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Charlotte Kirchgessner White, FounderCharlotte grew up in Chapel Hill and returned in 2006 with her husband, Eric and two kids. Eric and Charlotte actually met in 7th grade at Phillips Jr. High. She’s grateful to her parents for the opportunities she was given from private piano lessons, cheerleading and rec softball, to school musicals, chorus, camping and traveling. Her first love was always dance. She began at age five and continued with ballet and jazz throughout high school and recently began to study tap. Her love of drawing at a young age resurfaced in high school when she decided to pursue a commercial art career. She graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta and now owns a graphic design firm, White Space Graphic Design (WeAreWhiteSpace.com). She believes in the opportunities and the windows to the world that extra curricular offer and encourages children, and adults, to discover new interests.
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Eric White, FounderHaving been born and raised in Chapel Hill, Eric has always had a genuine love for the area and its people. He recognizes that the benefits that were afforded him were made possible by having the opportunity to participate in the many activities made available through the school and the community itself. Basketball programs, school band, field trips, art camps, and more played important roles in making him the adult member of the community that he is today. According to Eric, The SKJAJA Fund is the perfect vehicle for him to “pay back” the community that gave him so very much. Currently, Eric is a residential real estate broker. He finds it easy and fun to show people from other areas what a great “village” Chapel Hill really is.
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Joan White, FounderJoan and her husband, Kin, grew up in the Midwest but have lived in Chapel Hill for over 40 years. She had the good fortune, as a child, to be able to take piano lessons, be a Girl Scout, and attend day camps in the summers. From her perspective as a mother, grandmother, and long-time volunteer in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, she knows the value of children’s participation in academic, artistic, and athletic extra-curricular opportunities and is grateful to be a part of the SKJAJA Fund as it provides access to those activities to underprivileged children. She is also an advocate of “paying-it-forward.” All SKJAJA Fund recipients are required to pay forward their gift by doing a good deed for someone else. Children learn it is often as rewarding to give as to receive.
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Sondra Komada, ProgramsSondra grew up just down the road in Burlington. After spending four years at UNC, she knew she wanted to some day move back to raise a family. Fortunately, her dream came true and now she and her husband, Mike and their three kids live in Chapel Hill. Sondra is grateful to her parents for enabling her to participate in dance, cheerleading, and summer camps as a child and is excited to be involved in an organization that helps other children be able to have the same opportunities.
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Kim White Glasser, InspirationAlthough Kim was born in the Midwest, she spent most of her life in Chapel Hill. Growing up, she was involved in ballet, Girl Scouts, piano, and church youth groups. Kim and her husband, Scott, have four children. Their children were able to take advantage of many extra curricular activities - including tennis lessons, scouts, dance, Rainbow Soccer and parks/rec department basketball. Kim always loved working with children. First babysitting, then getting her degree in early childhood education at UNC-CH. She worked for many years as a pre-k teacher, and recently retired. Kim is a firm believer in the idea that it takes a village to raise a child and in educating the whole child -academically, socially and physically. Extra curricular activities are the key to successful development and potential.
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