Leadership
2024 Board of Directors
Drew Haramis, Board President
Drew Haramis is a proud sixth generation Jacksonville native and feels fortunate to reside in Jacksonville with Lee, her husband of over 30 years and son, Lee, Jr.
She is deeply involved and committed to the Jacksonville community at large having chaired significant philanthropic and cultural events as well as serving on non-profit boards including the Board of Regents for the Diocese of Florida, the Jacksonville Fire Museum Advisory Board, the Jacksonville Historical Society, Wolfson Children's Hospital Women's Board, and the most near and dear to her heart, the Board of Angels for Allison. Angels for Allison was created to honor her late daughter, Allison.
Drew received a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University majoring in Child Development and Family Relations and completed some postgraduate work at Jacksonville University. In 1984, after receiving her certification in Elementary and Early Childhood Education she became a faculty member at St. Mark's Campus - Episcopal School of Jacksonville, where she still works today. She received the Nancy Wood Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009 and was named Teacher of the Week for WTLV, Channel 12 in March of 2012. She was nominated for The Florida Times Union Eve Award, which honors women in North Florida and South Georgia, whose contributions and efforts have made lasting improvements within their community.
Drew believes one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to learn to give to others. She strives to instill the values of responsibility to the community at large, through serving the needs of others, and sharing Christ-like love for all. She looks forward to continuing to work with members of our community to deliver the mission of Angels for Allison.
Donna Beames, treasurer
Donna Beames Donna holds a degree in Finance and was a VP in the Commercial Real Estate Group of a Virginia based bank. Given her strong analytic, inter-personal, and writing skills coupled with her strong work ethic, she was tasked with heading up all the bank’s REIT lending efforts. These transactions are among the largest, most complex, and time sensitive loans the bank made, and they represented a large percentage of the real estate portfolio. Donna left the work force in 1999 to focus on raising her daughters and community service.
Donna and her husband, Tom, have been married for 32 years, have two daughters Lauren (27) and Allison (26), and live in Atlantic Beach with their two dogs Mia, an extremely active Mini AussiePoo, and Stevie, a 3 year old rescue who has stolen Donna’s heart.
She has been a member of numerous charity event planning committees, serving in nearly all capacities from logistics to sponsorship and everything in between. Passionate about her chosen causes, Donna is eagerly looking forward to sharing her time and talents with Angels for Allison.
Melissa Langley Braude
Melissa Langley Braude, a fourth generation Jacksonville Native, attended Bishop Kenny High School and received a degree in Criminal Justice from The Florida State University. She currently serves as the Community Relations and Political Director for The Fiorentino Group, a Northeast Florida based Government Relations firm.
Throughout her adult life in Jacksonville, Melissa has served on various charity planning committees and is a member of the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis and walking her dog, Campbell. Melissa and her husband, Prescott, live in San Marco.
Will braude
Will Braude
Barbara Irving
Barbara Irving is a retired teacher of the Visually Impaired at Fishweir Elementary School. During her 35 years at Fishweir, 34 were spent teaching a self-contained classroom of Visually Impaired K, 1st and 2nd graders while her last year was spent teaching a pre-school VI class. Braille was one of the many skills she taught each year in her classroom. She enjoyed watching the children become independent as they learned new things throughout their years with her. Barbara graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Visual Disabilities and Elementary Education. She is a native Floridian, having been born and raised in Sarasota and then moving to Jacksonville after college graduation.
Barbara met and married her husband, Fred and has a grown daughter, Sarah. Barbara has been a member of Junior League of Jacksonville, the Colonial Dames of America and is an active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, serving on the Altar Guild.
After retiring from teaching, Barbara joined the Angels Board soon after the organization began and has enjoyed serving as a member of the board including Volunteer Coordinator and Mission Fulfillment Co-Chair. She also served on the Executive Board as Secretary for several years.
Sara Irving
Capt. Matt Mccullough
Nicole Lewis, Development Chair
A Jacksonville native, Nicole Lewis attended the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, and then graduated from Hollins University in 2001. Soon after graduation, Nicole moved New York City where she pursued a career in the fashion industry. She worked for a number of fashion houses, including Prada and Narciso Rodriguez, which provided her the opportunity to travel both domestically and internationally. Nicole volunteered her time at Free Arts of NYC and Fountain House. In 2010, she married Chip Lewis and they had their first son, Bauer, in 2012. Nicole continued to work as global director of sales at Zac Posen until 2014 when she decided to stay home with Bauer. In 2015, Nicole and Chip moved their family back to Jacksonville and welcomed their second son, Walker. Nicole has truly enjoyed re-engaging with the Jacksonville community through organizations like Angels for Allison and Riverside Presbyterian Day School. Nicole has known Drew and her family for many years and looks forward to supporting the Angels for Allison mission.
Liz Parks, Secretary
LIz Parks grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in English. She taught high school and middle school English in Georgia and Tennissee. In addition to teaching, she was involved in the Junior League of Macon, Georgia and helped lead the children's liturgy at St. Matthew's Church in Memphis, Tennesse, and also worked summersat an outreach education program at Memphis University School. Liz married Joe Parks and moved to Macon, Georgia. In Macon, Liz taught middle school English at Stratford Academy and served as a founding member of the school’s School Climate Committee. She was also involved with the Junior League of Macon. When Joe’s career relocated them to Memphis, Tennessee, Liz began teaching middle school Language Arts at Presbyterian Day School. In addition to teaching, Liz led the children’s liturgy at St. Matthew’s Church and also worked summers at an outreach education program at Memphis University School. When Liz and her family moved to Jacksonville in 2014, she made the decision to leave teaching and stay home with her three young children. She has enjoyed becoming involved in the Jacksonville community, volunteering at the Cummer Museum, St. Mark’s Church, St. Mark’s Campus - Episcopal School of Jacksonville, the Will King Foundation, John Stockton Elementary, and Angels for Allison.
Caroline Pope
Caroline Howell Pope is a Jacksonville native, having attended and graduated from St. Mark's Episcopal Day School and The Bolles School. After high school, Caroline headed to Hollins University. Upon graduation, she moved to Atlanta, GA, where she taught at Trinity School and worked in the design industry. She and her husband, Luke, married while in Atlanta, and returned to Jacksonville prior to the birth of their first son, Billy. Caroline has been heavily involved in the Jacksonville community, volunteering for St. Mark's, St. Vincent's Foundation, the Cummer Museum, Angels for Allison, and many other non-profits. Caroline, Luke, Billy (7) and George (5) live in Ortega.
courtney powers
raymur rachels
Raymur Walton Rachels is a Jacksonville Native. She graduated from The Episcopal High School of Jacksonville and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her MBA. She has been an active volunteer at St. Mark's serving in may capacities, including former head of the St. Mark's Parent Association and as a Board Member. She has also been and active volunteer at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, She is a Co-chapter Leader of the Weston A. Price Foundation and is a founding member of Stop5GJax. She has also volunteered with Angels for Allison, and will be hosting Camp Sunshine at her home in Ortega for the third year this summer. She and her husband Phil, live in the home where she grew up with their four children, Alston, Lucy, Ford and William.
Rebecca sale
Anne Marie van wie, executive director
Anne Marie Van Wie, a native of Jacksonville, attended Episcopal School of Jacksonville and received a degree in English from the University of Georgia. Anne Marie lived in Chicago after graduating and worked in advertising and finance. She returned home to Jacksonville to pursue a career in education.
She has been an educator for nearly twenty years, mostly teaching English at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. She was also a small business owner in the fashion industry. She has been involved with the Junior League of Jacksonville, Episcopal Children’s Services, St John’s Cathedral, and Riverside Presbyterian Day School. Anne Marie and her husband, Paul, reside in Ortega Forest and have one daughter, Ava Mae. She looks forward to continuing the mission of the Foundation and serving the Angel families of Northeast Florida.
Meredith wills
Meredith Wills grew up in Flagler Beach, FL. She graduated with honors from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing with double minors in Public Health and Psychology. She started her nursing career in Progressive and Intensive Care Units. Meredith is currently a labor and deliver nurse here in Jacksonville. In her free time, Meredith enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family and friends. Meredith has known the Haramis family her entire life and has been a proud supporter and volunteer for the Foundation for many years. She is excited and honored to continue to being involved with Angels for Allison as a board member.
norianne wright
Staff:
Anne Marie Van Wie, Executive Director
Diane Madison, Office Manager