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Part
of what makes Kids to Kids
so special is its staff. These are some of the people that
make Kids to Kids such
a success.
Laurie Hartig, Founder and Director of
Programs
Lisa
Habighorst, Executive Director
Sherry Walker, Director
of Development
Cynthia
Hensel, Breakfast
With Books Program and Book
Drive Coordinator
Becky
Barnard, Events and Volunteer Coordinator
Trang Dang, Communication
Coordinator
Carmen Choto, Program
Assistant
Libbi Erickson, Program
Assistant
Alison Johnsen,
Program Assistant
Henry Dionne, Book
Delivery Specialist
Laurie
Hartig, Founder and Director of Programs
 Laurie
Hartig is a retired elementary school librarian. Laurie graduated
from Southern Methodist University with a B.A. in Education
and a Masters Degree from UNLV in Curriculum and instruction,
specializing in Library Science.
During
her 16 years working with at-risk children, she realized the
impact that ownership of books made in the lives of her young
students. Although inspiring children to check out books from
her library was her goal, when she could provide youngsters
with a book of their own from her discarded library books,
this was when she saw the magic of book ownership. Her students
sparkled—they stood taller and prouder.
At
Kids to Kids, Laurie promotes
the program through speaking engagements and other outreach
efforts, and oversees all the different program aspects of
Kids to Kids.
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Lisa
Habighorst, Executive Director
 Lisa
Habighorst was a middle school mathematics teacher for 12
years. She earned her undergraduate degree in Education at
Oregon State University and a Masters Degree in Education
Administration from UNLV.
Being
a believer in literacy and an avid reader, she jumped at the
chance in July 2001 to coordinate the Kids
to Kids program.
Lisa
is responsible for the overall management of Kids
to Kids. She oversees all employees and financials
as well as the daily operation of the program. Lisa spends
a large amount of time on growing the program through Board
relations, strategic planning, vision and stability.
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Sherry
Walker , Director of Development
 Sherry
is a graduate of Miami of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio. She has a
B.S. in Business and Marketing. She worked for 10 years as
an international flight attendant out of JFK airport in New
York.
Sherry
has been involved with the Early Childhood program in Clark
County schools and has seen what a difference early intervention
can make in a child's life. She believes Kids
to Kids can make a huge impact in the lives of
children by helping them develop good reading habits at an
early age.
On
behalf of Kids to Kids,
Sherry cultivates relationships within the corporate, nonprofit
and grassroots communities, enlisting their support through
donations and sponsorship opportunities.
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Cynthia
Hensel, Breakfast With Books Program and Book Drive Coordinator
 Cynthia
Hensel graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with
a major in biology and minors in chemistry and psychology.
She returned to college to become a science teacher for grades
7-12.
After
teaching for six years, she entered the medical field and
became a cytogenetic technologist. Cynthia is a mother of
two boys. She volunteers in her children's school and works
part-time for the Kids to Kids literacy project. She is very
passionate about helping to facilitate literacy learning opportunities
for all children.
Cindy
organizes book drives, oversees the monthly book distributions
to adopted schools, and manages book pick-ups and drop-offs.
She is also responsible for the "Breakfast with Books"
program for Kids to Kids,
as well as planning, scheduling and organizing, soliciting
sponsorships and raffle prizes for the monthly events.
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 Becky
Barnard, Events Coordinator
Becky
Barnard spent the last four years as a preschool teacher and
previously worked at UNLV as a Program Coordinator in the
office of Student Activities. Becky
is a graduate of California Polytechnic University at Pomona.
Becky is responsible for the annual Storybook Gala and the
many exciting events Kids to Kids supports to promote literacy.
She is excited to have the opportunity to enrich lives of
children throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Becky
and her husband Will have three children and enjoy camping,
participating in sports and of course lots of reading!
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Trang
Dang, Communication Coordinator
 Trang
earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Services (major) and Child
Development (minor) at California State University, Fullerton,
and a Master's Degree in Social Work at the University of
Southern California. Before relocating to Nevada with her
husband and two daughters, Trang worked as a clinical social
worker in an outpatient behavioral health clinic in California.
She served children with emotional, behavioral and special
needs and provided mental health evaluations of children designated
under special education in local school districts.
Trang
joined Kids to Kids as
a part-time staff member in August of 2007 and currently works
with media sources to promote the program, oversees communications
efforts, and assists with other program management responsibilities.
She will also facilitate book cleanings at other community
centers, assist with program promotion, and facilitate book
drives.
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Carmen
Choto, Program Assistant
 Carmen
E. Choto moved to the U.S. 27 years ago from El Salvador,
Central America. Carmen is a wife and full-time mom of four
children. As a bilingual speaker (of Spanish and English),
Carmen worked for the St. Anne Church as the head of events
and planning of the Pastoral Ministry. Carmen has also volunteered
for more than four years at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, aiding
in retail services. Lately, she has been working in childcare
at St. Thomas More Church.
With
more than two years of psychology study under her belt, from
the Jesuit University in El Salvador, Carmen has a unique
understanding of how reading helps in the development of children.
Carmen's drive and enthusiasm for Kids to Kids was inspired
by a realization of how—growing up in El Salvador, and seeing
how any type of literature was hard to come by—books were
gifts and that many children are still incapable of obtaining
the magic and wonder of reading. Through her work, Carmen
shows her true appreciation of the amazing unity between books
and children.
Carmen
oversees weekly book cleanings at the Henderson Senior Center.
She works with our "Breakfast with Books" program
as a facilitator at a number of schools and helps promote
Kids to Kids at community
events.
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Libbi
Erickson, Program Assistant
 Libbi
graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Business
Marketing and a minor in Business Management. She last worked
18 years ago in the Military Personnel Office at the Uniformed
Services University of the Health Sciences, and has been a
stay-at-home mom to her three kids since 1991. She volunteered
at her children's schools and with PTA until they finished
elementary school. She now volunteers with middle school and
high school where needed and with National Charity League
for the past three years, which is how she came to Spread
the Word Nevada. Years of volunteering in the classroom
and with PTA programs have made her a passionate advocate
for children’s literacy, and she is excited about the
opportunity to "spread the word." Libbi
oversees two weekly book cleanings, and is involved with the
Breakfast with Books program at five schools.
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Alison
Johnsen, Program Assistant
 Alison
Johnsen is a new addition to the Las Vegas area. Originally
from England, Ali has recently moved to warmer climes from
Fairbanks Alaska, and is thrilled to be working for Spread
the Word Nevada. Ali served in the Royal Air Force
for nine years as an Air Traffic Control Officer, and is completing
an Associate of Arts degree in English from the University
of Alaska.
Ali
is an avid reader, and can't imagine a day without a story.
She believes reading opens up the imagination and allows us
to step into new worlds, or to learn more about the world
we live in – all from the comfort of our sofas. Ali also
believes every child should be given as much opportunity and
encouragement as possible to explore their imaginations through
reading, and is hoping to help children to love reading as
much as she does.
Alison
oversees book cleaning at Lieburn Senior Center and prepares
the books for distribution, coordinates Breakfast with Books
programs at three schools, and is also involved in the Books
& Buddies mentoring program.
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Henry
Dionne, Book Delivery Specialist
 Henry
served in the Navy for four years, right out of high school.
Upon returning home, he worked as a pipefitter for Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard where they built nuclear submarines. In his
later career days, he moved to Las Vegas and worked for Ethel
M Chocolates until he retired in 2003. Henry
is in charge of all book deliveries and pick-ups. He ensures
that each school receives their monthly book selections and
picks up books that have been donated to our program.
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