DeeAnn Jones

Stefen
one month into treatment

September 2003
at Family Weekend sponsored by
Children's Chance

Terrieanne & Stefen
August 2007

Stefen with Mrs. Lexington receiving his trophy for 2nd Place at the Backyard BBQ Contest

October 2007

Meet Our Executive Director

DeeAnn Jones has been the Executive Director of Children's Chance since June 1, 2005. Prior to that she was a board member and then became board chair before joining the Children's Chance staff. She brings over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector as well as her personal experience with pediatric cancer.

About DeeAnn

My personal experience with pediatric cancer began on August 15, 2002, the day that doctor’s told me that my 10 year old son, Stefen, had Leukemia.  My life will never be the same after hearing those words.  On that terrible day, my family began the hard road to battle pediatric cancer.  Stefen’s world was no more about soccer, camping, or fishing but about needles, spinal taps, tears, fear, and questions.  My relationship with my son had always been solid but the in and out of the daily treatment for cancer made our bond stronger.  We depended on each other.  I depended on him to make me laugh and smile and he depended on me to guide him through this maze of medical jargon.  This disease not only affected me and Stefen but my daughter, Terrieanne, and my husband, Brad.  Stefen and I spent more time at the hospital than at home.  For the first two years, I only saw my husband when he visited the hospital or on those rare days that we were able to stay at home.  My daughter Terrieanne was starting 5^th grade when Stefen was diagnosed and her life was very difficult.  As a dedicated mother, I had always been a room mom, went on field trips, and helped with homework.  As a mother with a child with cancer, my life became about the medicine, the trips to the doctor, the hospital stays and exhaustion.  My daughter had to go through 5^th grade on her own.  When Stefen and I were at home she was the “nurse”.  She made sure that we were comfortable and had everything we needed.  Terrieanne gave up a lot of her childhood for her brother and I will always be grateful for her maturity at such a young age.

My family has made it though the 3 ½ years of treatment with pediatric cancer.  Stefen went into remission in November 2005.  Stefen and Terrieanne are now Juniors in high school.  My supportive husband and I now know the true meaning of family.  We never forget what may lye ahead of us, so we hold tight to our children and we continue to fight!

To reach me, please contact me at

803-254-5996

or at

 deeannjones@bellsouth.net

Samantha Higgins

Samantha with her daughter Bronson at the 7th Annual "An Evening with the Gamecocks" event

Samantha at the 2007 10th Annual Billy Mill Golf Classic benefiting Children's Chance

Samantha Higgins is the full-time Public Relations Director for Children's Chance. She graduated from The University of South Carolina with a bachelor's of arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with a major in Public Relations and minor in Social Work. Samantha has been with Children's Chance since January of 2004 as an intern and was then hired on part time in May of 2004. As of July 1, 2005 Samantha became the full time Public Relations Director.

About Samantha

I started Children's Chance as an intern in January of 2004. Before that I was unsure that I had chosen the right major and field of study, but positive that whatever job I took, I wanted to help people. After my first day at Children's Chance I was convinced that I picked the perfect major and knew that I wanted to begin my career doing Public Relations for a non-profit organization and only hoped that it could be for Children's Chance.

Now being with the organization for several years, I could not be more enthusiastic to help the children we serve who are fighting cancer and their families. Being a parent of a young child myself, I really believe this only motivates me more to work toward the mission of Children's Chance and help these courageous families to the best of my ability. Not only is my position at Children's Chance a perfect way for me to utilize my public relations skills and promote such a wonderful organization, it allows me to be lucky enough to meet some of the families we serve and be inspired by these very special children who are fighting cancer.

To reach me, please contact: 803-254-5996 or samanthahiggins@bellsouth.net

Angela Singleton

Angela presenting at Spartanburg Day Lower School

Angela at the

2008 An Evening with the Gamecock Football Team

Meet our Zig School Coordinator in Spartanburg

Angela Singleton is a wife, mother of two daughters, and children's advocate who resides in Woodruff, SC.  She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Anderson College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business.   
 

About Angela

Over the past twelve years, Angela has researched self-esteem and its effect on childhood development while sharing her personal story, "The Power of Self-esteem," at community events and over two hundred sixty school assemblies.  She serves as an Honorary Advisory Board Member for the National Association for Self-Esteem and created Project ESTEEM: Encouraging Success Through Education & Empowerment Materials which was distributed by the South Carolina State Department of Education to foster positive self-esteem, literacy, and parent-to-child interaction in over three hundred schools.

Angela has worked with pediatric cancer families since 2004 through The Children's Security Blanket Project, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Make-A-Child Smile, Make-A-Wish, Hannah's Hope Ministries, and more.  She volunteers as the SC Chapter Director for Queen for a Day/Heroes whose mission is to raise the self-esteem of pediatric cancer patients.  Angela works with Child Life specialist in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston to plan special events for oncology families including parties, conferences, and visits with queens and rescue personnel.  In addition, she organized the first Pediatric Hematology Oncology Symposium through which support materials from twenty-five national and local organizations were distributed to cancer families and hospitals across South Carolina.

Angela explains, "I am so excited to support pediatric cancer families and the mission of Children's Chance through Zig the Pig in Spartanburg County. There are numerous reasons for students and schools to join Zig's service learning program. Not only will they be provided with unique team building and character development opportunities, but their involvement will directly impact the quality of life for young people battling cancer in the Palmetto State. What a tremendous difference they can make"!

To contact Angela, please email to: ziginspartanburg@bellsouth.net