This is possibly the easiest post I’ve ever had to write at CKc…

When I stepped in as the Executive Director at CKc, my exact words to the CKc governing board were as follows: “I will do this, but only if you promise I can get back to 100 percent research and education when the time is right.”

Well, my friends, the internal goal I had for myself (Don’t you have those? Goals no one ever knows but you?) was to reach $1 million raised in one calendar year. What I didn’t expect was that this goal would happen in 2018, just 3.5 years after giving our first research grant to Dr. Johnson in summer of 2015. 

If you’re reading this and you know me (like really know me), you know I had my eye on who my predecessor would be from the day I took the role as Executive Director. The timing had to be right, and one day while brainstorming with said person I had an eye on, she said, “I wish it could be me.” I saw my window and darn it, I took it! I responded calmly, trying to keep my cool at the words she had just said. I said, “Are you ready yet?” To which she responded, “Let’s do this!”

You see, for those that don’t know her, she is not only known as a nonprofit guru, she was an Executive Director at the American Cancer Society, a Director of Philanthropy and even taught nonprofit leaders how to be the best they can be. Did I mention she has served on our advisory board since the beginning? And that she was introduced to me by Ashley VanDerMark, not only the person who helped me start CKc, but our ED from day one. This is a full circle moment for sure! 

Without further ado, please meet Karen Revels, the incredible badass that will take CKc to the next level.

Of course, we couldn’t welcome our new Executive Director without having fun in our studio and showing off the entire CKc team

Selfishly, I’m extremely excited to focus 100 percent of my time on research and education again with my sidekick, Kelly King. We have already hit California, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Scotland for research since the beginning of the year. But so, so, so much bigger than that, I am over the moon that because of this change, this move… more children will survive pediatric cancer and live better lives because We Can Do Better… and we will. 

Here are a few words from Karen. Please join me in giving her an amazing welcome!!!

Greetings friends! 

I feel as if the past 23 years working in the nonprofit sector in Central Florida have been preparing me for this role, and I couldn’t be more excited. I have been in awe of Melissa since the day we first met right after the book Thankful for the Fight was released, and then shortly after meeting with her when she had the wild idea of starting a nonprofit. 

Fast forward to today and I am pinching myself at the thought of coming on board and helping to grow the seeds that have been planted thus far. So much has been accomplished in the four short years since CKc’s inception: families provided with hope; children able to celebrate another birthday, ALL BECAUSE OF EACH OF YOU!  But we can’t stop, there are more lives to save and there is more work to be done.

I am grateful for the opportunity to do this with you, with the wonderful donors and supporters of CKc, those that believe in the mission, believe in Melissa and Michael’s vision and believe the status quo is NOT OK when it comes to children facing cancer. I promise to be a vocal advocate; devoting my time and energy to all that we will continue to do until no family hears the words, “there are NO MORE OPTIONS.”  Again, it is my honor and privilege to work side by side with all the wonderful volunteers and supporters.

Thank you for all you do!

– Karen Revels