Casey Baynes
Founder and Executive DirectorCasey always enjoyed volunteer work but never imagined she would be running a non-profit organization herself. That all changed when she visited a child while helping to fulfill a special wish at the hospital. She overheard another child say, "I wish I had cancer so I could get special things too." From then on, Casey made it her life's mission to help not only children battling cancer but any child fighting for their life when diagnosed with any illness - whether it is sickle cell, cystic fibrosis, organ transplants or any rare ailment.
In 2000, she started working with a handful of families as a side project while working at her parents' trucking company. Her goal was to lift the spirits of critically ill children and their entire families. Her organization grew exponentially, but it wasn't always easy. In 2007, a massive fire destroyed the offices and all of Casey’s foundation information. Her sponsors and donors rallied behind her and managed to make sure that no family was left behind. Every single activity that had been planned before the fire went through without a hitch.
Now the Casey Cares Foundation serves more than 1,200 families a year in eight states and D.C. There's a memory made every 20 minutes thanks to Casey's dedication and philanthropy!
Casey is a graduate of Salisbury University and the youngest person at the time to receive a master's degree from Towson State (now Towson University). She is married to Mike Baynes and have three children named Mackenzie, Hunter, and Jacob. The family splits their time between Florida and Montogomery County, Maryland.
