Mae Rice and Tommie Biggins are being recognized as our community volunteers of the year. When Mae recruited Tommie to serve alongside her on the Partnership’s Community Awareness and Resource Development committee, she probably had no idea what she was getting roped into. Through their service Mae and Tommie have shown tremendous dedication and put in countless volunteer hours planning, promoting, and soliciting sponsors and donations for our Raise the Booty Event. Both Mae and Tommie now serve on the Partnership for Children Park Beautification Committee. Community volunteers such as Mae Rice and Tommie Biggins serve as invaluable assets to our work.

Marty Clayton serves as District Manager for Duke Energy. Our relationship with Marty dates back nearly 20 years when Carolina Power and Light provided the Partnership with a free space to house our fledgling non-profit. Through the years, the company name may have changed, but the commitment to supporting the Partnership has remained firm. Through Marty’s work and community involvement, the Partnership has been grateful to receive donations for our Raise the Booty Fundraiser and numerous community grants, most recently from a connection with Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

Brittney and Larry DiBartolo moved here a little over 3 years ago. They have four children ranging in age from 2 to 8. When they moved to NC, they did not have a support system and by coming to the Partnership they were able to get critical resources needed for support. Since then, their family is flourishing. They own and operate a successful small business: Honeysuckle Grove. Brittney and Larry are now able to give back to the community. They donate to all of the Partnership's events, volunteer their time, and help families in need.

Chuck Elliott as President and CEO of Johnston Health has a lot of responsibilities, but sometimes it’s the littlest things that can make the biggest impact. After our own “Dolly” model showed up at a Central Johnston Rotary meeting to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, Chuck reached out to us to see how the hospital could collaborate in this work. Because of his leadership, Johnston County is the first in North Carolina to ensure that every family is educated about the Imagination Library program and offered to be registered for the program when they complete their newborns' birth certificates.

Tim Johnson as the former director of Smithfield Parks and Recreation was instrumental in kicking off the Partnership to Build A Miracle Campaign in Johnston County. He was actively involved in writing and helping to secure the State PARTF grant, which was a major source of funding for the park. Even after his departure from the Town of Smithfield, Tim continued his work on behalf of the park and the Partnership supporting the children and families of Johnston County.

Chris Key is a dedicated early childhood advocate and business man who has served 12 years on the Partnership for Children Board of Directors. He has served in numerous roles, including Chair, and most recently led the Partnership to Build A Miracle Campaign and Park Building Committee. The Partnership for Children Park truly wouldn’t be a reality without his tireless efforts and relentless dedication.

KS Bank (represented by Earl Worley), established in 1924, focuses its attention on local families and businesses. One of the bank's core beliefs is that it is “important to be involved in each community where their customers live and work, helping to keep local communities thriving and growing.” This commitment is evident by over a decade of ongoing support through financial gifts and human capital to the Partnership for Children. We are proud to recognize KS Bank as the 2019 Corporate Champion for Children.

Jeanelle McCain - The Tutoring for Success program in Benson was founded by Evelyn Aranda and provides free tutoring help for children in the Benson area. The program serves primarily children in poverty and challenging family situations. Jaenelle McCain worked with Evelyn until cancer took Evelyn’s life this past August. Janelle has volunteered her time and has continued the program. Janelle works tirelessly to be sure the children are getting the academic, social, emotional, and caring support they need. This school year Janelle has served over 75 children and the need continues to grow. She runs the program with donations, volunteers, and lots of love!

Mamie Moore - As the Director of Operations for My Kids Club in Selma, Mamie’s passion exudes through her smile and her words as she talks about the important work the club is doing. Serving more than 100 high-risk youth ages 6-18, Mamie makes a daily impact on the children’s academic success and social resilience. Mamie is a strong collaborative partner to the Partnership, working to promote family strengthening and protective factors to ensure My Kids Club is benefiting the whole family.

Nate & Colleen Roby own and operate four Simple Twist locations in Johnston County. Their focus on keeping things local starts with their commitment to working with local farmers to supply their restaurants and continues through their generous support of local non-profits such as the Partnership for Children. They have been consistent supporters and sponsors of our annual Raise the Booty event, giving of their time and talent to help us "raise the booty" for Johnston County children and families.

Donna White as a freshmen legislator in the N.C. House of Representatives hit the ground running. She has quickly become a recognizable name across the state when it comes to crossing the aisle and getting things done. She listens to and truly works on behalf or her constituents. Donna has championed children and families in her work through co-signing legislation to support families, parenting education, and our youngest children.

Dana Wooten - As President of the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Dana Wooten "gets it." Through the education committee at the Chamber, Dana has championed the annual proclamation of the Week of the Young Child in the town of Clayton. She is spreading the the word about resilience and is promoting the education continuum from cradle to career.