As a cleft kiddo growing up in the 80s and 90s, Devin knows how isolating it can be before connecting to organizations like FACES. When she foundFACES she knew right away she wanted to be part of it. She brings 5+ years of nonprofit grant writing experience, plus an eagerness to serve the craniofacial community. Welcome Devin!

Alison was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome and grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho before moving to San Francisco and later New York to pursue a career in the arts. She is a former FACES client and became even more connected to the organization after being invited as an honored guest at FACES Ride 4 Smiles. Alison is an actress, model, and businesswoman based in New York. She received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2018 film Happy Face, and won Best Actress at the 2019 FearNYC Festival. She has served as a signature hand model for Colace, and has worked with photographers such as Rick Guidotti to offer a different perspective on beauty. Alison trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, Stella Adler, and Queens Theatre, and has also worked in costume and wardrobe roles for several productions. Alison wants to give back to FACES the way the organization supported her throughout the years. She sees herself as an advocate and spokesperson for people affected by craniofacial differences, and considers FACES one of the few truly authentic organizations genuinely committed to helping people in need — she's ready to be part of that mission as a board member.

Hannah first came to camp as a high school freshman in 2022. Living with Apert syndrome - a craniofacial condition that affects the shape of the skull, face, and hands - she had spent most of her young life navigating a world that stared, questioned, and sometimes excluded. She arrived at camp hesitant, but what she found changed her. For the first time, she was surrounded by peers who understood because they had lived it, too. Her mother described what she saw when Hannah came home: “After camp, Hannah was more confident, made new friends, and had a truly amazing experience. FACES Camp has given Hannah something I’d never thought she would have the opportunity to experience.” Hannah returned the next two summers. Each year, she grew — encouraging younger campers, helping first-timers feel at ease, and showing them, through her own example, that a craniofacial difference does not define what a person can do or become. Outside of camp, she started a bread-baking business in her senior year of high school. What began as a hobby became a small enterprise, and a passion she might never have found without the confidence that camp helped her build. In her own words: “FACES Camp helped me grow as a person. It also gave me a community I never had before, of friends who look like me, where I can be seen and heard and not judged by the way I look. I have made lifelong friends.” Now 19, Hannah is returning to FACES Camp this summer, not as a camper, but as a Counselor-in-Training. In a moment that captures everything camp is about, she will lead a bread-baking class, sharing her craft, her story, and her spirit with the next generation of young people who need to see what they can become. Hannah’s journey is not an exception. It is what FACES Camp makes possible, year after year.

Meet Steve Thomas - Board Co-Chair Steve, thank you for letting our readers learn more about the FACES board co-chair and our work at FACES. Please tell us when and why you joined the FACES Board of Directors. FACES President Kim Fox asked me to be the photographer at FACES Camp in July 2022, and I gladly accepted. While at camp, I was asked if I'd be interested in serving on the board. I think FACES is a very worthwhile organization, and I was honored to be a volunteer. I had heard of FACES a few years ago but didn't learn about it until I answered an ad offering studio space at Bud's Creative Arts Center, where FACES has its office. I didn't rent the space, but I gained some new friends and an opportunity to help others. I really enjoyed FACES camp and meeting the kids and counselors. I've also enjoyed being involved with FACES fundraising events, Fearlessly Different Art Show, and Harvest Moon Low Country Boil, where I was the event photographer. Our board members have used their professional experience and hobbies to support FACES’ mission. Please tell us about yourself—your hobbies, family, and whether you serve on other boards. I retired two years ago after a 30-year career with the TVA. I've been married to Pam for 38 years, and we have five kids and six grandkids. I've been a photographer for nearly 39 years and had a photography business for about 15 years. It seems my hobby is volunteering. In addition to FACES, I'm also on the board of directors for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS), where I'm also a volunteer photographer, dispatcher, and digital retouch artist. NILMDTS provides free remembrance photography for families experiencing the loss of their newborn baby. I also serve on the Board of the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association and the Professional Photographers of East Tennessee. In my spare time, I work as a contractor for the TVA. What would you share for anyone wanting to learn more about our work at FACES? I'd tell them to check out our website, www.faces-cranio.org, and visit Bud's Creative Art Center and FACES at 5325 Old Hixson Pike to meet the awesome M.E. and Wesley Sanders, FACES' Programs Coordinators.

Congratulations to FACES Board Secretary Samantha Scott on her January graduation from the Chattanooga Police Academy, where she served as class president and graduated with honors. This achievement highlights her exceptional leadership skills and dedication. As a teenager and college student, Samantha volunteered for various FACES fundraisers, which helped her understand the importance of the FACES mission. She joined the FACES board in June 2024 and successfully recruited her fellow police academy cadets to volunteer for the FACES Harvest Moon Low Country Boil fundraiser in October. Officer Scott is currently employed by the Chattanooga Police Department and holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. FACES is honored to have her on the board.

Rachel's son was born with a craniofacial difference, giving her firsthand experience with the fear and uncertainty that comes with wondering what a child's life will look like — and whether the right resources and support will be there. That experience is at the heart of why she does this work: she doesn't want any other parent to feel alone while navigating the journey of raising a child with a difference. Rachel is a hospice social worker with over ten years of experience supporting individuals and families through serious illness, grief, and end-of-life care. That work has shaped her deep commitment to compassionate, person-centered support and strengthened her ability to walk alongside others during life's most vulnerable moments. She is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work and plans to obtain her LCSW to continue growing her clinical practice. As a board member, Rachel wants to help FACES expand access to resources and connection for families navigating craniofacial differences, especially in rural and underserved communities. She's passionate about ensuring families receive not just accurate medical information, but real emotional support along the way. She also hopes to help strengthen family-centered programming — including peer support and mental health resources — and grow FACES' outreach so more families know the organization is there for them.

Atlanta artist and Vietnam veteran Rudy Ramirez has donated a remarkable collection of original paintings, collages, and sculptures to benefit FACES. Known for his bold, expressive style, Rudy’s work is as powerful as the cause it supports. 100% of proceeds go directly to helping individuals with craniofacial differences access life-changing care. With summer marking the busiest surgery season for FACES families, the need is urgent. Every piece sold helps cover essential travel and lodging costs so patients can receive critical treatment. Original works range from $125–$1,100 and are available now, first come, first served—once they’re gone, they’re gone.

We’re excited to share that FACES Board Member Vanessa Acero’s new workbook, Now is the Journey: Cleft and Craniofacial, is now available. Created specifically for individuals with cleft and craniofacial conditions, this resource features meaningful activities and beautiful illustrations by Board Chair McKenzie Bergenback—designed to support self-expression, confidence, and emotional well-being. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of uplifting tools that help individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered.​

Thank you for your generous support this year! Since July 1, 2024, FACES has provided a total of $13,509 in travel grants to ten families. To read more about the impact your donations make click here. From July to September, we helped two clients with $2,361 in travel grants. Between October and December, we reimbursed three clients a total of $4,292 for their travel expenses. In January 2025, FACES assisted five clients with $6,857 in travel reimbursements. Currently, we have three new clients who urgently need our financial assistance with travel grants. Your continued support is essential in ensuring our clients receive the care they need. Your donations to FACES have significantly impacted the lives of the adults and children we serve. For example, 10 month old Blessing and 10 year old Callen, were able to travel for specialized craniofacial surgeries in 2024 thanks to your contributions. Thank you for making a difference!

Terence grew up with a cleft lip and palate and knows firsthand how visible differences can lead to feeling ostracized by peers. That experience shaped his lifelong passion for organizations like FACES that help people feel accepted and offer real resources to improve lives. Terence has spent 20 years working with nonprofits in roles ranging from fundraising to program management. He brings a rare ability to take an initiative from concept through implementation, with a strong understanding of budgets, timelines, and relationship management. He has also spent much of his career working directly with boards of directors, giving him firsthand insight into the challenges staff face when working alongside board leadership. Terence wants to be an engaged, hands-on board member who understands the effort behind every ask before making recommendations. He's committed to staying in close communication with staff to understand what's feasible, and to contributing wherever he's needed most — whether that's crafting fundraising language, engaging directly with the community, or offering strategic guidance once he understands what staff can realistically deliver. His priority causes include craniofacial challenges, poverty, equity, and cancer-related causes.

You can now watch FACES Board Chair McKenzie Bergenback’s powerful TEDxChattanooga Talk, “Re-membering the Face: Beauty, Belonging, and the Ethics of Being Seen,” on YouTube. In this thought-provoking talk, McKenzie explores the meaning of true belonging, challenges cultural definitions of beauty, and invites us to consider what it means to fully see and honor one another. We’re proud to share her voice and leadership with a broader audience and we invite you to watch and be inspired.

FACES Camp, happening June 15 – 20, is a transformative experience for kids with craniofacial differences who spend a week there. At FACES camp, every camper is celebrated for who they are, not how they look, allowing them to embrace their individuality while gaining independence and self-confidence. Thanks to the generous support of the Shirakiku Foundation, FACE Camp tuition is only $495. FACES offers tuition and travel scholarships to assist families with sending their children to camp. Parents and campers alike see this experience as a one-of-a-kind summer experience. One parent said her daughter's week at camp was TRANSFORMATIVE, and she wished she had known about it sooner. Nestled in the picturesque Camp Woodmont in Cloudland, Georgia, this summer overnight camp is not just about fun in the sun; it's an opportunity for kids to forge lasting friendships, explore new activities, and create unforgettable memories in a fun and nurturing environment. FACES Camp embodies childhood joy and acceptance, making it a remarkable experience for all involved. Don't wait another summer—give your camper the gift of FACES Camp! Go to facescamp.org to learn about camp, register and apply for tuition and travel scholarships.

June 15 -20, 2025 FACES Camp is a heartwarming experience for children with craniofacial differences, nestled in the picturesque Camp Woodmont in Cloudland, Georgia. This delightful summer overnight camp is not just about fun in the sun; it's a unique opportunity for kids to forge lasting friendships, explore new sports, and create unforgettable memories in a nurturing environment. Our campers say it is the best week ever! Here, every camper is celebrated for who they are, not how they look. This allows them to embrace their individuality while building bonds that transcend appearances. Campers can also invite a friend or sibling to join them at camp. FACES Camp truly embodies the essence of childhood joy and acceptance, making it a remarkable experience for all involved. One parent said her daughter's week at camp was TRANSFORMATIVE! and that she wished she had known about camp sooner. Don't wait another summer—give your camper the gift of FACES Camp! To learn more about camp, tuition, and travel scholarships and to register, go to facescamp.org.