Meet Our Board & Advisors
Jessica moved 5.5 years ago to Mount Pleasant from Chicago. In Chicago she had a real estate career before shifting career gears and opened a retail store in her hometown. Her parents had always taught her to give back and showed her throughout her youth to be thankful for what we have. As an adult and mom, she took this seriously and served on many local boards in her community. She and her husband served on their local hospital junior advisory board that ran yearly fundraisers, primarily focusing on children and adding resources to the hospital. She spent years on her local junior women’s club and co-chaired fundraisers that brought in over 100k. Once her children were in preschool, she devoted her time to their preschool board and ran events and fundraisers to help improve the school. This past summer, Jessica began asking questions about children in the school system that may need the extra recourses and how they are getting them. She was blown away at the lack of resources available and knew she had to do something. Her experiences from volunteering in Chicago positioned her perfectly to form Young Children’s Charities.
A graduate of Miami University, Ryan has held executive positions at AT&T, EMC, Integrated Data Storage and AVANT Communications. He loves spending time outside, extreme sports, and personal development. Ryan is the CEO and founder of Acliviti. That vision has provided Acliviti the opportunity to work with some of the largest Fortune 500 brands in the world, as well as placing Acliviti on the Inc 5000 fastest growing companies in America in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023. While living in Chicago, he served on his local hospitals junior advisory board, ran a marathon for American Heart Association and repelled down a building to raise money for American Lung Association. Ryan includes charity work in his culture at work and since changing to a remote work place, his company has supported Raise the Woof, Wine to Water and Art for Social Equality. When his team has been onsite in Chicago, they’ve been supporting Blessings in a Backpack, a Chicago based company feeding kids in need.
Ryan Young, Vice President
Michael Young brings over two decades of financial expertise and a deep commitment to community service to his role with Young Children’s Charities. As a Certified Public Accountant and current Chief Financial Officer at a leading audit recovery firm, Michael leverages his professional experience to support the mission of feeding children who face food insecurity throughout the year.
A passionate advocate for childhood nutrition and well-being, Michael has long dedicated his time to initiatives that ensure every child has access to the nourishment they need to thrive. His work with YCC reflects both his belief in the power of community and his dedication to building a brighter future for the next generation.
Outside of his professional and volunteer roles, Michael is a proud husband and father to four daughters. He draws daily inspiration from his family and is motivated by the idea that no child should ever go hungry.
Michael Young, Treasurer
Jaime Ginney is physician assistant who also obtained a master of public health with a focus on preventative care. She has had a passion for using her medical skills to help give back to the less fortunate for the past 20 years. Jaime
> was involved with the Heart to Heart mission where she worked with a cardiac team to provide philanthropic cardiac surgery in Santiago, Dominican Republic. She was involved with the Madonna House of Northern Kentucky, educating single young mothers on the basic health needs of their newborns. Jaime volunteered as a clinical provider at Shepherd’s Hope Health Center in Orlando Florida, and currently works with ICNA Relief Shifa Clinic that allows indigent patients access to health care in Charleston SC. She has 3 children within the CCSD school system and is thrilled to be a part of this organization to help give back to our community.
Jaime Ginney, Community Outreach
Starr Quenelle, Event Planning
Shannon Young, Food Coordinator
Starr Quenelle relocated to Mount Pleasant from Nashville, Tennessee. Professionally, she is serving as a National Channel Manager at Verizon, where she oversees corporate partnerships. With a background in mass communications from Auburn University, Starr has a strong track record of involvement in scholarship fund organizations, church volunteer work, and active participation in a school for special needs children. Her experience in planning social engagements and events, both personally and professionally, equips her well for creating exciting fundraising opportunities for Young Children’s Charities.
Shannon is the Executive Director of Operations for MUSC Health System, a 16-facility hospital network committed to addressing community health needs. Shannon leads key operational initiatives, including those that provide free, nutritious meals to children in the local school system during the summer, a critical time when school-based meal programs are unavailable. In addition to her work in healthcare, Shannon actively partners with large organizations to secure food contributions and donations, ensuring the sustainability and growth of these vital programs. Her efforts help bridge the gap between healthcare, nutrition, and corporate responsibility, creating impactful partnerships that support the well-being of children in need. With a passion for improving healthcare outcomes and addressing food insecurity, Shannon’s work ensures that every child has access to healthy meals, supporting both their immediate and long-term health.
Jenna Laird, Event Planning
Jenna Laird holds degrees in Psychology and Speech Language Pathology and has, in every sense of the word, dedicated her career to helping young children find their voices. She has spent the entirety of her career working within the school system, where she has seen firsthand how deeply children flourish when their minds, hearts, and bellies are all cared for. Her commitment to children and families extends far beyond the classroom. Jenna has served on several school and volunteer boards, including The Childhood League in Columbus, Ohio, an organization devoted to changing the trajectory of children’s lives through early education and family-centered partnerships.
As a mother, Jenna is passionate about showing her own children the power of giving back and the lasting impact that service can have on a community. She believes that when children witness generosity and compassion in action, it shapes how they see their role in the world. Now serving on the board of Young Children’s Charities, Jenna brings her warmth, optimism, and deep belief in community connection to every initiative. She is honored to support Young Children’s Charities in enriching the lives of children and families in the community she loves to call home.
Megan Higgins, Event Planning
A year and a half ago, Megan Higgins moved to Mount Pleasant, SC from Las Vegas, NV. While living in Las Vegas, Megan worked as a school psychologist in the public school system. During this time, Megan saw first hand the hardships that children face when they do not have access to adequate nutritional food. She developed a passion for helping children and finding ways to provide them with resources they need. After moving to Mount Pleasant, Megan was determined to become involved in the community and helping others in need. She is very excited to join Young Children’s Charity and give back to the community.
Britt Bouchard, Event Planning
Britt relocated to Mount Pleasant from Maine in June 2024 and quickly fell in love with the welcoming, tight-knit community. Eager to get involved and give back, she jumped at the opportunity to support YCC and its mission. She serves as Director of Employee Enablement for a background screening and identity verification company, focusing on employee experience, communications, and engagement. Prior to her corporate role, Britt spent nearly a decade in event planning, where she developed a passion for bringing people together and creating meaningful, community-centered experiences. She also owns a small home organization business in Mount Pleasant, further connecting her with local families and the community. Britt lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband and their six-year-old son. As a family, they love beach days, local events, and being part of a community that values connection, family, and giving back.
Emily Cadwell, Event Planning
Emily and her family relocated to Mount Pleasant from Virginia almost 4 years ago. Emily is a mother of two children (ages 9 and 11), married to her high school sweetheart, and has worked as a nurse for almost 15 years. Her past experience as a NICU nurse has made her especially passionate about supporting families in times of need. She has worked collaboratively with organizations such as March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity and Welcome Corps. She has been an active volunteer within her children’s school, including being a member of the PTO board for the past 3 years where she has organized large events, silent auctions, and helped fundraise. In her free time Emily enjoys traveling the world with her family, reading, and crafting.