Board - Make A Way Foundation

Our board is comprised of community members who have a passion for helping those with special needs.

STACEY LANDTROOP GIVENS

FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN

Stacey Landtroop Givens is the founder and Chairman of Make A Way Foundation.  She has a son with autism and a daughter with Enlarged Vestibular Aquaduct Syndrome, resulting in progressive and permanent hearing loss.  Stacey is currently a Social Skills Coach offering services to children with various special needs, a substitute in the Athens City School system primarily for classes with special needs children, and a dance coach at Kelly's Studio of Dance.  She spearheaded the efforts to raise money and install sensory rooms in all 7 of the Athens City Schools. Stacey is an active member of First Baptist Church of Athens where she established and directs the UMatter Ministry serving children and adults with special needs.  She also enjoys serving the seniors of Athens and Limestone County as a Foundation on Aging board member. Stacey is a native of Athens with an undergraduate degree from Athens State and a Master’s degree from the University of North Alabama.  She is married to Kevin Givens from Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

TODD TOMERLIN

VICE PRESIDENT

Todd Tomerlin has been married to his wife Tammie for 28 years, and together they have a son named Gage. In 2001, Gage was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 ½ . Since that time, Todd and Tammie have been learning and advocating for their son and for other families living with ASD. After 32 years, Todd retired from Steelcase and has worked for the Autism Society of Alabama for the past 7 years. Todd has served on several boards including the state UCP board, the Huntsville/Madison board of UCP, and as a panel member of ADAP. He currently serves on SEAP (Special Education Advisory Panel) and on the consumer advisory panel for SPARKS at UAB/Civitan. He and Tammie started a support group to help families in North Alabama called "Fitting the Pieces". Through this group, they provide resources as well as respite care for families living with a special needs individual.

WANDA JOHNSON

TREASURER

After 45 years in the banking business, Wanda retired in 2021. She currently sits on the board of Athens Limestone Foundation on Aging and Tie Foundation. Over the years Wanda has been involved in several community service organizations. Involved with the Birdie Thornton Center as a member of the Athens Civitan Club, she was a charter member of the Birdie Thornton Civitan Club. Wanda chaired Hospice of Limestone County Annual Chili Challenge fund raiser for 5 years. She served as an Ambassador for Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce ambassador program from its inception until 2021. Wanda is married to J P Johnson. They have one daughter and two grandchildren.

MELISSA GLAZE

SECRETARY

Melissa Glaze is a licensed counselor providing mental health therapy for Riverside Counseling and Consulting in Athens and Decatur. She also provides counseling and Grief Support services for First Baptist Church Athens where she and her family are active members. She has worked in community mental health, social services, and child advocacy for over 25 years, but she finds her calling in counseling. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University, Melissa went on to earn a Master’s degree from Liberty University. She is married to Greg Glaze who is the Children’s Minister at First Baptist Athens, and together they have 3 children.

HELEN CARTER

HISTORIAN

Helen Carter has worked for Limestone County Council on Aging for 32 years. She has served on numerous boards across the region including: Alabama Veterans Board of Directors, Athens Limestone Foundation on Aging, Tie Foundation, TARCOG Board of Directors, North Central Alabama 310 Board, Limestone County ARC, and Madison County Arc. Helen has also worked with Special Need Clients at Birdie Thornton for over 25 years. On a personal level, she has a daughter, Vicky Dowd, and son John Carter. She is blessed with 3 grandsons and 2 great-grandchildren.

JAMES MOFFATT

Jim Moffatt is an attorney practicing for 37 years in Athens, Alabama. For all of those years he has also served on the boards of many governmental and charitable organizations.  He and his wife Marilyn are blessed to have 3 sons and 9 grandchildren. Jim has tried to conduct his life, although far from well, based on the teachings found in Matthew 5-7.

KEVIN GIVENS

Kevin Givens is the technical leader for Make A Way Foundation. He is married to Stacey Givens. They have a son with autism and a daughter with Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome, resulting in progressive and permanent hearing loss. Kevin is a Product Line Manager for the telecommunications solutions company, ADTRAN, Inc. based out of Huntsville, Alabama. He is an active member of First Baptist Church of Athens. Kevin is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, with an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from Tennessee Tech University and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

JESSICA SANDERS

Jessica Sanders is a native of Limestone County.  She is married to Josh Sanders and they have three children. Their oldest child has high functioning autism. Jessica is a registered nurse.  She has worked in several different areas of nursing and recently worked as a classroom aide to a special needs preschool student in a private school.  Jessica is currently working as a substitute school nurse in Athens City Schools and a full time wife and mom.   She is active in serving and teaching children’s classes at Central Church of Christ.

TYLER PARKER

Ty Parker received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from The University of Alabama and received his Masters in Music Education from Auburn University. While attending the University of Alabama, he was awarded a classical piano scholarship and served the Million Dollar Band as alto saxophone section leader during his sophomore year and as Drum Major during his junior and senior years. Along with his leadership responsibilities, Ty was selected as an undergraduate conducting competition winner and as the state-wide collegiate interview competition winner. Among his peers, Ty served as President of the University of Alabama’s Music Education Chapter during his junior and senior years. Mr. Parker has been teaching music for eleven years and is excited to be the Fine Arts Director and Director of Bands for the Athens City School District.