhour
Carolyn Stich
Deb Ralya
Jessica Rodriguez-Garza
Nora Balgoyen
Anne Nemschoff
Tim Perrigo

Kids' Food Basket Committees

Ambassador Committee

The Ambassador Committee is comprised of members of our community that would like to represent Kids’ Food Basket in spaces that staff members do not have the capacity to fill. This committee will search out strategic opportunities for members to speak to the community on behalf of Kids’ Food Basket. Both staff and the committee team will gather to discuss availability of group to attend events or gatherings in the communities we serve and decide what aligns well with the promotion and mission of Kids’ Food Basket.

 

While members of this committee will have training on public speaking and Kids’ Food Basket related material, ideally we are looking for committee members that meet at least one of the following: have a variety of community connections; have a fair amount of availability on weeknights or weekends to fit the attendance needs; has past or current public speaking knowledge; can easily connect with and seek out community members to talk to of all diverse backgrounds and ages. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Evaluation Committee

The Evaluation Task Force will help establish and advise on the three-year strategic plan for evaluation at Kids’ Food Basket. This will include ensuring we have a sound Theory of Change for the organization, Logic Models for each of our programs, that the data we are collecting and the data collection methods we are utilizing are sufficient for measuring program outputs and outcomes. The committee will also weigh in on evaluation software, provide considerations for analyses, and ensure that the lens of equity is applied throughout our evaluation practices. The task force may also aid with complex analysis methodologies, the creation of data visualizations, and help reduce bias in our evaluation plans and analyses.

 

Ideal members of the evaluation committee would include evaluation professionals from nonprofits, universities, or consulting firms; business or data analysts; economists; individuals with extensive experience in software such as Excel, Power BI, and NVivo; anyone involved in assessing the impacts of programs designed to reduce food insecurity or improve health outcomes; or teachers, principals or school administrators who have experience assessing interventions and program outcomes with students. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee is delegated fiduciary duties by the Board of Directors. Oversight duties include quarterly review of financials, annual budget review, annual independent audit participation and as needed projects. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Fund Development Committee

The Fund Development Committee collaborates with Kids' Food Basket Development Team to recruit new potential financial donors. With support from the Development Team, members will explore prospects within their personal and professional networks and create a plan to engage them with Kids’ Food Basket’s mission. Members also participate in a variety of annual activities such as donor stewardship calls and events. Lastly, the committee provides valuable input on Kids’ Food Basket’s organization wide fundraising initiatives. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Learn Committee

A new committee in the works! If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Marketing Committee

The Marketing Committee collaborates with Kids' Food Basket Marketing and Communications team to increase the organization’s revenue through various marketing tactics. With support from this group, members will explore prospects within their personal and professional networks and create a plan to engage new Kids’ Food Basket champions. 

 

As seasoned marketing and communication professionals, we want to utilize your expertise and skills to collaborate on new marketing strategy and tactics, particularly digital giving opportunities. 

 

In addition, we ask that members participate in a variety of annual activities such as donor stewardship events and spirit campaigns such as Feast for Kids and Go Orange. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Youth Action Board Committee

Students on the YAB will spend the year learning more about Kids’ Food Basket, fundraising, and building community. They will also oversee bringing “Kids’ Food Basket Week” to their school during the month of March. The board meets once per month to work on planning for this event with other students (both from their school and other schools). If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Young Professionals Board

The Young Professionals Board at Kids’ Food Basket is dedicated to growing our future generation of Young Professionals in both our non-profit and for-profit communities. Members will range between the ages of 18-35. The goal of this committee is to cultivate members with learning opportunities and allow agency with guidance over Kids’ Food Basket event planning, community engagement, and financial development.

 

Members should want to be engaged in philanthropy. All backgrounds and knowledge levels are welcome. Ideal members would have at least one of the following characteristics: Interest in learning about non-profit work, from development to education; mindset of growth and creativity for the future of Kids’ Food Basket; and the commitment to educating yourself on all aspects of our growing society in relation to food access. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Advisory Board – Ottawa + Allegan

For 20 years, Kids' Food Basket has embodied diversity, equity and love, which has positioned us as leaders in community health. We believe that good food is the foundation of good health and good health is the foundation to a good future. This is essential to creating a stronger and healthier West Michigan. The advisory board in conjunction with Kids' Food Basket Leadership, will help lead the advisory board to ensure Kids' Food Basket Ottawa + Allegan is meeting its programmatic goals. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.

Advisory Board – Muskegon

For 20 years, Kids' Food Basket has embodied diversity, equity and love, which has positioned us as leaders in community health. We believe that good food is the foundation of good health and good health is the foundation to a good future. This is essential to creating a stronger and healthier West Michigan. The advisory board in conjunction with Kids' Food Basket Leadership, will help lead the advisory board to ensure Kids' Food Basket Muskegon is meeting its programmatic goals. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please contact Ashley at ashleyd@kidsfoodbasket.org.