Kathleen has always believed that giving your time and talents can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Throughout her 32-year career as a chemical engineer with Shell Oil Company, Kathleen balanced a demanding professional life with raising her family and a deep commitment to service. She volunteered in her children’s schools and sports activities while also teaching, recruiting, organizing, and taking on leadership roles at work, in her community, and at the state level.
As retirement approached, Kathleen and her husband, Rick, made St. Tammany Parish their home and quickly became involved with local nonprofit organizations. Today, along with enjoying family, traveling, and the freedom of retirement, they devote much of their time to helping young adults from challenging backgrounds build more stable, independent futures.
In 2020, Kathleen and Rick launched Gift-A-Lift as a program of James Samaritan after recognizing one of the biggest obstacles facing young adults in Extended Foster Care: reliable transportation.
What began as an effort to help a few young people has grown into an independent nonprofit with a simple but powerful mission. Gift-A-Lift accepts donated vehicles, coordinates necessary repairs, and places those vehicles with individuals who need dependable transportation to get to work, attend school, and pursue opportunities that can change the direction of their lives.
For Kathleen and Rick, Gift-A-Lift is about much more than providing a vehicle. It is about offering a helping hand at the right moment, restoring hope, and giving someone the opportunity to move forward toward a more independent life.
To date, Gift-A-Lift has helped change the lives of 26 individuals—and counting.