Meet the Team

Abigail Bennethum

Coordinator, Marketing & Communications

Amy Christenbury

Coordinator, Community Outreach

Gayla Freeman

Chief Revenue Officer

Linda George

Manager, Donor Relations

More About Gayla

This is a picture of my husband, Daniel, my daughter, Gwendolyn, and me on Gwen’s first birthday. It’s really more of a family selfie since this was taken while social-distancing!

Favorite cookie flavor:
Mint Chocolate Chip

Favorite thing to bake:
I love baking anything and everything, but if I had to choose one thing it would be banana bread.

On a Friday night, Gayla is:
I’m typically spending time with my family. We can usually be found walking around a local park, playing with our dogs in the backyard, or watching a movie

Who inspires Gayla to #BeAGoodCookie?
I am inspired by the 43 children who are diagnosed every single day with pediatric cancer. We have to keep fighting for better and less toxic treatments for each one of them.

Colleen Margiloff

Manager, Cookie Programs & Special Projects

More About Gayla

This is a picture of my husband, Daniel, my daughter, Gwendolyn, and me on Gwen’s first birthday. It’s really more of a family selfie since this was taken while social-distancing!

Favorite cookie flavor:
Mint Chocolate Chip

Favorite thing to bake:
I love baking anything and everything, but if I had to choose one thing it would be banana bread.

On a Friday night, Gayla is:
I’m typically spending time with my family. We can usually be found walking around a local park, playing with our dogs in the backyard, or watching a movie

Who inspires Gayla to #BeAGoodCookie?
I am inspired by the 43 children who are diagnosed every single day with pediatric cancer. We have to keep fighting for better and less toxic treatments for each one of them.

Erica Morris

Event Producer - Chefs for Kids' Cancer

More About Gretchen

Favorite cookie flavor:
It depends on my mood.

Favorite thing to bake:
For me, baking is something I do for friends and family as an act of love. It gives me so much pleasure seeing someone enjoy something I baked…whether it’s cookies, banana bread, a cake or biscuits.

On a Friday night, Gretchen is:
With my family.

Who inspires Gretchen to #BeAGoodCookie?
Clearly, Liam is always my North Star but I do what I do because I know Liam’s expectation is that we would help other kids.

Rachel Roberge

Senior Editor

More About Gayla

This is a picture of my husband, Daniel, my daughter, Gwendolyn, and me on Gwen’s first birthday. It’s really more of a family selfie since this was taken while social-distancing!

Favorite cookie flavor:
Mint Chocolate Chip

Favorite thing to bake:
I love baking anything and everything, but if I had to choose one thing it would be banana bread.

On a Friday night, Gayla is:
I’m typically spending time with my family. We can usually be found walking around a local park, playing with our dogs in the backyard, or watching a movie

Who inspires Gayla to #BeAGoodCookie?
I am inspired by the 43 children who are diagnosed every single day with pediatric cancer. We have to keep fighting for better and less toxic treatments for each one of them.

Beth Robertson

Manager, Community Outreach

More About Gretchen

Favorite cookie flavor:
It depends on my mood.

Favorite thing to bake:
For me, baking is something I do for friends and family as an act of love. It gives me so much pleasure seeing someone enjoy something I baked…whether it’s cookies, banana bread, a cake or biscuits.

On a Friday night, Gretchen is:
With my family.

Who inspires Gretchen to #BeAGoodCookie?
Clearly, Liam is always my North Star but I do what I do because I know Liam’s expectation is that we would help other kids.

Emily Russell

Development Coordinator

More About Gretchen

Favorite cookie flavor:
It depends on my mood.

Favorite thing to bake:
For me, baking is something I do for friends and family as an act of love. It gives me so much pleasure seeing someone enjoy something I baked…whether it’s cookies, banana bread, a cake or biscuits.

On a Friday night, Gretchen is:
With my family.

Who inspires Gretchen to #BeAGoodCookie?
Clearly, Liam is always my North Star but I do what I do because I know Liam’s expectation is that we would help other kids.

Marissa Schwartz

Director, Community Engagement

More About Gretchen

Favorite cookie flavor:
It depends on my mood.

Favorite thing to bake:
For me, baking is something I do for friends and family as an act of love. It gives me so much pleasure seeing someone enjoy something I baked…whether it’s cookies, banana bread, a cake or biscuits.

On a Friday night, Gretchen is:
With my family.

Who inspires Gretchen to #BeAGoodCookie?
Clearly, Liam is always my North Star but I do what I do because I know Liam’s expectation is that we would help other kids.

Melanie Underwood

Chef in Residence

More About Gretchen

Favorite cookie flavor:
It depends on my mood.

Favorite thing to bake:
For me, baking is something I do for friends and family as an act of love. It gives me so much pleasure seeing someone enjoy something I baked…whether it’s cookies, banana bread, a cake or biscuits.

On a Friday night, Gretchen is:
With my family.

Who inspires Gretchen to #BeAGoodCookie?
Clearly, Liam is always my North Star but I do what I do because I know Liam’s expectation is that we would help other kids.

Gretchen Witt

Co-Founder & Executive Director

More About Gretchen

Favorite cookie flavor:
It depends on my mood.

Favorite thing to bake:
For me, baking is something I do for friends and family as an act of love. It gives me so much pleasure seeing someone enjoy something I baked…whether it’s cookies, banana bread, a cake or biscuits.

On a Friday night, Gretchen is:
With my family.

Who inspires Gretchen to #BeAGoodCookie?
Clearly, Liam is always my North Star but I do what I do because I know Liam’s expectation is that we would help other kids.

Board of Directors

Robert L. Hornby

Co-Board Chair
Chiesa, Shahinian & Gianntomasi, PC,
Member

Donald Hutchinson

Co-Board Chair
Goelzer Investment,
Senior Vice President

Tina Beattie

Secretary
Top Line Restaurants,
Vice President

Jessica Churchill

Bank of America, Global Real Estate Executive

Danyelle Freeman

Restaurant Girl,
Founder & Editor

Michelle Jassem

Philanthropist

Dan Kluger

Loring Place, NYC,   Chef & Owner

Janelle Lin

DonorsChoose.org,
SVP, Partnerships &
Business Development

Allison Schlanger

apple seeds/songs for seeds,
Co-Founder & Owner

Christina Tosi

Milk Bar,
Chef, Owner & Founder

Gretchen Witt

Cookies for Kids' Cancer,
Co-Founder & Executive Director

Larry S. Witt

OXO & Hydro Flask,
President, Housewares Division

Board of Directors

Robert L. Hornby

Co-Board Chair
Chiesa, Shahinian & Gianntomasi, PC,
Member

Donald Hutchinson

Co-Board Chair
Goelzer Investment,
Senior Vice President

Tina Beattie

Secretary
Top Line Restaurants,
Vice President

Jessica Churchill

Bank of America,
Global Real Estate Executive

Danyelle Freeman

Restaurant Girl,
Founder & Editor

Michelle Jassem

Philanthropist

Dan Kluger

            Loring Place, NYC,           Chef & Owner

Janelle Lin

DonorsChoose.org,
SVP, Partnerships &
Business Development

Allison Schlanger

apple seeds/songs for seeds,
Co-Founder & Owner

Christina Tosi

Milk Bar,
Chef, Owner & Founder

Gretchen Witt

Cookies for Kids' Cancer,
Co-Founder & Executive Director

Larry S. Witt

OXO & Hydro Flask,
President, Housewares Division

Founders Board

Kate Bullinger

Weber Shandwick,
EVP, Employee Engagement and Change Management

Colbert Cannon

HPS Investment Partners, LLC

Marc Hazel

Jacqueline’s Bakery, President

Andrea Smith

Bank of America,
Chief Administrative Officer

Jim Williams

Manheim, a division of
Cox Automotive,
VP, Operations

Kate Bullinger

Weber Shandwick,
EVP, Employee Engagement and Change Management

Colbert Cannon

HPS Investment Partners, LLC

Marc Hazel

Jacqueline’s Bakery, President

Andrea Smith

Bank of America,
Chief Administrative Officer

Jim Williams

Manheim, a division of
Cox Automotive,
VP, Operations