We are excited to introduce Katie Clifford as PT National’s Vice President of Development. In this newly-created role, Katie will lead PT National’s fundraising efforts, broadening its national base of supporters and collaborating on fundraising initiatives with the chapter network. Katie served as an intern at PT North Texas in 2014 at Grace UMC. Her summer of service with PT affirmed her call to nonprofit ministry and to working with youth-serving organizations. Katie graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Government – Legal Studies and in Sociology. Previously, Katie served as the Senior Director for Strategic Development for Communities In Schools of North Texas, where she was responsible for securing strategic funding and resources to sustain and grow services for K-12 students across three counties. As a PT alumni, Katie has witnessed firsthand the life changing impact that the program has on youth and young adults. Seeing the sparks that go off in a young person’s mind when they begin to discover their passion and sense of purpose is to Katie one of the most touching elements of PT’s work. Katie and her husband, Tim, attend Arlington Heights United Methodist Church, where Tim serves as the Associate Pastor. In her spare time, Katie loves to be with family, sing, craft, and love on their two cats, Daisy and Dandy.

We are also excited welcome four new board members to our national board of directors: Chuck Garcia, Dr. Ron Henderson, Donald Macarthy, and Charles Reed.
Chuck Garcia is a resident in the DFW-area. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM and graduated from New Mexico State University. Chuck is a longtime banker specializing in the payments and treasury management business for almost 40 years. Chuck is married, has one son and enjoys traveling and playing golf in his spare time. Chuck has served on a number of national and local boards of Prevent Blindness and various banking-related organizations. Chuck decided to join the national board after serving as a reading volunteer and seeing the impact the organization has on young people.

Dr. Ron Henderson has served as a minister in the United Methodist Church for 43 years. He has served as the pastor of St. Paul UMC, Hamilton Park UMC, Custer Road UMC, as well as District Superintendent of the Dallas Northeast and North Central Districts. Currently, he is appointed to the North Texas Conference as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Dr. Henderson says, “I believe that Project Transformation is transforming young people of color to be leaders in the broader community, and I look forward to participating in the work of forming young leaders.”

Donald C. Macarthy is an Attorney in Oklahoma who is dedicated to serving families walking through the legal system. Serving as a Project Transformation intern in 2012, his love for working with children deepened. Currently he serves as Oklahoma City’s Juvenile Public Defender, and as a Parent attorney for Parents in Oklahoma County for those dealing with a DHS case. To him, this is the most life-giving part of the work he does as an attorney.
Donald says, “Project Transformation’s work with families in underserved communities is life changing. The work Project Transformation does in giving kids stability, and parents comfort in knowing that even for a couple hours their children’s needs are met is one of the reasons that drew me to wanting to serve on the Board. The other reason is that I fully believe the Lord used my summer as an intern to do a work in me, and I have no doubt that Project Transformation will continue to provide that same life altering experience for its interns.”

Charles E. Reed is a semi-retired serial entrepreneur (former Schlotzsky Franchisee, Yogurt Shop, Convenience store and Commercial Real Estate) and former corporate executive with Bethlehem Steel and Atlantic Richfield (ARCO). He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and has lived in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Wisconsin prior to moving to Texas in 1983 with wife Rev. Dr. Clara M Reed who is a retired Elder and former District Superintendent in the North Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has served in both local and conference level church lay leadership. Charles is a member of St. Luke “Community” UMC and looks forward to giving back to the community that nurtured him.