David C. Slade, Founder
and Chairman of the SladeChild Foundation, specializes in trusts, tax law, elder law, constitutional law and environmental
law in Bowie, Maryland. He recently published a book about coastal and water law called the Public Trust Doctine in Motion. He is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar and is an accomplished jazz piano
player.
During a trip to South America in 1975,
while eating a pastry outside of a bakery in Bogota, Columbia, David felt
a tug on his pants and looked down to see a baby girl, about two years old. David
had just met his first street urchin. She begged for money, and was already
street-wise enough not to want any sweet pastry - just money. From this
encounter, the concept of the SladeChild Foundation was born. Years passed,
and after graduating with a Masters degree in Marine Biology, and then
a law degree from Lewis & Clark School of Law in 1982, he drafted the
Trust Indenture of the SladeChild Foundation, dedicated to the twin missions
of providing the five essentials of life to truly needy children, and being
a 100% charity. Now, 30 years after David met the little girl in Columbia,
the SladeChild Foundation continues to provide food, clothing, shelter,
education and medical care to needy children worldwide. He continues to accomplish his original mission because, to date, the SladeChild Foundation has provided over $1.25 million dollars to destitute children similar to the little street girl in Columbia.
Susan McMahon is a Field Operations manager for Boeing in Seattle WA. Susan met David when they were both graduate students in biology in Univ of Puget Sound, sharing office space and striking up a long lasting friendship. Susan worked at the Bronx Zoo, as a chicken farmer, and as the Assistant Curator of Ornithology at the Slater Museum of Natural History in Tacoma, Washington. Susan stayed in touch with David through all of his travels around the world. Susan was one of the earliest supporters of the SladeChild Foundation, generously giving both monetary and moral support. Susan and her husband Mike live in the Seattle area. As a side business, Susan and Mike manufacture and distribute Christmas wreaths and garlands.
Bill Wolfe graduated from Annapolis High School and Virginia Commonwealth University, then joined the Air Force. In 1972 he began a career in the investment banking industry, raising capital for the insurance and cable TV industries, then opened his own investment and insurance agency in New Orleans. In 1992, he returned to Annapolis and opened the Café Orleans restaurant, which he sold to start a computer game company, Gaming Solutions. Bill has been a Trustee of the SladeChild Foundation since 2006.
John Martin is an aerospace engineer who was one of the original NASA employees. When not dealing with satellites, John is often seen with one of his cameras photographing flowers, dogs, weddings or children. That is how he encountered the SladeChild Foundation, which is a natural fit with his interests. John and Celia, his wife of 52 years, are now planning retirement so they can spend more time doing things together, and other worthwhile activities like helping the SladeChild Foundation. John became a SladeChild Trustee in 2008.
Doug Freesland is the founder and CEO of The ACS Engineering Corporation, an organization dedicated to spacecraft attitude determination and controls. Although having earned advanced degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State, accumulating over 35 years of spacecraft control system design, analysis, simulation, test, launch and operations experience, former Director of ACS Engineering at Orbital Sciences Corporation, Doug’s proudest accomplishment is his family. Doug brings that same sense of family pride and devotion to the SladeChild Foundation as our newest trustee, joining in 2010.
Betty High is the indispensible administrative office specialist that keeps the SladeChild Foundation functioning on a weekly basis. She and her husband live in Bowie, MD. She has grandchildren and even some great-grandchildren, all of whom she is very proud. Her wonderful personality and sense of humor make the SladeChild office a fun place to work.
Karen Roycraft, an engineer for Lockheed Martin, provides the technical support for SladeChild's office, and maintains this website. Karen has supported NASA for 25 years while working for Lockheed Martin. She is a data communications, network, and security specialist. She enjoys travel, scuba diving, and her german shepherds.
Many thanks to Stan Krome of First Crescent Designs for the website design. http://www.firstcrescent.com
