SLADECHILD
FOUNDATION
OUR MISSION
Ensure that 100% of donations provide food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care to some of the world's most impoverished children.
SladeChild Foundation Charitable Trust is unique because 100% of donations are used to provide the five essentials of life: food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care to destitute children in the US and the world. These volunteer Trustees pay for administrative overhead costs, so that fully 100% of your donation can help needy children in the US and world.
Every penny donated helps a needy child. Thank you for your fully tax deductible generosity!
Meet Our Trustees & Ambassadors
Karen Slade
Executive Director
​Karen Slade oversees support for the SladeChild children's projects, and guides Trustee and Ambassador efforts. SladeChild's distinctive 100% policy, where every penny of donations is used to help destitute and at-risk children, is possible because all overhead expenses are paid by Trustees. SladeChild was founded in 1983 as a 501(c)3 charity with this unique 100% mission. To date, over $2 million dollars has been granted to help destitute children. Karen's late husband, David Slade, founded SladeChild Foundation in 1982. She shares David's vision that SladeChild supports the 5 essentials of life for destitute children, using every donated penny.
Karen worked for 35 years supporting NASA, NOAA, National Archives and HUD in the networks and security engineering field. She joined SladeChild Fas an Ambassador in 2001, continued as Trustee in 2013, and then as Executive Director in 2014.
Albert Baumann
Trustee
Al Baumann has been associated with SladeChild for over a decade, performing at many music events, and is currently managing all financial aspects of SladeChild's operations. He is a retired commercial lender, continuing to work as a financial consultant to businesses looking for financing. He performs regularly as a jazz vocalist and guitarist. Al and his lovely Swedish wife are residents of Bowie, MD.
Hardy Foster
Trustee
​Hardy Foster started supporting the SladeChild Foundation in 2002, working with both David & Karen Slade to improve technology and communications. He provides information technology support, and assists with the production of fundraising events. Through the years, he has been an advocate for helping needy children in the Baltimore and Annapolis areas. He has worked in the aerospace industry for over 30 years, doing hardware testing and engineering for NASA and NOAA systems. He has worked on both Antarctic and Arctic tracking stations. Hardy resides with his family in Pasadena, MD.
Holly Hancock
Trustee
Holly Hancock worked for 20+ years assembling and launching satellites for NASA and NOAA. She guides SladeChild online communications and social media. She lives with her husband in Mt. Airy, NC.
Nancy Plaxico
Trustee
Nancy Plaxico has been a Trustee since 2012. She was drawn to the developing world early in her life. After obtaining masters degrees in international relations and Asian studies, she started her career at the U.S. State Department. She later moved into the health field, but continued service to the needy in developing countries as a volunteer with international non-profit organizations. In addition to the SladeChild Foundation, she serves on the board of two other such organizations.
After beginning her work in health care at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, she moved to San Diego and in the 1980s was a founder of Community Care Network, a national health care management company that pioneered the development of preferred provider organizations. She helped lead the company for 15 years and was named Entrepreneur of the Year in San Diego for CCNs development.
She has held executive positions in other health care companies over the years, most recently as Vice President of Healthways. Nancy met SladeChild's founder David Slade at their church, Trinity United Methodist, where she learned of his dedication to children and lifelong work helping destitute children around the world. She is honored to help carry forward his vision and service to children as a Trustee of the SladeChild Foundation. She resides with her husband in Annapolis, MD.
Mary Pratt
Trustee
Mary Pratt worked for 30+ years in creating governmental health policy and regulations. She is an advocate for the health of families and children. She became a Trustee in 2024. Mary lives with her family in Crownsville MD.
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Nancy Jo Steetle
Trustee
NancyJo was drawn to the work of the SladeChild Foundation because of its commitment making the lives of children flourish under difficult circumstances. She is a certified Life Coach at Next Chapter Coaching. She helps clients refocus and reimagine their lives after big life and career transitions. She has a background in fundraising, community building, marketing strategies, and client development for nonprofits in the public and private sector. Nancy Jo became a Trustee in 2023. Nancy Jo lives with her family in Crownsville MD.
Susan C. Williams
Trustee
Susan Williams has devoted her career to administering programs for social justice organizations. She has expertise in project management, event planning, budgeting, and grant writing. She worked over 25 years in U.S.-based community development targeting disinvested communities. Since 2005, she has been with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Susan has volunteered to help with SladeChild Foundation's fundraising, including BrickFair Expo events, for over a decade, and became a Trustee in 2021. Susan lives with her family in Baltimore, MD.
David Wayne
Trustee
David Wayne Baust started as a SladeChild Ambassador in 2010 and became a Trustee in 2013. David plays in SladeChild's musical fundraisers, and continues to spread the word about SladeChild's 100% mission far and wide. He is a national, touring musician and former U.S. Marine. David enjoys giving back to the community, be it serving lunch to disabled Veterans, playing for the Wounded Warriors Project, or performing music at venues all over the United States. David resides in Bandera, TX with his wife Stacey. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Donna Tomas
Ambassador, Online Communications
Donna Tomas has supported SladeChild Foundation fundraising events, marketing, website design, graphics, and online visibility since 2010.
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Karen Brand
Ambassador, Online Communications
Karen Brand supports SladeChild's communications, website design, graphics, and online visibility. She joined the team in 2025 as a social media specialist. She has worked in online communications for over 15 years as the founder of Brand Creative Company. Karen resides with her family in Gaithersburg, MD.
John B. Martin Trustee Emeritus, Rest in Peace (November 2022)
John Martin passed away in Nov. 2022. He supported SladeChild as a Trustee since 2008. He retired from NASA after over 40 years as an aerospace engineer. May his soul rest in peace.
Back Row: Hardy Foster, Nancy Plaxico, Shanna Combley, Craig Kellstrom
Front Row: John B. Martin, Karen Slade and Al Baumann
