Staff & Volunteers

Casey Baynes

Founder and Executive Director

Casey 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 1,400 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 Montgomery County, Maryland. 

Linda Zampelli

Program Volunteer

Linda Zampelli

Program Volunteer

To reach Linda Zampelli directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2013

Life Before Casey Cares: Retired from the Social Security Administration after 38 years of Federal Service

Job Description: Linda volunteers her time assisting Dawn organizing the Celebration Vacations.

Three things you might not know about Linda:

  • She has 3 1/2 grandchildren
  • She loves white wine
  • She loves to travel and getting to plan vacations for Casey Cares families is the perfect volunteer job for her!

Why she joined Casey Cares: A lifetime of public service does not end with retirement.  After trying a couple of other volunteer opportunities, Linda knew she had found her heart when she was introduced to Casey Cares and its mission to support critically ill children and their families.

Gina Truesdale

Hammy’s Heart Program Volunteer

Gina Truesdale

Hammy’s Heart Program Volunteer

To reach Gina Truesdale directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2010 as a parent of a sick child

Education: University of Phoenix

Job Description: Gina volunteers her time to coordinate fundraisers for the Hammy's Heart program. The monthly fundraisers that Gina organizes supply the funds and grocery store gift cards for our Casey Cares families.

Three things you might not know about Gina:

  • Her favorite show is the Golden Girls
  • She loves remote control buses
  • Gina was a cheerleader. Yes, cheerleading is a sport! 

Why she joined Casey Cares: She joined Casey Cares in 2010 when her son became ill with a brain tumor. After her son died she started the Hammy's Heart Program to fulfill her son's last wish to help feed others.

Karen Wieczorek

Program Volunteer

Karen Wieczorek

Program Volunteer

To reach Karen Wieczorek directly, click here to email her.

Ann Sheridan

Program Volunteer

Ann Sheridan

Program Volunteer

To reach Ann Sheridan directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2015

Education: Towson University

Job Description: Ann assists with the input of patient applications and other program-related correspondence. Ann volunteers her time two days each week.

Three things you might not know about Ann:

  • Ann loves to travel, especially to the beach
  • She loves spending time with husband and 5 children
  • She lives in Howard County.

Why she joined Casey Cares: After raising five children of her own, she wanted to give back to families that were less fortunate.

Joan Lenczycki

Program Volunteer

Joan Lenczycki

Program Volunteer

To reach Joan Lenczycki directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2016

Education: Seton High School 

Job Description: Joan volunteers her time on Tuesdays. She rolls pajamas and helps with mailings. 

Three things you might not know about Joan:

  • Joan had breast cancer in 1993
  • She has three grandchildren 
  • Joan has belonged to a friendship and service sorority for 42 years 

Why she joined Casey Cares:  Joan's sorority was already donating money but she wanted to volunteer her time. 

Charlotte Soracoe

Birthday Blasts Program Volunteer

Charlotte Soracoe

Birthday Blasts Program Volunteer

To reach Charlotte Soracoe directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2015

Education: University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Masters in Education at McDaniel University

Job Description: Charlotte assists with the Birthday Blasts Program and helps with Casey Cares' administrative activities.

Three things you might not know about Charlotte:

  • She taught reading and math for 30 years in Carroll County and Baltimore County Public Schools
  • Charlotte loves to travel 
  • She enjoys showing pictures of her grandchildren

Why she joined Casey Cares: She was interested in volunteering and discovered Casey Cares while researching various organizations online on www.VolunteerMatch.org. She read about Casey Cares and felt it matched her interests well!

Leslie Silverman

Caring Connections Program Volunteer

Leslie Silverman

Caring Connections Program Volunteer

To reach Leslie Silverman directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2007

Education: Emory University

Job Description: Leslie volunteers her time to coordinate our monthly Caring Connections Parties. She secures venues, food and entertainment donations and also invites families.

Three things you might not know about Leslie:

  • Leslie’s morning beverage of choice is tea
  • Leslie and her husband have two young children they are raising in Howard County
  • Her favorite color is orange

Why she joined Casey Cares: She was hoping to meet cool people like Erin.

Tammy Conner

Program Volunteer

Tammy Conner

Program Volunteer

To reach Tammy Conner directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2014

Education: University of Baltimore

Job Description: Tammy manages new applications, renewals and whatever else needs to be done. She is our go-to volunteer!

Three things you might not know about Tammy:

  • She loves to read serial killer murder mysteries
  • She can't wait to be a grandmother someday
  • She is a Baltimore native but lived in Cleveland, Ohio for one year in high school

Why she joined Casey Cares: Tammy saw a presentation by Erin seven years ago at a Combined Federal Campaign at Fort Meade and saved the materials until she retired from the Federal government with 36 years of service. She loves to give the Casey Cares kids and families a reason to smile.

Gloria Riggins

Kami's Jammies Program Volunteer

Gloria Riggins

Kami's Jammies Program Volunteer

To reach Gloria Riggins directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2017

Education: Gloria graduated from Seton High School in Baltimore in 1966, and retired as the Assistant Manager of Chesapeake Bank of Maryland in Arbutus in 2010.

Job Description: Gloria spends her time rolling pajamas and preparing them for shipment to hospitals

Three things you might not know about Gloria:

  • Gloria is a 31 year Breast Cancer Survivor.               
  • She lived in Frankfurt, Germany the first  2 years of her marriage.
  • She loves steamed crabs.

 

Carol Shutt

Kami’s Jammies Program Volunteer

Carol Shutt

Kami’s Jammies Program Volunteer

To reach Carol Shutt directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2013

Education: Catonsville Community College

Job Description: Carol volunteers her time and assists with organizing pajama donations and supplying them to hospitals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. She also represents Casey Cares at various charity organization fairs.

Three things you might not know about Carol:

  • She worked for the Department of Defense for 30 years
  • Carol is a board member of WPCRO, serving as a liaison between the community and the local police precinct
  • She can often be spotted at shopping at craft shows

Why she joined Casey Cares: She has a daughter who was very ill for six years, and at the time, this type of organization did not exist. She heard about the fire that destroyed the Casey Cares offices in 2007 and later got involved with volunteering for our organization.

Summer Porter

Program Director

Summer Porter

Program Director

To reach Summer Porter directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2022

Education: Washington Adventist University (Undergrad), LaSierra University (Grad MBA), and Keller Graduate School of Management (Grad Masters Project Management)

Job Description: Summer works with donors to arrange uplifting activities for our families

Three things you might not know about Summer:

  • Summer loves alternative lodging for vacations - so far a yurt, tree house, tiny house and train car.
  • She shares a birthday with her younger sister
  • Summer has made 100+ blankets to donate to Breelyn’s Blanket Brigade

Why she joined Casey Cares:  Summer was looking for a meaningful way to connect with others and Casey Cares was looking for a Program Director.  A match was made!  Summer understands first hand the challenges of having a chronically ill child and of having a child die.  She appreciates being a part of something that tries to make the difficult moments a bit better.  She strives to live in the moment and seeks to find joy.

Sarah Brakoh

Program Services Coordinator

Sarah Brakoh

Program Services Coordinator

To reach Sarah Brakoh directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2022

Education: Towson University

Job Description: Sarah works one-on-one with our families and our in-kind donors to arrange meaningful activities for our families.

Three things you might not know about Sarah:

  • Sarah was born and raised in New Jersey
  • She loves to travel and her favorite country she has visited to date is Paris, France
  • She is getting her master’s degree in Child Life, Collaboration, and Family Administration

Why she joined Casey Cares: I loved working for Casey Cares as an intern in Fall 2021 so much that I wanted to come back and continue serving kids in need!

Dawn Weissman

Director of Corporate Engagement

Dawn Weissman

Director of Corporate Engagement

To reach Dawn Weissman directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2010

Education: Lynchburg College

Job Description: Dawn coordinates corporate sponsors and external fundraisers.

Three things you might not know about Dawn:

  • She is Mom to one spunky daughter
  • She studied Theatre and has performed off-off-off-off Broadway
  • Dawn is our resident beauty product expert.

Why she joined Casey Cares: Her good friend Leslie volunteers at Casey Cares and thought she would be a great fit. She was right!

Erin Ritter

Deputy Associate Director

Erin Ritter

Deputy Associate Director

To reach Erin Ritter directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2006

Education: Salisbury University

Job description: Erin oversees the day-to-day operations at Casey Cares.

Three things you might not know about Erin:

  • She loves decorating, crafting and is a Pinterest fanatic
  • She has two wonderful kiddos, an enormous dog and a very understanding husband
  • She loves connecting volunteers, donors, and sponsors to make a real difference in the lives of our families.

Why she joined Casey Cares: Erin was college roommates with a founding member of the Casey Cares Board of Directors. Having worked in the non-profit industry for several years, working for Casey Cares was the perfect fit!

Jamie Snyder

Special Events Program Director

Jamie Snyder

Special Events Program Director

To reach Jamie Snyder directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2009

Education: Towson University

Job Description: Jamie plans Casey Cares’ major fundraising events

Three things you might not know about Jamie:

  • She loves to crochet
  • She has a “furbaby” named Eddie
  • She enjoys RV camping with her family

Why she joined Casey Cares: She loves nonprofits and event planning. She found the perfect fit at Casey Cares.

Missy Bishop

Donor Services Manager

Missy Bishop

Donor Services Manager

To reach Missy Bishop directly, click here to email her.

Tenure: Joined Casey Cares in 2014

Education: University of Maryland Baltimore County

Job Description: Missy provides support to specific fundraising and in-kind development initiatives.

Three things you might not know about Missy:

  • She loves photography
  • She runs her own photography business when she is not helping critically ill children
  • She is always on the go!

Why she joined Casey Cares: After having minor health issues, she realized the importance of living life to the fullest. Having previously worked for other non-profits, she knew she wanted to focus on helping kids.

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