Our Mission Statement

Levine Cardiac Kids is a group that supports children who are being treated for, or have recently been diagnosed with, Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) and their families.  Our goal is to provide a forum in which members:

• Support one another through the sharing of experiences.  As parents who cope with many of the same issues and anxieties over our children’s health, we share a special bond and offer each other the “parent perspective” that differs from that of the medical perspective. For the CHD children, support is provided primarily through the family structure, but also through building relationships with other CHD patients and gaining a deeper awareness of what it means to live with a CHD.
• Educate ourselves on pertinent issues related to heart-health, diagnostic procedures, treatments, terminologies, financial/insurance considerations and coping strategies. 
• Spread awareness of congenital heart defects and the existence of our support group within the community.  

Additionally, we seek to develop relationships with medical professional and hospitals that provide comprehensive pediatric cardiac care, such as Levine Children’s Hospital, to provide our families with a direct link to the access of medical support, facilities, and advocation of quality pediatric medical care.

Steering Committee

Executive Director:
Lisa McKenzie, Mother of Mary Grace McKenzie (9/16/02) - Single Ventricle with 3-stage Fontan repair. Other children: Daughters Sarah 10/96 and Anna 12/99)
Co-founder and director of Levine Cardiac Kids since its inception in 4/2007.
Responsible for:
- Ensuring that the activities of LCK fulfill our mission of CHD support, awareness and education,
- Liaison between LCK and staff of Levine Children's Hospital, Sanger Clinic, and the Carolina Healthcare Foundation,
- Overseeing the LCK Steering Committee, including leading the monthly Steering Committee planning meeting
- Leading the monthly gatherings of the LCK members (meetings or social events)
- Submitting grants on behalf of LCK
- Communicating to LCK membership,
- Promoting the growth and development of LCK
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom; active volunteer at daughters' school and within my community
Background: Graduated with a B.A from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) with majors in Public Administration and English. For 10 years, prior to having children, I was a consultant and project manager with a software consulting firm. After having children, I haved volunteered extensively within my church, neighborhood and school communities.
E-mail: l.mckenzie@levinecardiackids.com

Fundraising Director:
Adrienne Mauntel, Mother of Ford Mauntel (hypoplastic right heart syndrome – tricuspid atresia)
Facilitate selection of fundraising events, coordinate effort to solicit sponsors of fundraising events; prepare talking points for presentations to sponsors; recruit member volunteers, plan all aspects of each fundraising event and manage execution.
Occupation: Consultant, Accenture
Background: Vanderbilt University: BS - Human & Organizational Development
E-mail: a.mauntel@levinecardiackids.com

Membership Director:
Angela Baakko, Mother of Graham Baakko, born in 2003 with Critical Aortic Stenosis, had a heart transplant at 6 weeks of age
Maintain membership database (based on new member registrations on website and at meetings), assemble new member packets and care package items, coordinate with Child Life staff (Flora) to arrange for the distribution of care packages and/or meal vouchers to parents; make initial contact with new members through an email message or telephone call; coordinate birthday, thank you and get well cards; as need arises, recruit volunteers to provide dinners and/or other aid to families during/following serious medical procedures (the nature of the assistance to be determined based on the circumstances and member resources at the time).
Occupation: Part Time Associate with The Daniel Group, Mom, Wife
Background: Angela has a BS in Human Resources Management. She joined Levine Cardiac Kids in January 2007. Prior to that she served on the board of another non-profit CHD support group--Hearts of Hope se Michigan as Membership Director. Angela and her family moved from Michigan to the Charlotte area the end of 2006.
E-mail: a.baakko@levinecardiackids.com

Secretary:
Bryon Mulligan, Father of Evan
prepare minutes of monthly LCK meetings and Steering Committee meetings, prepare description of responsibilities for each position on the steering committee.
Occupation: Attorney
Background: B.S. in Business Administration, J.D.
E-mail: b.mulligan@levinecardiackids.com

Treasurer:
Chris McKenzie, father of Mary Grace McKenzie.
Manages funding and reimbursement of eligible expenditures (including ordinary operating expenses and fundraising expenses), manage development of LCK budget; monitor and reconcile LCK donations and fund balances with amounts shown by the Foundation; hold and manage petty cash; establish and manage protocol for handling incoming LCK cash at various LCK events or otherwise.
Occupation: Vice President of Sales for RSI Home Products since 1998
Background: Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1985 with a degree in Marketing and Finance. I’ve lived in St Louis, Chicago and have resided in Charlotte, NC since 1997. In addition to Mary (6), we have two other daughters Sarah (12) and Anna (9). Served as Treasurer for North Meck Soccer League
E-mail: c.mckenzie@levinecardiackids.com

Website Design and Art Director:
Alison Foster, mother of Carter T Anderson.
Co- Founder. Create and maintain website design and content; design LCK brochures and t-shirts.
Occupation: Stay at home mom
Background: Born in Kalamazoo, MI moved to Illinois when I was 14, moved to Charlotte, NC in 2004. Graduated Illinois State University in 2002 with a B.S. in General Art concentration in Photography, in 2003 Graduated from The Illinois Institute of Art with a Certificate in Graphic Design, Attended The Art Institute of Charlotte for Web Design from 2004-2005.
E-mail: a. foster@levinecardiackids.com

Co-Social Director:
Kim Ransom, mother of Jack, currently age 7, VSD and RVOTO (right ventricle outflow tract obstruction)
Co- Founder. Coordinate and plan coffee drop-ins, LCK picnic, play dates and other LCK social events; assemble information regarding heart camps, including heart camp being developed by the Sanger Clinic.
Occupation: stay at home MOM
Background: Business Degree with an emphasis in Human Resources from Georgia Southern University…Co-chaired AdamFest for a child fighting childhood cancer, PTA Board at Elon Park Elementary
E-mail: k.ransom@levinecardiackids.com

Co-Social Director:
Kim Jackson, Mother of Jacob Jackson 16 yo (Shone's Complex)
Co- Founder. Coordinate and plan coffee drop-ins, LCK picnic, play dates and other LCK social events; assemble information regarding heart camps, including heart camp being developed by the Sanger Clinic.
Background: Carolinas Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology, volunteer councilor at Camp Taylor - CHD camp in California
E-mail: k.jackson@levinecardiackids.com

Heart to Heart Program Director:
Connie VandenBosch
Coordinate and organize the Heart to Heart Program in which families of children with heart defects are paired up with other families like theirs for support, advice, and guidance; Educate Levine Childrens' Hospital staff, Sanger Clinic Staff, and the Womens' Institute Staff on the goal of the program and their role in reaching that goal; Produce marketing materials to help with awareness of the Heart to Heart Program.
E-mail:  c.vandenbosch@levinecardiackids.com

Committees

This listing provides a committee structure for the group. Each committee is listed in bold with a brief description of its purpose.  A listing of tasks or activities that comprise the committee is also provided. Please, consider the area(s) in which you would be interested serving a role; where you feel motivated to invest the time necessary to make the tasks work and your talents shine. 

• Parent Support (Internal) This committee focuses on providing a connection to and support for each other – the parents, families and CHD children who make up our “support family”.    Tasks include: Member Database, Biography/Photo Albums, Emotional Support, Birthday recognition, Monthly Meeting Planning/Discussion points, Newsletter, On-Call Hospital help

• Parent Support (External)  This committee involves reaching out to newly identified CHD kids/families to offer our support, knowledge and understanding.   (Note:  This will require some basic training, provided by the hospital or social service agency due to HIPPA and other regulations.) Tasks include: “Parent Match” List:, Phone Support, Hospital Visits/Gift Bag Creation.
  
• Social (Kid Support): This committee plans the fun, family-gathering events, specifically geared for our kids which make for a celebration and reunion.  Anyone interested could attend; families, doctors, sponsors, new CHD families, visiting CHD families.  Tasks include; Picnics, Christmas Party, Play dates, Kid Camps, Refreshment organization for meetings, working with Major Fundraising Event (see below).

• Fundraising: This committee is responsible for planning/executing the fundraising activities/events that raise money to support the efforts of our group.  They work in conjunction with the Treasurer and Committee chairs. (Note:  A budget has not yet been determined). Tasks include:  Seeking Sponsors, Donation Solicitation, and Major Fundraising Event.

• Awareness:  This committee is similar to a communications committee, dealing with all aspects of making various communities (hospitals, internet, Charlotte, CHD groups, physicians, etc.) aware of Pediatric CHD and that we exist as a group.  Tasks include: Website, Community (Media) Outreach,  Creation of Flyers/Artwork,  Distributing Flyers,  Ronald McDonald House Liaison
  
• Education:  This committee is responsible for collecting CHD/health-related information that is helpful to the group, sharing it with the group, and organizing the information for easy access.  Tasks include; Maintain Library of Medical Research , Collect and manage CHD related health information, Arrange guest speakers,  Online Research,  Financial/Insurance Support,  Hospital Regulation