Grassroots Initiatives for the Future Family Tree
Meet the Board
Robin Crabtree, President/GIFFT Board of Directors
Robin has a professional background spanning 27 years, primarily in mortgage finance and is currently employed as a mortgage loan officer for a major corporation. Robin held Executive and Operations Management positions for a large corporation and is an experienced public speaker and corporate educator.
She holds a degree in English with a focus in Journalism and has served as an Assistant Editor/Writer.
Robin has three grown children and four grandchildren.
As long-time advocates for at-risk children, Robin and her husband, Don, are current emergency placement foster parents for Loudoun County, Virginia. Through foster-parenting, Robin became educated through first hand experience in how parents play the primary role in the growth of their children into productive adulthood. Through parenting classes, Robin also became educated in how a few simple processes can dramatically change an ineffective parent into one who can easily guide any child in a positive direction.
Robin's primary goal is to aid governmental agencies in providing the needed programs and funding for such services as well as programs to reverse the ill-effects of inadequate parenting in today's at-risk youths.
Don Crabtree, Director/GIFFT Board of Directors
Don has a degree in Business Management and a 15 year professional career, including holding the position of Director of Operations for a large corporation. Don is currently an award-winning, top 7% mortgage consultant for a large mortgage banking corporation.
Don, with his wife, Robin, is proud and happy to assist abused and neglected children in the crucial role as an emergency placement foster parent for Loudoun County, Virginia. All monies received in their service to Loudoun County children is donated to GIFFT.
As a Director for GIFFT, Don plays an integral role in helping to define and direct the operations of the non-profit group to maximize the impact of every dollar donated.
Don's interests include advocating for the control and humane treatment of the homeless pet population. As such, Don is initiating programs that will combine the need to reverse the ill effects of abuse and neglect in both children and pets through proven methods, including involving youths in the training of service animals. These measures will reduce the need for governmental spending on child protective services and animal control that have a direct impact on tax rates and services to local residents.
Katie Newton, Vice President/GIFFT Board of Directors
Katie has a diverse, professional background spanning 7 years. As a non-profit fundraiser for the past two years, primarily for the DARE (Drug Awareness) program, Katie's professional experience and integrity are major contributors to the successful execution of GIFFT's mission. Katie is a member of the Board of Directors and also serves as Operations Manager for GIFFT.
With a major in Horticulture, Katie's primary interest is in initializing programs for at-risk youth that teach responsibility, volunteerism, charity and life skills by combining horticultural endeavors with healing activities and instruction in life lessons. Through these programs, at-risk youth will grow and distribute produce to food banks, will learn skills that will be useful in adulthood and increase their self-worth and their ability to make a positive impact on their community as children and as adults.
In addition, all of GIFFT's programs will provide youth with integrated opportunities to learn financial planning and management, goal setting and execution, problem-solving, idea sharing and methods of cooperation with and acceptance of others.
Robin has a professional background spanning 27 years, primarily in mortgage finance and is currently employed as a mortgage loan officer for a major corporation. Robin held Executive and Operations Management positions for a large corporation and is an experienced public speaker and corporate educator.
She holds a degree in English with a focus in Journalism and has served as an Assistant Editor/Writer.
Robin has three grown children and four grandchildren.
As long-time advocates for at-risk children, Robin and her husband, Don, are current emergency placement foster parents for Loudoun County, Virginia. Through foster-parenting, Robin became educated through first hand experience in how parents play the primary role in the growth of their children into productive adulthood. Through parenting classes, Robin also became educated in how a few simple processes can dramatically change an ineffective parent into one who can easily guide any child in a positive direction.
Robin's primary goal is to aid governmental agencies in providing the needed programs and funding for such services as well as programs to reverse the ill-effects of inadequate parenting in today's at-risk youths.
Don Crabtree, Director/GIFFT Board of Directors
Don has a degree in Business Management and a 15 year professional career, including holding the position of Director of Operations for a large corporation. Don is currently an award-winning, top 7% mortgage consultant for a large mortgage banking corporation.
Don, with his wife, Robin, is proud and happy to assist abused and neglected children in the crucial role as an emergency placement foster parent for Loudoun County, Virginia. All monies received in their service to Loudoun County children is donated to GIFFT.
As a Director for GIFFT, Don plays an integral role in helping to define and direct the operations of the non-profit group to maximize the impact of every dollar donated.
Don's interests include advocating for the control and humane treatment of the homeless pet population. As such, Don is initiating programs that will combine the need to reverse the ill effects of abuse and neglect in both children and pets through proven methods, including involving youths in the training of service animals. These measures will reduce the need for governmental spending on child protective services and animal control that have a direct impact on tax rates and services to local residents.
Katie Newton, Vice President/GIFFT Board of Directors
Katie has a diverse, professional background spanning 7 years. As a non-profit fundraiser for the past two years, primarily for the DARE (Drug Awareness) program, Katie's professional experience and integrity are major contributors to the successful execution of GIFFT's mission. Katie is a member of the Board of Directors and also serves as Operations Manager for GIFFT.
With a major in Horticulture, Katie's primary interest is in initializing programs for at-risk youth that teach responsibility, volunteerism, charity and life skills by combining horticultural endeavors with healing activities and instruction in life lessons. Through these programs, at-risk youth will grow and distribute produce to food banks, will learn skills that will be useful in adulthood and increase their self-worth and their ability to make a positive impact on their community as children and as adults.
In addition, all of GIFFT's programs will provide youth with integrated opportunities to learn financial planning and management, goal setting and execution, problem-solving, idea sharing and methods of cooperation with and acceptance of others.
