Black Philanthropy Month, founded by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland in 2011, recognizes and promotes Black giving, generosity, and honors all forms of collective support and community impact.
As an organization with a mission to support children and families, and that receives funding from the generosity of our diverse communities, we are highlighting our board members who are giving back with their leadership, resources, and support.
Marian Parker Branch, President, ChildSavers’ Board of Directors
What was the exact moment or conversation that made you say, “I need to get involved with ChildSavers”?
As a mental health provider within the school system, there wasn’t one single moment so much as a growing realization through my work with children, families, and schools that ChildSavers made a huge impact with some of the families we encounter. A previous Board member invited me to join the Community Board. While on the Community Board, I learned more about ChildSavers and its role in providing trauma-informed mental health services and crisis support for children in our community. I knew this was an organization I needed to be part of. This was an opportunity to support the mission through my lens in mental health, leadership, and experience to help expand the organization’s impact.
In one sentence, how did learning about ChildSavers change how you view children’s mental health in Richmond?
ChildSavers helped me understand that children’s mental health is not simply an individual or family issue; it is a community responsibility, and every child deserves access to the support they need to heal, thrive, and reach their full potential.
With so many incredible causes out there, why is ChildSavers the organization you choose to lead and financially back?
When I look at an organization to financially back, I first look at my personal vision and mission statement. If the organization aligns with that, it is a start. Secondly, I choose to back organizations that truly support children, families, and the betterment of our community. Because of the work I do, ChildSavers’ mission aligns deeply with both my personal values and my professional life’s work. I have spent much of my career advocating for children, families, and communities, and ChildSavers addresses children at a critical point in their lives. Trauma, especially generational trauma, is not an individual problem because it is embedded in families and communities. ChildSavers responds to families in crisis, understanding that it is not an easy pathway for children and families, yet healing can still occur.
What specific ChildSavers milestone—like funding a crisis response or training a provider—makes you proudest to be a donor?
What makes me proudest is knowing that my support helps the organization place trained professionals and critical resources where children need them most. Whether it’s assisting a child and family in crisis, expanding access to therapy, or equipping providers to respond to trauma, I know this investment directly impacts a child’s ability to heal. For me, the greatest milestone isn’t just a number; it’s knowing that because ChildSavers was there, a child and family didn’t have to face a difficult moment alone. As a donor, I know how critically important it is to continue supporting new initiatives and capital campaigns to sustain the organization.
ChildSavers has a 100+ year history; what is the main footprint you want to leave behind during your time as chair?
My main footprint is to leave ChildSavers stronger, more visible, and even more deeply connected to the Richmond community. My hope is that during my time as chair, we strengthen partnerships, expand access to mental health services, increase community awareness around children’s mental health, and position ChildSavers for continued growth and sustainability. I want to build on the incredible foundation established over more than 100 years so the organization is prepared to serve the next generation of children.
Looking down the road, how do you see ChildSavers fitting into your personal lifelong plans and legacy?
ChildSavers is very much connected to the legacy I want to leave. I want my life’s work to reflect a commitment to children, families, mental health, and creating stronger communities. Long after my time as chair has ended, I hope I can look back and know that I helped strengthen an organization that will continue changing children’s lives for generations. My goal is not simply to have served on a board; it is to have helped create lasting change that continues long after my leadership role is over.
Curtis Pulliam, ChildSavers’ Endowment Board Secretary; Resource Development Committee Co-Chair
What was the exact moment or conversation that made you say, “I need to get involved with ChildSavers”?
My connection to ChildSavers started by chance. I was having lunch with Robert Bolling, ChildSavers’ CEO, to talk about some work involving another organization. At some point, the conversation turned to ChildSavers, and Robert began sharing what they were seeing with children and families in Richmond, the trauma, the mental health needs, and the importance of getting support to children early.
What stood out to me was how personal the work clearly was to him. You could hear it in the way he talked about the children they serve. And as he was talking, I kept thinking about my own parents, who both spent their careers teaching children in Richmond Public Schools. I grew up seeing that some kids need more than what happens in the classroom. They need people around them who see them, support them, and help them through what they are carrying.
So when, a few weeks later, I was asked to consider becoming part of ChildSavers, there really wasn’t much hesitation. I had already seen the connection between their work, my own story, and a community I care deeply about. It was an easy yes.
In one sentence, how did learning about ChildSavers change how you view children’s mental health in Richmond?
It didn’t really change my view as much as it reminded me of what I had already seen growing up, my mother taught special education in Richmond Public Schools for 30 years, and I watched how much she gave to children who needed extra support, and 30 years later, that need is still here and in many ways feels greater than ever.
With so many incredible causes out there, why is ChildSavers the organization you choose to lead and financially back?
What draws me to ChildSavers is that the work can change the trajectory of a child’s entire life. When you help a child feel safe, supported, and understood early on, that impact does not stop with that child. It carries into families, schools, and ultimately the community. That is the kind of work I want to put my time, leadership, and financial support behind.
I also believe there is real power in Black leaders being visible in philanthropy, not just giving financially, but showing up, serving, leading, and investing back into the community. I want young people to see that giving back and helping build stronger communities is part of what leadership looks like.
What specific ChildSavers milestone—like funding a crisis response or training a provider—makes you proudest to be a donor?
What makes me proudest is knowing that the dollars we raise actually turn into real help for children. It may be a child getting support during a crisis, a family being connected to care, or a provider being trained to reach even more kids. I think about it very simply, because people decided to give, a child who needed help was able to get it. That means a lot to me.
ChildSavers has a 100+ year history; what is the main footprint you want to leave behind during your time on the Board?
I would like to leave ChildSavers stronger than I found it, financially, in the community, and in the number of people who understand and support the mission. I am not focused on leaving behind something with my name on it. I would much rather know that during my time on the Board, we helped strengthen the organization so it can serve more children and families for generations to come.
Looking down the road, how do you see ChildSavers fitting into your personal lifelong plans and legacy?
I hope ChildSavers stays part of my life long after my Board service ends. When I think about legacy, I think about whether I used what I had, my time, my resources, my relationships, and my leadership, to create opportunities for other people. Supporting children and helping make sure they have the chance to grow, heal, and thrive is the kind of legacy that matters to me.
And especially during Black Philanthropy Month, I think there is something important about being intentional about that example. I want the next generation to see Black men and women not only succeeding, but also turning around and investing that success back into the communities that helped shape us.
Richie Henry, ChildSavers’ Operation Board Member
What was the exact moment or conversation that made you say, “I need to get involved with ChildSavers”?
In 2019, during a session with our Employee Resource Group, Black Engagement at Markel (BEAM), featuring ChildSavers CEO Robert Bolling, I heard a powerful discussion about the impact of childhood trauma on children, families, and communities. The stories and statistics shared that day were deeply moving and highlighted the lasting effects of untreated trauma. It was a defining moment that inspired me to get involved and support ChildSavers’ mission.
In one sentence, how did learning about ChildSavers change how you view children’s mental health in Richmond?
Learning about ChildSavers helped me understand that children’s mental health challenges are often rooted in complex experiences and circumstances, reinforcing the importance of empathy, early intervention, and community support.
With so many incredible causes out there, why is ChildSavers the organization you choose to lead and financially back?
ChildSavers resonates with me on a personal level and has helped me recognize the profound, lasting impact that childhood trauma can have on a person’s life. Supporting the organization allows me to help ensure that children and families receive the care, resources, and opportunities they need to heal and thrive.
What specific ChildSavers milestone—like funding a crisis response or training a provider—makes you proudest to be a donor?
I am especially proud to support the ChildSavers Training Institute and its efforts to expand access to mental health and child development education. Knowing that our contributions help equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to better serve children and their families is incredibly meaningful to my family and me.
ChildSavers has a 100+ year history; what is the main footprint you want to leave behind during your time on the Board?
I hope my legacy will be one of action and commitment, demonstrating that I chose to engage, contribute, and help strengthen opportunities for future generations when our community faced important challenges.
Looking down the road, how do you see ChildSavers fitting into your personal lifelong plans and legacy?
My involvement with ChildSavers goes far beyond volunteer service; it is a cause that has become part of who I am. I hope that commitment continues to shape how I invest my time, resources, and leadership, and helps create a lasting impact that extends well beyond my own lifetime.
Ann Jones, ChildSavers’ Operating Board Secretary
What was the exact moment or conversation that made you say, “I need to get involved with ChildSavers”?
My desire to join the ChildSavers Board is deeply rooted in how I was raised. I grew up in a family of modest means, but one rich in faith, love, and compassion. While we did not have much financially, our late mother, a dedicated social worker, taught her six children that our circumstances should never define us or limit our potential. She dedicated her life to supporting children and families facing difficult challenges and instilled in us the values of gratitude, empathy, and humility. Most importantly, she taught us that when we are blessed with the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, we have a responsibility to do so.
In one sentence, how did learning about ChildSavers change how you view children’s mental health in Richmond?
Touring the ChildSavers facility gave me a firsthand understanding of how trauma affects children and opened my eyes to both the tremendous need for children’s mental health services and the life-changing impact early intervention can have on a child’s future, a family’s well-being, and the overall health of a community.
With so many incredible causes out there, why is ChildSavers the organization you choose to lead and financially back?
ChildSavers’ unwavering commitment to supporting children and families in the Richmond community is truly inspiring. For more than a century, the organization has helped children experiencing trauma find hope, healing, and the resources they need to thrive. Knowing that ChildSavers has transformed the lives of generations of children and families motivates me to advance its mission through both my service on the Board and my financial contributions.
What specific ChildSavers milestone, like funding a crisis response or training a provider, makes you proudest to be a donor?
What makes me proudest is knowing that ChildSavers continues to expand access to critical mental health services for children and families who might not otherwise receive the support they need. Every child connected to care, every family given hope in a time of need, and every professional equipped to recognize and respond to mental health challenges represents an opportunity to change a life. Together, these efforts help children heal from trauma, build resilience, and create brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
ChildSavers has a 100+ year history; what is the main footprint you want to leave behind during your time on the Board?
Every child deserves the opportunity to flourish and reach their full potential, regardless of the challenges they face. I hope my footprint on the ChildSavers Board will be one of advocacy, partnership, and opportunity, helping increase awareness, strengthen community support, and expand access to mental health services for children and families. My greatest hope is that, because of the work we do today, more children will have the chance to heal, overcome adversity, and build brighter futures.
Looking down the road, how do you see ChildSavers fitting into your personal lifelong plans and legacy?
Following in my mother’s footsteps, I hope my legacy will be one of helping children overcome adversity, discover their strengths, and unlock opportunities. ChildSavers provides a meaningful way for me to honor my mother’s legacy by supporting children and families when they need help most. I believe one of the greatest investments we can make is in the mental health and well-being of our children, and I hope my service on the Board will be part of a lifelong commitment to helping children flourish and create lives filled with purpose, opportunity, and success.
Closing Statement
I have always believed in the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” ChildSavers is a vital part of that village. I invite you to join me in supporting ChildSavers’ mission. Every contribution helps provide hope, healing, and critical mental health services to children in need. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families throughout our community. To learn more or donate, visit: Children’s Mental Health Services – Child Care Resources – Richmond, VA [childsavers.org]
