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![]() Caroline Cox At-Large |
Caroline grew up in Greensboro, NC and has lived in Charlotte since 2012. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A. in Global Studies with a concentration in Peace, Conflict and Human Rights and a minor in Nonprofit Management. Following graduation, Caroline moved to Charlotte to work for AT&T supporting two of their largest Financial Services accounts. Following her true passion, Caroline has maintained active involvement in Charlotte’s nonprofit community, volunteering on the Leadership Committee for InReach’s annual Crown Town fundraising event and volunteering with the Humane Society of Charlotte. Caroline recently completed UNC Charlotte’s Grant Writing Suite courses and is excited to help use the knowledge and experience she has gained to help FFC grow and serve the Charlotte community. |
![]() Holly Huffman Communications / Grants Chair |
Holly Huffman joined the board of Families Forward Charlotte in April 2018 and is excited to serve in the role of Communications/Grants Chair. She brings background experiences that include teaching and mentoring students of all ages, as well as time spent in the role of Development Director for a small non-profit. She enjoys writing and is grateful for the opportunity to put her writing skills to use in support of Families Forward’s programs. Holly is originally from western Pennsylvania, but has lived and taught in Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, and England. She is on the faculty of Western Governors University and serves as a mentor for graduate students earning advanced degrees in teaching English Language Learners. She lives in Charlotte with her husband and three children. |
![]() Mandy Idol Event Chair |
Mandy grew up in Trinity, NC and moved to Charlotte in 2004 to study at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She currently works for KPMG, LLP as a National Marketing Manager responsible for content development and event planning under the Intelligent Automation Strategic Growth Initiative. At KPMG, she serves on the Network of Women Committee, the Marketing Training Council and is a mentor to two co-workers. In the community, she serves as the Student Engagement Chair for the UNCC Belk College Alumni Council as well as the Marketing Chair for the St Jude Walk/Run in Charlotte. In 2016, she won Top 30 under 30 for her professional achievements, experience, innovation, leadership, and community involvement. As you can see, volunteering and serving those in need is a passion of hers and she looks forward to making a difference as the Event Chair with Families Forward Charlotte. |
![]() Telitha Hight Secretary |
Telitha is originally from Durham, NC and graduated from Kenan Flagler’s Business School at UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She moved to Charlotte in 2002 with her husband after living in New York City for 5 years. Since moving to Charlotte Telitha has volunteered at the Second Harvest Food Bank, tutored kids at a local elementary school, served as the Finance Chair of a non-profit children’s consignment sale, organized several donation drives and has served on multiple non-profit boards and committees. Her 2 daughters who are now in elementary school are involved in giving back as a family. They collect donations at their birthday parties and always help shop for the kids they sponsor during the holidays. Telitha is striving to be an example for her kids to help others and is excited to join the FCC team and help make a difference. |
![]() James Miller Treasurer |
James serves as Treasurer of Families Forward Charlotte. Originally from Dallas, Texas, he grew up in an area where upward mobility was possible, and he is a product of this dynamic. He moved to Charlotte in 2003 to begin his career and has fallen in love with the city that he now calls home. However, he has strong convictions that our city must improve the low levels of mobility it is currently experiencing through stronger levels of social capital. He believes Family Forward Charlotte is a step in the right direction to create greater stability for families and children in our community. James resides in Charlotte with his wife, Katie who was born and raised here, and son, Ben. He currently works as an investment banker for Deloitte Corporate Finance. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and finance from the University of Texas at Dallas and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. |
![]() Allie Key Community Partnerships Chair |
Allie grew up in Gastonia, NC and has lived in Charlotte since 2007. She attended Appalachian State University with a degree in Interior Design but later went back to school to earn her Masters of Arts in teaching from UNCC. Previously, Allie has volunteered her time with a local elementary school as a tutor for two small kids, and at Levine Children’s Hospital. After working in the school system and interacting with different schools, her eyes were opened to the many needs of children. Allie has always had a passion for children and helping others and, as a mother of two, she wants to share her passion and lead by example. I’m proud to be on the board of Families Forward Charlotte and I look forward to changing lives of those in our community. |
![]() Jennifer Byer Fundraising Chair |
Jennifer grew up in Gastonia, NC and moved to Charlotte after graduating from Appalachian State University in 2004 with a degree in Advertising/Communications. She and her husband, Ian, moved to San Francisco in 2010 where she worked as an Account Executive for Clinique. Ian’s career with Wells Fargo brought the couple back to Charlotte in 2013. Each Christmas Jennifer and Ian adopt several impoverished, disadvantaged families from the high school they graduated from in Gastonia. Early December they host a large Christmas party and request guests bring gift cards or gifts for the adopted families. This Christmas party has become a tradition and continues to grow each year. Jennifer continues to be an advocate for those in need. The reward of seeing little faces light up and gratitude from concerned parents motivates her to continue to help those in need. |
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![]() Ashley Snider Events Chair |
Ashley serves as an At Large Board Member of Families Forward Charlotte. Ashley grew up in Gastonia, NC and has lived in Charlotte since 2005. She resides in the Myers Park area of Charlotte with her husband, Jennings, and young daughter, Randall. Ashley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and has a certificate in Event Planning from Central Piedmont Community College. This has enabled her to run her event planning business, Events Without A Hitch. Growing up as a minister’s daughter, Ashley learned at a very young age the importance of giving to those in need. For that reason, Ashley has remained active in the Charlotte community for over 10 years, by volunteering and serving in leadership roles with the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, Young Affiliates of the Mint, Junior League of Charlotte, Art with Heart, and as Social Committee Chair for Charlotte House community. “I look forward to making a difference in the lives of families in need with Families Forward Charlotte”. |
![]() Angelica Rosen Family Assistance Program Committee Chair |
Angelica serves as Secretary of Families Forward Charlotte. Although she grew up in Altamonte Springs, Florida, she has lived in the Charlotte area since 2008 and resides in Davidson, North Carolina with her husband, Brian, and young daughter, Bryce. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in K-6 Elementary Education. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Charlotte to begin her teaching career. In her eight years of teaching, she has taught grades 1-8 in both public and independent school settings and has also served as a STEM & Special Programs Coordinator and Summer Camp Director at a local independent school. In 2017, Angelica transitioned out of the classroom and into the field of educational technology with a strong focus on social and emotional learning. As a young girl, Angelica’s family faced financial adversity while her parents began to establish roots in the United States after migrating from the Philippines. Eventually, her parents built successful careers, which helped push the family out of poverty. Having taught students whose families struggled to meet basic needs, Angelica identified the need for programs that help parents gain educational opportunities and career guidance to help gain the skills needed to acquire jobs that met their families’ needs. After conducting research in social and emotional learning, Angelica strongly believes that students’ success and happiness is rooted in stable, supportive households with strong role models. In 2017, Angelica joined Carrie Christian and the Families Forward Charlotte team to help serve families in the Charlotte community. |
![]() Dena Graziano Vice President / Volunteer and Donation Drives |
Dena is the VP of Families Forward and manages all social media efforts. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC she has seen the effect of poverty in the city and has a deep passion to help those families and children affected by such a harsh reality. Often people that have multiple problem areas feel overwhelmed and find it easier to give up rather than work to fix the issues. It is too often that individuals begin feeling hopeless and stuck in a downward spiral. She truly believes that progress starts with one person, one family. If that one family can receive help and education, poverty could be a thing of the past. Dena has been in early childhood education since 2001 with a short break to stay at home with her children, now ages 14, 12 and 9. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga and master’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. |
![]() Grants / Communications |
Katie serves as an At Large Board Member of Families Forward Charlotte. Katie grew up in Columbia, South Carolina but has lived in Charlotte for 11 years. She studied Marketing & Communications at the University of South Carolina and now works for Carolinas HealthCare System. When Katie had her second child in 2016, it hit her that so many children were lacking basic needs – she felt a weight of responsibility to do something to help the helpless in her community. She jumped at the chance to get involved with Carrie’s vision of a non-profit for children and their families who fell through the cracks. Katie wants to help Families Forward Charlotte make a lifelong difference in the lives of the innocent who will shape our city in the future. |
![]() Carrie Christian President |
Carrie is the Founder and Director of Families Forward Charlotte. Carrie has lived in Mecklenburg County since she was 1 years old and is now raising her family in Charlotte with her husband Tom. She graduated from West Charlotte High and earned her Masters of Arts in teaching from Winthrop University. She loves coaching high school volleyball and watching her kids enjoy sports as they grow. Carrie was devastated to learn about the Harvard study on Equality of Opportunity that found Mecklenburg County ranked 50 of 50 in upward mobility. Meanwhile, her family had been supporting poverty stricken families each Christmas through the help of local teachers. These families struggled to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. When dropping off Christmas gifts and household items in December 2016, the idea to start a non profit was born. Carrie wanted to provide year round support to ease the burden of poverty on local children and families, and in researching her goal she learned just how difficult it is to find local resources for families and her mission grew. Carrie quickly gained support within the community and with a dedicated board of directors, Families Forward Charlotte was born. Carrie is thankful for the opportunity to serve the community she grew up in and adores. |