Amanda Barbour

Founder & Executive Director
[email protected]

As Founder and Executive Director, Amanda leads the staff and the board in staying true to her strategic vision and is focused on community development, fundraising, and the long-term sustainability of the Children’s Healing Center.

The CHC is more than an organization to her – it is a vision that was born from her personal cancer journey. Amanda combined past experiences with current talents and relationships to create a center she believes she was uniquely equipped to launch. This definitely was not part of her original plan – Amanda graduated with an Architecture degree from the University of Michigan and landed a job at AMDG Architects shortly before her Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis. Armed with a dream – and continuing to work as an architect – she spent five years working with donors, families, supporters and the medical community to create the Children’s Healing Center. Amanda is committed to ensuring that children and their families have a safe, clean space to play and connect. Amanda has surrounded herself with staff members and volunteers who share that vision. She is excited to welcome families into what she sometimes refers to as “her baby” and hopes it will bring them as much joy as it brings her.

Amanda keeps a gratitude journal that she writes in daily. She believes in the importance of birthdays and celebrating life, and she enjoys inviting people to gather around her table for communion and nourishment. Her desire to deeply know people, love them and encourage them is a common thread in all she does.

Melissa Block

Associate Director
[email protected]

As Associate Director, Melissa is responsible for day-to-day operations, development, overseeing volunteer coordination, and leading community outreach. Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and came to the Center from Sysco Food Services where she was the Marketing Manager.

Melissa and her husband Matt live in Lowell with their children, Claire and Kaleb. In 2009, at 20 months old, Claire was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. By the grace of God, the amazing care of Dr. Deanna Mitchell at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, and the research of Dr. Giselle Sholler at the NMTRC, Claire is now officially on the other side of her diagnosis and declared cancer free- Praise God!

Through her daughters cancer journey, Melissa developed a passion for helping families experiencing a childhood illness. Melissa feels blessed to be able to use her life experiences and heart to give back to this community of families during the most trying times of their lives.

Melissa is fantasy football champion and sad but hopeful Lions fan. She is a true-crime buff and can typically be found reading a book, listening to a podcast or watching a crime documentary.

Deb Winn

Program Director
[email protected]

As Program Director, Deb is responsible for leading programs, managing program partnerships and connecting with families and children. Near and dear to Deb’s heart is also monitoring the cleanliness of the building and controlling the screening process to ensure a safe and clean environment. Deb has a BS in Business Administration. She earned her Early Childhood Credits at Grand Rapids Community College. Prior to joining the Children’s Healing Center, Deb taught at Children’s Workshop for the past 18 years. Deb’s husband Scott is a builder/carpenter. You may see him around the CHC doing different jobs. Deb and Scott have two daughters, Amanda and Kristin, both of whom are University of Michigan graduates (Go Blue!). Deb has always been a lover of children, volunteering as a Sunday School Teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary as well as serving as Cheer Director for Forest Hills. Deb looks forward to forming lasting relationships with the families at the CHC.

When Deb is not wiping down tables and toys in the center or talking about upcoming fun programming, you will find her completing DIY projects and reading books. Deb’s dream is to take a long relaxing vacation on a cruise ship any place warm and sunny!

Cheryl Raguse

Membership Manager
[email protected]

As Membership Manager, Cheryl works with new members and implements a physical-fitness program.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a BS in Therapeutic Recreation, Cheryl’s career began as the Pediatric Recreational Therapist at Mary Free Bed. After six-years with MFB she shifted her focus to being a devoted full-time mom and loved every minute of it.

Cheryl has always been passionate about volunteering, especially when it involves children. She began volunteering with the Center from the day the doors opened, an experience that she quickly felt privileged to be a part of. Cheryl cherishes the connections she has made with member children and families and looks forward to being a part of the CHC team.

Cheryl has 4 children- one daughter and three sons, who are all grown and making lives of their own. In her free time, Cheryl enjoys exercising, various outdoor activities both in and out of the water, cooking, and travel.

Liz Greer

Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]

Liz Greer joins the Children’s Healing Center as the Volunteer Coordinator in which she will be learning about the non-profit world and putting her database knowledge to work. She comes from an Information Systems background with over 12 years of experience. She has a BS in Business Administration with a Hospitality Information Systems major.

She is married to Ken and has 3 girls, Kaitlyn, Sydney, and a special needs girl, Makenzie. She enjoys watching her girls play sports, including soccer, track, cross country, volleyball, and Miracle baseball. She also enjoys traveling and camping.

Liz is excited to contribute to this amazing Center as the Volunteer Coordinator where she can put her IT background to work and relate to families that come to visit.

Kelsey Sankovic

Research Coordinator
[email protected]

As Research Coordinator, Kelsey leads research for the Center, as well as, leading programming for the Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA) group here at CHC. She grew up in Novi, a suburb of Detroit, and currently lives in Kalamazoo. For many years, she worked with children diagnosed with autism; implementing applied behavior analysis interventions to improve basic skills and target behaviors.

Kelsey expands the expertise of the Center staff with a degree in Behavioral Science Psychology from Western Michigan University. She is currently taking courses towards a Masters in Clinical Mental Health. Kelsey brings behavioral research knowledge and experience in writing literature reviews and research reports. She also has been a committed volunteer at the Center since shortly after we opened our doors.

Growing up, she spent her summers living up in Northern Michigan, in the tiny town of East Jordan, with her family. She was born and raised a Michigan Wolverine fan, cheering them on in the stands at football games for as long as she can remember. Go Blue! Fall is her favorite time of the year because it means weekends full of football! Kelsey has a love for children and spent many years nannying two awesome little dudes. She loves being with family and friends, going Up North, exploring cities, and taking spontaneous trips. Kelsey has hiked two National Parks: Zion and Mount Rainer. 10/10 would recommend.

She is looking forward to being a part of this team and using her research experience and love for children to impact the lives of the families and contribute to the Center’s mission of Good. Clean. Fun.

Ella Beckett

Program Administrator
[email protected]

As Program Administrator, Ella spends her days planning and executing programs, communicating with member families, and working within the member database. Although she loves everything about the Center, she most enjoys building relationships with member families and walking alongside them as they navigate their children’s medical journeys.

A cancer survivor herself, Ella knows the positive impact that being surrounded by a supportive community can have – being a member of the Center’s AYA Movement provided her with incredible social and emotional support when she needed it most. Navigating a serious illness as a teenager in a children’s hospital made her extremely aware of the gaps in care that many families experience and inspired her to pursue a career that would allow her to support kids with challenging diagnoses and their families.

Ella graduated from Calvin University with her bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW). Although her long-term plans likely include pursuing her master’s degree, she is incredibly grateful to currently be spending her time with some of the strongest kids and parents she knows. Before she was on staff, Ella volunteered for a few years at the Center and fell in love with its mission!

When she is not at the Center, you will likely find Ella spending time outside with her family and friends. Growing up in Grand Haven, she has a deep love for Lake Michigan and relaxing with a good book at the beach. Ella also loves all things art and music related and is looking forward to using those passions in upcoming programming!

Autumn Haan

Project Manager

As Project Manager, Autumn focuses her time on strategic initiatives, growth projects, fundraising, and special events.

She earned her bachelor’s in Communications from Calvin College and has specialized in marketing, community relations, and program management throughout her career. Autumn comes to us from MVP Sports Clubs, where she worked for 15 years in various positions including marketing and youth program manager.

Autumn and her husband live in Caledonia with their four children, Elijah, Stella, Silas and Emmett. She enjoys staying active, traveling, watching her kids play sports and trying to keep up with the family’s very energetic dog, Rocco.

Autumn is excited to join the CHC family and help share the mission of the importance of play for all children and families.

Kristy Irwin

Finance Manager

Maggie Carey

Administrative Intern
[email protected]

As the Administrative/Development/Marketing Intern, Maggie works alongside Melissa Block to carry out everyday operations including community outreach tasks, planning and execution of fundraising events, grant writing, and recruitment of volunteers.

Maggie is a student at Grand Valley State University pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public Health for Health Promotion and Education. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences in April of 2021. She plans to work as a Certified Health Education Specialist in the healthcare sector.

Maggie has a passion to learn and teach others about health and medicine. She is thankful to work alongside the wonderful staff here and learns something new every time she works with the kids.

Maggie has a cottage up north on Lake Charlevoix and also works at the Boyne City Taproom. She enjoys boating and hiking with her family. She is very passionate about reading and one day hopes to have a library in her home.

Lex Russ

Field Work Intern

As the Fieldwork Intern, Lex often spends her day working alongside Cheryl Raguse helping to prep lots of fun activities for the members at CHC. Lex enjoys everything about CHC, but she enjoys helping members reach their functional goals and watching them grow through physical and creative activities.

Lex is currently a student at Grand Valley State University pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy. She hopes to eventually work with adolescents in behavioral health settings.

Lex has a passion for helping others achieve their goals, and understands what it is like to deal with barriers to those goals. Lex was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis Arthritis, Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia at the age of 13. She hopes to help others who may be dealing with invasive medical treatments to live their lives to the fullest.

When Lex is not at CHC, you will most likely find her knitting or crocheting, writing and playing music, singing, playing video games, studying, or going for a walk with one of her three huskies.