Charleston, S.C., Jan. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WINGS for Kids, a leader and expert in social emotional learning (SEL) in the afterschool field, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors: Toya Hampton, Arthur Rosen, Kelly Sach, Allie Simmons, and Steve Ward. The organization has also named a new board chair, Judith Ranger Smith, executive director of the Singing for Change Foundation.
“We are excited to welcome to the WINGS family these incredible supporters and local leaders,” said Bridget Laird, chief executive officer of WINGS. “Our board is the backbone of our organization, and their fearless leadership and guidance are instrumental in us achieving our goals. Their diverse strengths, experiences, and expertise will support WINGS’ continued growth and help more kids soar through social emotional learning.”
Toya Hampton is a Charleston-based attorney who focuses on residential and commercial real estate. She has practiced law in the Lowcountry region for more than 20 years, and notably served as the director of policy and legal services for the South Carolina School Boards Association in Columbia. Hampton is also on the board of several local nonprofit organizations, including the Historic Charleston Foundation, and was a member of the Charleston County School Board of Trustees for six years.
Arthur Rosen brings decades of expertise in the financial field, and has founded Pearl Digital Capital Management, a technology investment fund, and LionEye Capital Management, a hedge fund firm. He has held positions at Bank of America, Royal Bank of Canada, and several investment banks and hedge funds. A graduate of Duke University, Rosen has lived in the Charleston area for the last two years.
Kelly Sach has a background in accounting and investment portfolio management. A dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom, Sach lived overseas for two decades and has called Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom home. She currently resides on Kiawah Island and has served as the co-head of ticket sales for the Kiawah Arts House Tour for the last two years.
Allie Simmons is an SEL specialist for Pencils of Promise and was integral in establishing an SEL program and curriculum in the nonprofit’s 48 schools in Ghana. Building off of the success of these programs, she is currently leading the implementation of SEL programs in schools in Guatemala and Laos. Prior to her role at Pencils of Promise, Simmons earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky following a career that spanned law, banking, and healthcare. She recently relocated to Austin, Texas, after living in Charleston for several years.
Steve Ward is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. In 2017, he founded an independent wealth management firm, Altheia Advisory Services, after 15 years of working in large investment firms and banks. A lifelong volunteer, Ward has served on the board of several nonprofits, including HALOS and the Exchange Club of Mount Pleasant, and has coached more than 50 seasons of youth sports.
“The board is pleased to welcome our newest members,” said Judith Ranger Smith. “As we continue to expand WINGS’ reach and leadership in social emotional learning, we are confident that these five individuals will bring valuable perspectives to our board and help WINGS serve our most vulnerable young people in Charleston and across the country.”
Hampton, Rosen, Sach, Simmons, and Ward join 14 fellow members of the WINGS for Kids Board of Directors.
To learn more about WINGS for Kids, please visit their website.
About WINGS for Kids
WINGS for Kids is a nonprofit education program that equips at-risk kids with the skills they need to succeed in school, stay in school, and thrive in life. WINGS’ evidence-based approach combines a comprehensive social emotional learning curriculum, engaging afterschool programming, and high-quality training and professional development for practitioners and adults. As a result, the program fosters the mindset, skills, and confidence children need to behave well, make good decisions, and build healthy relationships.
