Our Founder

Founding Board Member DeDe Grundel has been a driving force behind the transformation of A Kid’s Place from a mere field to the beautiful and thriving campus it stands as today. Her multifaceted contributions, serving as both the General Contractor and Volunteer Coordinator, have been pivotal in creating an environment that nurtures and supports foster children. DeDe’s tireless efforts extend beyond the physical infrastructure; she has played a key role in securing vital grants to sustain our programs. In times of transition, DeDe stepped in as the Interim Executive Director, showcasing her unwavering commitment to the organization. Beyond her official capacities, DeDe offers invaluable resources on the intricacies of the foster care system, ensuring A Kid’s Place remains at the forefront of providing compassionate care. Her 15 years of service have left an indelible mark on our organization, and we are immensely grateful for her enduring commitment and impact.

Serving as a Board Member for 15 years, Fred’s journey with us reflects an inspiring commitment to the mission of fostering hope and support for children in need. Notably, Fred’s passion for aiding foster children is deeply personal, having been adopted himself, and this connection has fueled his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Fred, along with his family, stands as a beacon of generosity, consistently contributing their time, talent, and treasure to A Kid’s Place. From hands-on projects like digging trenches to the creation of basketball courts and classrooms, hosting drives, sourcing in-kind vendors and chairing event committees, Fred and his family’s tireless efforts have left a lasting imprint on the lives of the children we serve. Fred’s invaluable professional expertise in building projects has been instrumental in ensuring the sustainability and functionality of our facilities. Inspired by Dottie Berger MacKinnon, whose mentorship shaped his philanthropic spirit, Fred and his family are dedicated to spreading Dottie’s message that we all possess philanthropic value in at least two of three areas: Time, Resources, and Money. Their philosophy emphasizes caring deeply and actively engaging with the community, never taking for granted the impact we can make on each other’s lives.

Cammie Chatterton is a long-time supporter of charities in the Tampa Bay area. Exposed to struggling populations while growing up in West Virginia, Cammie credits her generous parents with instilling in her a responsibility to help those less fortunate – especially children. Cammie has carried this lesson with her throughout life, and she encourages others to embrace it, as well. Cammie became a supporter of A Kid’s Place in 2017, when she volunteered at an event on campus and took a tour. She was instantly inspired by the great work the organization does to help local children who are dealing with immense struggles, through no fault of their own. Since then, Cammie and her company, Bay Food Brokerage, have been avid supporters of A Kid’s Place. Cammie currently serves on the Development Committee for A Kid’s Place, helping to direct strategic growth initiatives and to raise funds. Bay Food Brokerage has been a sponsor for numerous events, including the annual golf tournament and gala. They have also sponsored outings for the kids, such as trips to Busch Gardens, and hosted back-to-school, gift, food and clothing drives. Bay Food Brokerage also sponsored the basketball court in the new activity center. Beyond her support of A Kid’s Place, Cammie also serves on the board of directors for Feeding Tampa Bay, Jesuit High School and the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. She believes that if everyone were to do even a little to help kids – our future – the world would be a better place.

Cathy began her teaching career in 1977 as an elementary early childhood educator. Nearing the end of her 30 years of teaching she faced a personal challenge that pushed her life in a new direction. Upon receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, she was encouraged to take a leave of absence by her oncologist to help her with treatments and to heal. Kindergarten is kind of like being in a petri dish, which was not a sustainable environment for the journey she was about to begin.

Although this decision made logical sense, it was an extremely difficult one for Cathy to make. Her physician’s kind words were a good reminder of what she had to look forward to if she made the difficult decision now and took the time to truly heal, stating, “You have the rest of your life to teach!”

The rest of her life was in fact ahead of her, which brings us to A Kid’s Place! After completing 30 years with Hillsborough County Schools, Cathy’s journey of teaching did not end there. She is standing before you this evening with 45 years and counting of time as an educator.

This life altering diagnosis made Cathy confront her own mortality and gave her an even greater sense of purpose. Having to take a step back from the very thing she has always loved to do made her evaluate this sense of purpose. Education is her ministry. A Kid’s Place is where her passion and purpose were able to meet!

Cathy believes that she gets to work with and witness acts of true earthly guardian angels each day. These moments and stories are woven into the fabric of who Cathy is. Her teaching goes far deeper than just the things we’ve all learned from the classroom. She cares so deeply to help children learn core academics, inspire curiosity and develop social-emotional skills to help them succeed in the world around them.

“A teacher’s greatest gift is believing in a student until the student believes in themselves.”

A Kid’s Place is so pleased to honor Cathy with the Guardian Angel Award this year. Her story and contributions speak volumes about the heart and character she possesses, and we are forever grateful to have this Guardian Angel supporting our kids and staff each day.