Board of Directors
Stephanie Suljak
Non-Voting Member
We began our journey in August 2011 when Founder & Executive Director (and mom), Stephanie Suljak, discovered a large unmet need in the St. Louis area to help families provide for their children. HHMD began in her living room with 12 referring partner agencies and now has well over 125 agencies that refer the service and a whole warehouse to support the need. As of 2022 more than 30,000 children and their families have been served in some way by Helping Hand Me Downs. Stephanie and her husband Chris live in Wildwood with their 2 children ages 9 and 12 and their dogs Bubba, Hank and Macy.
Kaitlin Kelly
President
Kaitlin is serving her fourth year on the Board and her first year as President. She works for Kodi Collective, a Nashville based marketing company. Kaitlin loves working with this amazing organization that Stephanie has built!
Mary Ann Thurby
Treasurer
Mary Ann is starting her second year on the board as treasurer. She is employed at Signify lighting as a Regional Sales Manager for over thirty years selling commercial lighting. Mary Ann is thrilled to be a part of this organization and all they do to help our community.
Tom Applewhite
Secretary
Tom is starting his first year on the board. He has been a lawyer with Donner Applewhite for 11 years and assists with pro bono domestic violence dockets through St. Louis Survivors along with is legal practice. A St. Louis native, he lives with his wife Rachel and three children in Affton.
Gia Thurby
Member
Gia is starting her second year on the board as a community advocate. She has been employed with Midwest Oral Surgery for 7 years and has volunteered with Easter Seals as a camp counselor along with various school related activities. Her prior board service was with the Lindbergh Hockey Board. Gia loves serving single moms and their children and enjoys celebrating their success.
Dawn Douglas
Member
Dawn has worked in school business for almost three decades. Most recently she serves as the executive director of business and finance for the Lindbergh Schools.
In her free time, she enjoys volunteering for various charities in St. Louis from picking up trash to packing meals for children in need.
Dawn is fairly new to Helping Hand Me Downs but is excited about her role on the board.