chick of the month...who are all these Charity Chicks?

July Chick of the Month

Sarah Stitzel

Sarah and her

daughters, Leah (6) and Molly (4)

Meet Charity Chick Sarah Stitzel....

Where did you grow up?
Born in CT, but grew up in Parsippany, NJ (everyone loves a Jersey girl...)
Current occupation?
Full time Mom, Part time Charity Chicks Secretary, Part Time (a very small part) Mechanical Engineer
What were you doing 10 years ago?
2000....finishing up my M.S. at Virginia Tech, getting married, looking for a job!
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
2020...seems so far away.  Hopefully raising two lovely teenagers, doing a little more engineering work, volunteering, enjoying life.
Why did you join Charity Chicks?
Being part of a volunteer/community service organization is something I've been doing since high school, and as a busy adult Charity Chicks is a perfect way to fit community service into my life, meet other great women, and teach my children the importance of giving back.
Favorite chick flick?
Say Anything.

Last really great book you read?

The Outlander series, Wicked, Three Cups of Tea

Favorite restaurant in Winston?
Firebirds (Big Daddy Chocolate Cake. Love It.)
Anything else interesting other chicks might like to know about you?
I love to knit and bake, and fix stuff. I'm an excellent hula hooper, an amateur web-site designer, and basically a big nerd.

June Chick of the Month

Jessica Sheedy

Jessica and her sons

Evan (6) and Alex (4)

Meet Charity Chick Jessica Sheedy.....

 1. Where did you grow up?
Groton, NY- a little town with no stoplight just south of Syracuse- snow country!!!
2. Current occupation?
Full time Mom, Part time Personal Trainer
3. What were you doing 10 years ago?
2000 was a big year for me- graduated with my Master's degree; married my wonderful husband, David; bought our first house; and adopted our puppy, Peyton! Whew!
4. What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
Laughing, having fun, enjoying life, spending more time with family in NY, raising our boys to be fine young men. I want to be more involved in charity work and participate in overseas adventure tours.
5. Why did you join Charity Chicks?
It's an organization that understands our busy lives and finds ways that we can help our community while having fun! There are so many opportunities to do little things that really add up. The values and mission align with my goals. Plus, I love the name!
6. Favorite chick flick?
Thelma and Louise
7. Favorite restaurant in Winston?
Arigato
8. Worst pet peeve?
Slow drivers
9. Achievement so far in life that you're most proud of?
Raising two of the best boys in the world with my husband while doing what I love for a living! Life is good!
10. Anything else interesting other chicks might like to know about you?
My husband David and I have two boys Evan, 6, and Alex, 4. Love to cycle, hike, camp, and do anything outdoors! Looking for anyone who likes to mountain bike!

May Chick of the Month

Lori Garretson

Lori with her lovely family, Kory, Kate (3) and Cyrus (6)

Where did you grow up?

7 states, ranging in location from Georgia to Massachussetts (but Winston is my true home).
Current occupation?

Mom and musician, but get paid for neither :-)
What were you doing 10 years ago?

Living in the hill country of Texas, teaching piano and playing tennis six days a week
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?

Living overseas for a year with my family
Hobbies?

Reading, riding bikes, exercising outside, playing music
Favorite restaurant in Winston?

Milners

Last really great book you read?

Three Cups of Tea, The God of Small Things, My Stroke of Insight
Achievement so far in life that you're most proud of?

Getting ready to celebrate 10 years of marriage with my husband and raising two silly, interesting, huggable kids!
Anything else interesting other chicks might like to know about you?
I'm a recent convert to boxed wine.

April Chick of the Month

Lori Smith

Lori with her princesses Taylor (4) and Madison (7)

Where did you grow up?

Advance, NC
Current occupation?

Sales Associate – Merrill Lynch (Greensboro)
What were you doing 10 years ago?

Working full time at Merrill; married with no kids.. What did I do with all that free-time??
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?

Working less; playing and volunteering more.
Why did you join Charity Chicks?

To volunteer, give back to the community, and help others. I also want to show my little girls that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Favorite chick flick?

Pretty Woman, The Proposal
Favorite restaurant in Winston?

Firebirds

Last really great book you read?

I just finished The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Achievement so far in life that you're most proud of?

Running a marathon in under 4 hours
Anything else interesting other chicks might like to know about you?
Last year, I ran my first 10k, half marathon, completed my first triathlon, and ran a full marathon! Alan and I have been married for 10years. We have two little girls, Madison(7) and Taylor (4).

March Chick of the Month

Cindy Bernard

Cindy (back left) with her husband and three daughters

Where did you grow up?

 I have to grow up?! Ok, I grew up in south Louisiana.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Wiping the nervous sweat off my brow, thankful that I did not have to contact our
pest control man to eliminate the W2K bug threatening our home--and part time
teaching at a small private school and raising three beautiful daughters.
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?

Same thing that brings me personal joy every day: loving life and those around me.
My oldest daughter got married recently; I would not mind having grandchildren in that
time frame. I also would like a gainful part time job and would love to continue working
with children in a reading tutor capacity. Nothing is more fun than playing with a child
in their own mental playground.

Why did you join Charity Chicks?

That's easy. I wanted to be a part of this dynamic group of chicks offering what they
offer-- charity.
Nickname (if so, please explain)?

Actually, Cindy is my nickname. My legal name is Cynthia. Anyone wishing to confer
a new one is welcome! (Since this one is so unimaginative and so Brady Bunch.)

Achievement so far in life that you're most proud of?

If reveling in my delightful daughters and the way they have turned out can be called
an achievement, then that is it! They are so strong and independent and lovely.

Anything else interesting other chicks might like to know about you?
Would like to leave this one intentionally blank in hopes that someone (or ones) would want to
be my friend and get to know me since I am a deep south, new transplant here.

February Chick of the Month

Kerry Danelson

Kerry with husband Steve,

 and sons Connor and Austin 

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was working on finishing my senior year of college.
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?

I would like to still be doing research in injury biomechanics, preferably as a faculty member of a university.
Why did you join Charity Chicks?

I think it is a great opportunity to volunteer without a set schedule. In the past it has been hard for me to get involved with volunteer groups because of specific meeting times. I am also very excited about helping the Community Care Center because it has such a great mission.
Favorite chick flick?

This is terrible but I am so far behind on watching current movies- The only one I can think of is “You’ve got Mail”. (That and I usually just watch stupid comedies.)
Favorite restaurant in Winston?

Milner’s
Worst pet peeve?

My husband snoring when I am up with the baby.
Achievement so far in life that you're most proud of?

Getting my Masters while Steve was deployed and Connor was little.