We believe that within our communities we have the resources to address many of the challenges that face our society. These challenges, such as time in military service or victims of crime, often result in emotional pain and suffering. By harnessing the skills and generosity of citizens across our nation and around the world, we provide those in need with help and hope. We offer those who care the opportunity to give.
Our Mission
Give an Hour's mission is to develop national networks of volunteers capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society. By harnessing the skill and expertise of volunteer professionals, we are able to increase the likelihood that those in need receive the support and care they deserve.
Our Focus
- To provide access to no-cost mental health care for identified at-risk populations and other groups in need. Give an Hour harnesses the skill, expertise, and generosity of volunteer mental health professionals to provide no-cost mental health care to those in the veteran and military communities, those affected by natural disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic and California wildfires, and man-made disasters, such as mass shootings.
- To identify and address barriers that prevent those we serve from receiving the support they deserve. Give an Hour launched the Campaign to Change Direction, a public health effort working to change the culture of mental health so that those who are suffering emotionally are better able to seek and receive care.
- To increase mental health literacy. Give an Hour delivers wellness resources, the Five Signs of Emotional Suffering, the Healthy Habits of Emotional Well Being to address prevention and early identification. In addition, the Emotional Life Skills (ELS) psychoeducational training delivers the skills and tools that will empower community members to better care for themselves and those they love.
Staff
Randy Phelps, PhD
Randy Phelps, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
rphelps@giveanhour.org
Randy Phelps, Ph.D., served on the Give an Hour Advisory Board for over a decade, was a formal consultant to the GAH Board of Directors in 2017, became GAH’s Vice President of Operations in 2018, and was appointed GAH’s Chief Executive Officer in 2019. He formerly worked at American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Health Care Financing, a component of the APA Center for Psychology and Health. In that role he led APA’s advocacy efforts for sustainable health care financing for both health systems and practitioners. He was formerly the APA Deputy Executive Director for Professional Practice, and as well as APA’s liaison to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for a decade and a half. Dr. Phelps received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Utah in 1981. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Distinguished Member of the National Academies of Practice, Clinical Member of the American Family Therapy Academy, and recipient of APA’s Karl Heiser Award for advocacy. He has also received an APA Presidential Citation for his national contributions to professional psychology.
Angela Bates
Angela (Angie) Bates
Social Media Specialist
Originally from Ohio and graduating from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Communication, Angie Bates joined Give an Hour as a Social Media Specialist in September 2019. Currently residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her fiancé, she is also a volunteer with the Crisis Text Line, an organization providing free crisis intervention via SMS message. In her free time, Angie loves playing video games, reading, and yoga.
Clara Burgess
Clara Burgess
Program Assistant
cburgess@giveanhour.org
Clara Burgess has her BA in Sociology and her MA in International Relations. She joined Give an Hour in the beginning of January 2019, and currently works as a Program Assistant. Her previous experience has taken her globetrotting across Western and Southern Africa supporting education-based programs, and she is happy to be settled back in the DC area to make an impact on her home community. Clara currently resides in the DC area, where she is enjoying spending quality time catching up with family and friends now that she has returned home from living abroad.
Lisa Calixto
Lisa Calixto
Director of Technology and Social Media
lcalixto@giveanhour.org
Lisa Calixto is a 2006 graduate of American University with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and U.S. Foreign Policy. She was Give an Hour’s first intern in 2005 and volunteered for Give an Hour until she was officially hired in January 2011 as Manager, Volunteer Program. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, three children, and their puppy. She previously worked as the development assistant/fundraiser for Soroptimist International of the Americas. Soroptimist, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is an international nonprofit for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Lisa enjoys photography, dancing, and spending time with her family.
Sally Charney
Sally Charney
Director of Marketing and Partnerships
scharney@giveanhour.org
Sally Charney has led sustained public education initiatives at two national nonprofit organizations–CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and UCP (United Cerebral Palsy Association). Her experience in marketing, communications, and strategic alliances led to her new role at Give an Hour. As Director of Public Education at CureSearch, Sally led all phases of three unique multimedia PSA campaigns, including the creative and directing the national distribution, resulting in significant in-kind media placement. Sally is most proud of her work on the CureSearch PSAs with Jeff Gordon, NASCAR racecar driver, and the UCP spots with William H. Macy, the actor. She also has developed cause-related marketing programs and managed high-level strategic alliances, including a successful partnership with Greg Norman, The Shark, pro-golfer. Sally actually ran away from the circus to the nonprofit world, after almost 12 years at Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. A native of Philadelphia, Penn., with a B.S.in education from the University of Maryland, Sally enjoys making jewelry, photography, the gym, and road trips to a favorite New Jersey beach. Hanging out with family and friends is top of the list. Sally has two grown children and currently lives in northern Virginia.
Suzanne Clifford
Suzanne Clifford
Senior Advisor, Give an Hour Indiana
Suzanne Clifford joined Give an Hour as a consultant in June 2018 to launch Give an Hour Indiana in partnership with the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana and the Marion County Health Department. The initial focus of Give an Hour Indiana is the implementation of an innovative prevention program to promote the wellbeing of diverse girls in underserved communities in partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools. Previously, Suzanne was the Senior Vice President of Integrated Primary Care as well as the Vice President of Behavioral Health and CEO of a community mental health center at a large health system. Prior to that, she was appointed by two governors to lead the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction. She served on many national mental health boards and committees including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) board, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) board, Chair of the NAMI National Children’s Policy Committee, Chair of the NAMI National Education and Information Committee, Co-chair of the NRI National Quality and Accountability Committee, and the National Behavioral Health Care PTAC for The Joint Commission (JCAHO).
Jessica Grove
Jessica Grove
Vice President of Operations
jgrove@giveanhour.org
Jessica Grove is currently the Vice President of Operations for Give an Hour. She joined the Give an Hour team in 2009, but her role has grown and changed in many ways over her time here. Jess currently oversees the day to day operations of the organization to include finances, human resources, program management and much more. Her people skills and deep knowledge of all things Give an Hour and our many volunteer providers, partners, and collaborators make her the perfect person for this leadership role. Jess came to Give an Hour from the professional theater world where she spent many years as a professional Stage Manager and Production Manager. She considers herself a compassionate and dedicated self-starter. Jess is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a very proud Tar Heel. When she’s not working, she and her husband are strong advocates for families built through adoption and for families with children with all types of special needs. And they enjoy traveling and watching baseball, especially the Baltimore Orioles, with their two children.
Sarah Hague
Sarah E. Hague, M.Ed.
Program Manager, Give an Hour Indiana
shague@giveanhour.org
Sarah E. Hague, M.Ed. joined the Give an Hour team as a Program Manager (Indiana) in January 2020. Receiving her Bachelors of Science from University of Toledo (Toledo, OH), and Master of Education from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI), Sarah’s researched stemmed primarily in programming centered around the Social Economic model of Behavior change, with her thesis specifically addressing bullying in low-income schools. Her career began as a Health Advisor, working in Corporate Wellness where she implemented Health Behavior Change theory into tangible results to clients one on one in a myriad of areas that included: nutrition, pregnancy, and stress management. Sarah then began working in Higher Education, serving as a Health Educator for the University of Michigan before eventually teaching full time at a Community College in Indiana. In addition, she also taught at a Private College, sitting on their Health and Wellness committee, helping the college review and create a Health minor program.
More recently, Sarah was a lecturer at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, where she taught Epidemiology, Drug and Alcohol Education, Psychosocial Issues in Health Promotion, International Health, Health Behavior Theory, and Community Health. Serving also as a mentor for the Health Promotion club, she helped educate, prepare, and inspire upcoming students who will be entering the Health Education field.
Sarah is excited to bring her expertise on Health Education and Promotion to Give an Hour as she works with 4th – 6th grade girls, educating and empowering them with Drug and Alcohol education as well as Mental Health strategies. In her spare time, Sarah loves hanging out with her 3 children, traveling, decorating, and speaking to different audiences about the importance of education, stress, and mental health awareness.
Lori Haugh
Lori Haugh, LCSW
Program Manager, Give an Hour California
lhaugh@giveanhour.org
Lori Haugh has joined Give an Hour as a Program Manager at the California location. She has a great deal of experience in the field of prevention, mental health, family strengthening, and child and youth development. Prior to joining Give an Hour, California, Lori acted as the Executive Director of the Partnership for Safe Families & Communities in Ventura County, an organization that oversees the Child Abuse Prevention Council for the County. In addition, Lori has worked in shelter settings as well as military settings where she oversaw a prevention program for families with young children. Lori has extensive experience supervising others working toward licensure (MFT or LCSW) as well as supervising interns working toward their Master’s degree and Bachelor’s level staff who are gaining experience in their respective programs. She is currently in private practice part-time, working primarily with clients struggling with anxiety and/or depression and utilizing a mindfulness-based approach. She leads a burnout prevention/ compassion fatigue group and is passionate about emotional wellness. In addition, Lori also has a background in financial services and spent many years working in a Compliance capacity in that industry. Lori lives in Ventura County, California with her husband and enjoys being physically active as well as traveling when she can.
Erin McNair
Erin Timmermans McNair
Director of Recruitment and Business Practices
etimmermans@giveanhour.org
Erin Timmermans McNair, MPA, joined Give an Hour in 2013 and currently serves as the Director of Recruitment and Business Practices. Erin creates positive impact in communities, nonprofits, and organizations by increasing their capacity to serve through programmatic development, operational efficiency, outreach, and engagement. Working in the non-profit profession since 2007; Erin has consulted with businesses, associations and non-profits to pioneer new programs and support military/veterans and their families, individuals experiencing disabilities, homelessness, domestic violence and trafficking. Prior to working with GAH, Erin pioneered new avenues to assist in eliminating the treatment barriers for service members, veterans and families through her work at NASW North Carolina. Erin is the proud daughter of a Navy Veteran and a former military spouse. Residing in the heart of North Carolina, Erin volunteers often in her free time; leading and launching multiple successful nonprofits serving her local community. Through her work, Erin has created programs and curriculum supporting mental health, access to care, military culture, service animal handling and rights, disability rights education/training, as well as assisting in eliminating the treatment barriers for service members, veterans and families.
Shane Meserve
Shane Meserve
Program Manager, Give an Hour California
Shane joined Give an Hour in September 2020 to provide program leadership for the Route 91 Heals project. She comes from 5 years of efforts focused on embedding the Strengthening Families Framework (5 Protective Factors), Trauma-Informed Care, reflective supervision, and other prevention topics into training and consulting activities around the state of California with the Strategies project based in the Department of Social Services. She also spent 15 years as a Center Director and Senior Program Director for the YMCA and Girls Inc., running school-age child care programs and other recreational and educational programs for children and families. She has a Masters of Public Administration from CSU, Northridge. Shane is a proud 4th generation Californian! She has two nieces and loves to camp and travel with them. She also loves living in Ventura and walking by the beach as often as possible.
Michael Morisette
Michael Morisette
Outreach Coordinator, Give an Hour California
mmorisette@giveanhour.org
Michael Morisette first came to Give An Hour as a volunteer, where he advocated the message of the Campaign to Change Direction among those who were living through a local mass trauma. Not unlike so many others who serve in this ‘behind the scenes universe’ of responders, providers, advocates, and resource organizations. Michael has a lived experience that changed his life and his perspective forever. Through processing his own grief and trauma, he is developing a desire to serve others who have experienced these of their own. This is not unusual, or special, but he feels it is profound enough to initiate a vocational adjustment. Michael comes with decades of experience in customer service, sales & marketing, supervision & training, communication & compliance, and staffing & recruiting. Working mostly in retail corporations and facilities, he also learned from his years in the staffing industry, and briefer ventures into home-based insurance and sales businesses. Michael had worked with the public in many settings such as vendor booths, and as event staff in outdoor events, and as a volunteer in faith-based ministries. Michael was born and raised, and attended Community Colleges in Los Angeles County, but now resides in Ventura County, California with his family, and enjoys the opportunities that life brings in a Coastal California lifestyle.
Ashley Nettles
Ashley Nettles
Program Manager, Overdose Prevention for Give an Hour California anettles@giveanhour.org
Ashley Nettles specializes in Prevention Program Services with expertise in the opioid crisis. Providing innovative strategies to reach high-risk community members and their families through quality education and training. Cultivating integral community partnerships through detailed program management. Ashley’s passion for her work is fueled by her personal family experience. Her first-hand experience with how addiction affected her family gives her the ability to champion change for families and communities that are feeling the devastating effects of our Nations’ Opioid crisis. Her unique perspective on the opioid crisis primes her to be a force for change in our communities both in the public and private sectors. Ashley is currently the Overdose Prevention Program Manager for Give an Hour. She serves as a member of the Rx and Heroin workgroup in Ventura County. Ashley has also been a presenter at the National Rx and Heroin abuse summit.
Nina Ravick
Nina Ravick
Program Manager, Enhancing the District’s Response to Trauma (EDRT)
nravick@giveanhour.org
Nina Ravick, MSSW joined Give an Hour in January 2019 and serves as the Program Manager for Enhancing the District’s Response to Trauma (EDRT). Prior to joining Give an Hour, Nina’s background has included a variety of clinical and social administration settings where she has provided both direct counseling as well as program management services to a variety of populations, including women, children, and families. Much to her delight, Nina’s career has always allowed her to work extensively with a range of pro-bono professionals and volunteers, who, Nina knows, are the true heart of our communities. Nina received her Bachelor of Arts from Muhlenberg College and her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. Nina lives in the DC area where she is surrounded by the joy and chaos of her three children.
Kristin Richardson
Kristin Richardson
Director of the Campaign to Change Direction
krichardson@giveanhour.org
Kristin joined Give an Hour in 2012. She is the Director of the Campaign to Change Direction and Emotional Life Skills. Kristin has an MA in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University and a BA in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Before joining the GAH staff, she was the Senior Analyst in the Background Check Unit at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She lives with her husband and four children in Greenville, S.C.
Nickie Silverstein
Nickie Silverstein
Program Manager for the Campaign to Change Direction
nsilverstein@giveanhour.org
Nickie Silverstein joined Give an Hour in September 2015 as a volunteer and currently serves as a Program Manager. Nickie grew up in Montana and attended college at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio for her undergrad and later her MBA. After graduating and receiving her commission in the Army, she served as a finance officer for nearly nine years. After the Army, she became a government service employee and worked as the Executive Officer to the Garrison Commander for both Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Nickie lives outside of Kansas City with her husband and children.
Fabian Sydnor
Fabian Sydnor
Administrative Coordinator
fsydnor@giveanhour.org
Fabian Sydnor joined Give an Hour in 2017 and currently serves as Administrative Coordinator. Originally from Lynchburg, Virginia, Fabian has a B.A. from the University of Lynchburg and a Master of Music from the University of Maryland. She has blended her knowledge of music with a career in various administrative coordinator positions, having served as executive coordinator in Creative Development for Walt Disney’s World On Ice, and as a Special Education in Music instructor. With a strong interest in the medical field, Fabian was later in office management for a medical practice in Washington, DC. Her years of working in the area of health and wellness led to her desire to be a part of Give an Hour. Fabian enjoys spending time with family, friends and their dogs, choral singing and going to performing arts productions, and taking lots of walks with my all-knowing Australian Cattle Dog, Molly.
Kirsti Thompson
Kirsti Thompson
Director of Give an Hour California
kthompson@giveanhour.org
Kirsti Thompson joined Give an Hour as part of Give an Hour, California, in July 2017, bringing extensive experience in the field of prevention, mental health, family strengthening, and child and youth development. Prior to joining Give an Hour, California, Kirsti served with Strategies, a project of the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, California Department of Social Services. In that role, Kirsti led a team of specialists in researching and creating family strengthening training curriculum and capacity building projects that were offered throughout California. Kirsti has specialized experience in organizational and program assessment and capacity building, group facilitation, training facilitation, and curriculum development. Furthermore, she provided training and follow up technical assistance on a variety of prevention and early intervention topics to various networks and organizations throughout central California. Kirsti has served in the non-profit, social service field, primarily in child/youth development, training and capacity building, and program quality support for over 25 years and is a Ventura County, California native.
Jamie Turner
Jamie Turner
Program Manager – Referrals
jturner@giveanhour.org
Jamie Turner joined Give an Hour in 2016 as the Referral Specialist with a strong military passion and as a military spouse, has been actively involved with the military lifestyle since 2002. She is an advocate for raising awareness of mental health injuries within the veteran community, reducing the stigma associated with seeking help for Post-Traumatic Stress, and connecting veterans and their families with available resources. Jamie can often be found biking, hiking, and RVing the country with her husband, their ridiculously good-looking black lab, and their newest addition – a 3-legged chocolate rescue lab.
Rebekah Wilbur
Rebekah Wilbur
Executive Assistant
rwilbur@giveanhour.org
Originally from the UK, Rebekah joined Give an Hour as executive assistant to the CEO in July 2019 and more recently has expanded her role as a graphic designer for the nonprofit.
With a Bachelors’s degree in Music Performance, Rebekah is currently enrolled in the University of West London Online where she is studying for a post-graduate certificate in Music Therapy.
An avid musician and songwriter, Rebekah spends her free time teaching piano as part of a virtual teaching academy and writing with a songwriting team for sync placement opportunities in TV, Film, and Advertising.
Executive Board
Patricia L. Bowditch
Patricia L. Bowditch: Give an Hour Board Treasurer. SVP, U.S. Operations, Kolaghassi Capital. Former president of Dinwiddie Enterprises, Inc, a single- family office dedicated to providing wealth management and estate planning services. From 2002 through 2010, she was the principal of Bowditch & Associates, LLC, an outsourced financial services company, providing CFO and management services to businesses, primarily in the family wealth management, real estate, and association industries. Prior to founding Bowditch & Associates, Ms. Bowditch was the chief financial officer of several companies in the real estate and construction industries. She has also been responsible for the financial oversight of nonprofit organizations and private charitable foundations. She began her career in public accounting, spending 12 years at Arthur Andersen in its Commercial Audit Division. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).
James Byrne
James Byrne: The Honorable James M. Byrne currently serves as an independent consultant, senior advisor and independent corporate board member. He was appointed and later confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs on August 28, 2018. He retired from federal service on February 3, 2020. As the Deputy Secretary, he led modernization initiatives and worked closely with the Secretary as the chief operating officer leading operations of the federal government’s second-largest Cabinet department, with some 385,000 employees in VA medical centers, clinics, benefits offices, national cemeteries, and other facilities throughout the country.
Previously, Mr. Byrne served as VA’s General Counsel, leading VA’s nationwide team of nearly 800 attorneys, paralegals, and staff who support VA’s mission and priorities by providing sound legal expertise, representation, and, as needed, critical problem-solving skills and risk-management advice to the Secretary and other senior VA leaders.
Before arriving at VA, Mr. Byrne served as Associate General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at Lockheed Martin Corporation, where he was also the company’s lead cyber and counterintelligence attorney. He served for several years on the board of directors for Pacific Architects and Engineers. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Byrne served in the career Federal Senior Executive Service as Deputy Special Counsel with the Office of the United States Special Counsel, and as both the General Counsel and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations with the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
Soon after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Mr. Byrne was recalled to active duty for 18 months with the U.S. Marine Corps in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Lieutenant Colonel James Byrne was assigned as the Officer-in- charge of the Marine Liaison Office at the then-National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Mr. Byrne led teams of Marines in DC-metro-area military hospitals and Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, that were responsible for supporting injured and deceased Marines, Sailors, and their families.
Mr. Byrne has over 25 years of experience in the public sector, including service as a forward deployed Marine Corps Infantry Officer and a U.S. Department of Justice international narcotics prosecutor. Mr. Byrne’s professional honors include several DOJ awards and The Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator’s Award for Exceptional Service. He is also a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism and several military decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal.
Volunteering in his community, Mr. Byrne has extensive experience on several non-profit and advisory boards. Until August 2017, Mr. Byrne’s most recent professional engagements included service on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Board and the International Association of Privacy Professionals Board of Directors. For ten years, Mr. Byrne volunteered on the Executive Board of Give an Hour, a non- profit organization that has developed national networks of volunteer professionals capable of providing complimentary and confidential mental health services in response to both acute and chronic conditions that arise within our society, beginning with the mental health needs of post-9/11 veterans, service members and their families.
Mr. Byrne is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received an engineering degree and, ultimately, held the top leadership position of Brigade Commander. Mr. Byrne later earned his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida, and started his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Malcolm J. Howard, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina.
Sean Howard
Sean Howard, Global Managing Director, WPP Government & Public Sector Practice: responsible for identifying and pursuing government business worldwide within WPP. The WPP Government and Public Sector Practice works with governments and public sector organizations around the world, pioneering the application of excellence in public communications to the challenges of public policy delivery. He advises WPP agencies on federal, national and provincial or statewide bid opportunities and manages the acquisition process that is specialized for successfully placing WPP agencies with government agencies in need of their services.
Sean also acts as the WPP Team Lead for the U.S. Navy business and regularly meets with senior Navy personnel to advise them on non-traditional marketing programs to further define the Navy brand and ultimately drive to the Navy’s annual recruiting mission.
Sean has worked across the marketing spectrum from small digital agencies, to global digital, CRM and traditional agencies and networks.
Fred Knowles
Fred Knowles: Chairman of the Give an Hour Board. Mr. Knowles is Founder and President of eTc, an executive coaching firm specializing in assisting corporate executives who are transitioning out of corporate life to retire, semi-retire or pursue something completely different. Prior to that, Mr. Knowles was Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Under Armour, Baltimore, Maryland. As part of the executive leadership team, Mr. Knowles was responsible for all aspects of human resources at the leading global performance apparel, footwear, accessories and connected fitness brand. Prior to joining Under Armour, Mr. Knowles was Senior Vice President, Enterprise Human Resource Services at Capital One in McLean, Virginia, where he led a group of over 400 human resource professionals in the leadership development, recruiting, diversity and compensation and benefits areas. Before joining Capital One, Mr. Knowles held numerous human resources positions at Mobil and ExxonMobil Corporation. Mr. Knowles lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Dorothea Vilardo and their four kids. Outside of work, Mr. Knowles spends most of his time with his family and is attempting to produce a sitcom with some of his friends.
Antonio E. Puente
Antonio Puente, PhD is Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
He was born in La Habana, Cuba and emigrated to the US in 1960. Puente received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. He has taught at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) since 1981 and prior to that at St. George’s University School of Medicine. His primary teaching activities include Brain and Behavior, Clinical Neuropsychology and History of Psychology. Puente is founding director of UNCW’s Centro Hispano and his research focuses on the interface between culture and neuropsychology. Puente founded and edited the journals Neuropsychology Review and Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice as well as a neuropsychology book series.
Puente also maintains a private practice in clinical neuropsychology is the founder and co-director of mental health services at the Cape Fear Clinic, a bilingual multi-disciplinary health center serving the indigent. He received the APA’s Distinguished Professional Contributions to Independent Practice in 2011.
Puente has also served as president of the N.C. Psychological Association, N.C. Psychological Foundation, the Hispanic Neuropsychological Association, National Academy of Neuropsychology, and Society for Clinical Neuropsychology (Division 40 of APA) as well as President of the American Psychological Association.
Edward Schiff
Edward Schiff: is currently Senior Counsel at the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in its Washington, D.C. office. Ed was born and raised in New York City, starting his educational career at Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of the Skull & Bones Honor Society and Chairman of the Student Judiciary Board. He continued his education at the School of Law at Washington and Lee University, where he earned his law degree, Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif. In addition to being the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, he was also President of the Law School Student Body. After graduating from law school, Ed clerked for the Honorable John Minor Wisdom, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, La. Ed led the opening of the Washington, D.C. office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, a 700 person international AM LAW 100 law firm with offices in California (7), New York, Illinois, Washington D.C., London, Brussels, Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul. Mr. Schiff served as the Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office for its first ten years. Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Ed was a partner in the Corporate Practice Group of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld in its Washington, D.C. office and then, after leaving that firm, was Managing Partner for the D.C. office of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis, a Philadelphia-based law firm. Mr. Schiff is a frequent guest speaker and panelist on finance structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and negotiating strategies.
Bruce Shuttleworth
Bruce Shuttleworth: marketing executive, strategy management consultant, community leader, and former naval officer. Mr. Shuttleworth also ran as the 2012 candidate for U.S. Congress in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District and is president of his civic association. Mr. Shuttleworth is evaluating local and worldwide entrepreneurial telemedicine opportunities. He managed the health care of both his parents through their long-term fight against cancer, while directing marketing communications at Blackboard Inc and marketing operations at MicroStrategy. Prior to that Mr. Shuttleworth served as a strategy management consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. As a Naval Aviator, he led missions over Bosnia and Somalia in support of UN objectives. Mr. Shuttleworth is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in History and served as an exchange Midshipman to West Point and to the British Royal Naval College. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Pam Swan
Pam Swan is the Senior Director of Military Relations and Business Development for Veterans United Home Loans. As the spouse of a retired United States Army soldier, Pam develops training for all Military Relations team members. In addition, she creates certification programs to ensure employees are properly trained on all products and services, as well as develops content for internal publications and serves as the media spokesperson for Veterans United.
In addition to working on internal programs, Pam is continually active with the military community. She has utilized her financial background to construct programs that educate military families on their current and future financial stability. She regularly presents to military audiences around the world, with more than 52,000 Service members directly benefiting from her knowledge and expertise in the financial arena. Her personal desire is to enhance the quality of life for all men and women that serve.
Pam is a nationally recognized expert on military personal finance, having authored several articles pertaining to financial successes for military members and appearing on MSNBC to discuss identity theft issues. She is a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, Certified Credit Report Reviewer (CCRR), and an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC). She is a recipient of the prestigious Dr. Mary Walker Award, the highest honor given to military spouses for their support and service, and has been inducted as an honorary SGM at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Pam has also received the Citation for Exceptional Service in support of National Defense from AUSA Headquarters.
In her spare time, Pam enjoys running or taking a motorcycle ride through the beautiful scenery of Mid-Missouri and spending time with her husband, John, and two kids, Trece and Erin.
Douglas Wolfire
Douglas Wolfire: Secretary of the Give an Hour Board of Directors. Founder and CEO of MadWolf Technologies, a 16-year-old IT Services firm located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Under Mr. Wolfire’s guidance, MadWolf provides Managed Services in the practice areas of IT Support, System Integration, Custom Application Development, and Data Security and Protection. Prior to forming MadWolf Technologies, Mr. Wolfire brought his management and technical skills to customers inheavy industry as well as the financial and development sectors. He is an expert in process control as well as Knowledge Management. Mr. Wolfire is a 1978 graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University–and apart from a short stint as newspaper reporter in Anthony, Kansas–has worked his entire career in the exceptionally dynamic field of technology. He served as a Board of Trustee Officer for Concord Hill School, in addition to his many years on the Give an Hour Executive Board.
Randy Phelps, PhD
Randy Phelps, Ph.D., served on the Give an Hour Advisory Board for over a decade, was a formal consultant to the GAH Board of Directors in 2017, became GAH’s Vice President of Operations in 2018, and was appointed GAH’s Chief Executive Officer in 2019. He formerly worked at American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Health Care Financing, a component of the APA Center for Psychology and Health. In that role he led APA’s advocacy efforts for sustainable health care financing for both health systems and practitioners. He was formerly the APA Deputy Executive Director for Professional Practice, and as well as APA’s liaison to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for a decade and a half. Dr. Phelps received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Utah in 1981. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Distinguished Member of the National Academies of Practice, Clinical Member of the American Family Therapy Academy, and recipient of APA’s Karl Heiser Award for advocacy. He has also received an APA Presidential Citation for his national contributions to professional psychology.
Founder and Former President
Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D.
Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., named to TIME magazine’s 2012 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, is the founder and former president of Give an Hour. A licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing in the Washington, D.C., area for over 20 years, she received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in 1991. Concerned about the mental health implications of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Van Dahlen founded Give an Hour in 2005 to enlist mental health professionals to provide free services to U.S. troops, veterans, their loved ones, and their communities. Currently, the network has nearly 7,000 providers, who have collectively given $19 million worth of services. As part of her work with Give an Hour, Dr. Van Dahlen has joined numerous panels, conferences, and hearings on issues facing veterans. She has participated in discussions at the Pentagon, VA, White House, and Congress, most recently appearing on the White House June 2013 panel about mental health in America, moderated by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and testifying in March of 2013 before the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on the topic “VA Mental Health Care: Ensuring Timely Access to High-Quality Care.” She has become a notable expert on the psychological impact of war on troops and families and a thought leader in mobilizing civilian constituencies in support of active duty service members, veterans, and their families. Working with other nonprofit leaders, Dr. Van Dahlen developed the Community Blueprint, a national initiative and online tool to assist communities in more effectively and strategically supporting veterans and military families. Give an Hour has implemented the Blueprint approach in two demonstration sites and continues to lead community collaboration projects. Dr. Van Dahlen has received numerous awards. In addition to her selection for the 2012 TIME 100, she received the American Psychological Association’s Presidential Citation and the 2013 Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship of the Manhattan Institute. In 2014 she was named a Woman of Distinction by the Coastal Bend Women Lawyers Association and honored by the Chief of Staff of the United States Army as an outstanding civilian who has made significant voluntary contributions to our military and the United States Army.
Our Generous Funders
Mental health is part of the human condition. It’s time we recognize how important our emotional well-being is for all of us.
– Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder and Former President of Give an Hour
Partners
Our Generous Funders
Pro Bono Supporters
- Aetna Foundation, Inc.
- Alexion Charitable Foundation
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Psychological Association
- Bank of America Charitable Foundation
- California Community Foundation
- Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes
- County of Ventura, CA
- Global Giving Foundation
- Indianapolis Public Schools
- Major League Baseball Players Trust
- Marion County, IN
- Muller Family Foundation
- Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants
- Tresemer Foundation
- University of Phoenix
- Ventura County Community Foundation
- Veterans United Foundation
- Wasily Family Foundation
- Women’s Fund of Central Indiana
- MadWolf Tech
- Sheppard Mullin
Financials and Documentation
Give an Hour operates in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements and maintains standards in specific areas through related policies and guidelines. We believe it is vital to the success of our organization that we conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity in all of our everyday actions on behalf of Give an Hour.
- Annual Report
- Audited Financial Statements
- Code of Conduct
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Document Retention and Destruction Policy
- Whistle Blower Policy
- Donor Privacy Policy
Our Commitment to Our Donors
We will not sell, share or trade our donors’ names or personal information with any other entity, nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations.
This policy applies to all information received by Give an Hour, both online and offline, on any Platform (“Platform”, includes the Give an Hour website and mobile applications), as well as any electronic, written, or oral communications.
To the extent any donations are processed through a third-party service provider, our donors’ information will only be used for purposes necessary to process the donation.
Ways to Donate
Give an Hour
P.O. Box 5918
Bethesda, MD 20824
Currently, our volunteer providers donate free, easily accessible confidential counseling to the military community and to survivors of natural disasters and man-made traumas. We can respond quickly to many who do not have access to help. Your donations help us reach those in need.
Give an Hour is a registered nonprofit with Amazon Smiles. Amazon donates a portion of your total to Give an Hour at no extra cost to you when you designate us as your charity of choice.
Give an Hour participates in the Combined Federal Campaign under listing #65498: “Military Families Receive Free Mental Health Care – Give an Hour.” If you work for the federal government, this is an easy way for you to support GAH. Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to our services for military families.
Give an Hour™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation; all donations to Give an Hour are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Our tax ID is 61-1493378. Our Maryland State registration number for charitable organizations is 18488.
