SCHNECKSVILLE, PA (February 23, 2021) – The KidsPeace Foundation announced that it has named three new members to its Board of Trustees, as of February 2021.  The new trustees are Dr. Scott Reines of New Hope, PA, Sandra Kerr of Pipersville, PA and Regina Thompson of Fayetteville, NC.

Dr. Reines and Ms. Kerr also serve as members of KidsPeace’s National Board of Directors, while Ms. Thompson is a member and past chair of the KidsPeace Fayetteville Board of Associates.

“We’re delighted to welcome as Foundation Trustees such talented individuals, who also are committed to the mission of KidsPeace,” said Ann McCauley, president of the KidsPeace Foundation. “We look forward to working with Regina, Scott and Sandy, along with our other Trustees, to build on our efforts and make it possible for our programs to enjoy even more support in the years to come.”

About the new Trustees:

• Dr. Scott Reines is a board-certified physician, pharmaceutical research scientist and executive. He served in leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson and Merck Laboratories, and currently consults with a variety of biotech, pharmaceutical, and venture capital organizations. Dr. Reines joined the KidsPeace Board of Directors in 2010 and currently serves as its chair.
• Sandra Kerr previously was executive director of promotions and advertising review for Merck & Co.; she also served in similar roles at Johnson & Johnson and Upjohn. In addition to her work with KidsPeace, Ms. Kerr is a trained disaster relief caseworker for the American Red Cross, and a volunteer with Point Pleasant Fire Company #1 and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania.  Ms. Kerr joined the KidsPeace Board of Directors in 2018.
• Regina Thompson is a small business owner and entrepreneur who also has devoted her time and talents to several community nonprofit groups in the Fayetteville (NC) area.  In 2016 she joined the KidsPeace Fayetteville Board of Associates, and has led the group to success in raising financial and in-kind donations along with awareness of the need for loving homes for youth in the community.

McCauley notes that the naming of new Trustees comes after a year of both notable challenges and achievements.  Despite the barriers to success linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation secured more than $6 million in grants and gifts to support KidsPeace programming in eight states.  In 2020 the Trustees and Directors provided more than $200,000 in personal gifts; those gifts helped to fund selected programs and projects such as the Sarah’s Smile Autism Program, TeenCentral.com, free walk-in outpatient assessments, and the work of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to provide therapeutic support to schools and communities who have experienced traumatic events. 

KidsPeace Foundation

As a non-profit organization, KidsPeace is strengthened through philanthropic and charitable support.  The organization created the KidsPeace Foundation in 2017 to enhance its connection to donors and potential donors, secure major gifts to support KidsPeace’s various programs in a sustainable manner, manage the philanthropic support process and oversee the work of local KidsPeace Boards of Associates in their efforts in support of local offices and activities.  For more information, visit www.Kidspeace.org/foundation .

KidsPeace

Since 1882, KidsPeace has been building on its expertise to give hope, help and healing to children, adults and those who love them. Through its comprehensive range of residential treatment programs; accredited educational services; unique psychiatric hospital and foster care and community-based programs, KidsPeace is dedicated to helping people connect, transform and overcome their challenges to ensure a stable future, transition to adulthood and gain independence. Since its doors opened, nearly 300,000 children have participated in one of the multitude of programs KidsPeace offers.

For additional resources or more information on how to get involved, become a foster parent or make a donation, please visit www.kidspeace.org. Follow us at www.facebook.com/kidspeace.org or on Twitter @KidsPeace.