Yuki Weaver (Board Chair)
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Yuki Weaver has spent the last 15 years in Charlottesville’s nonprofit community and is currently with The Arc of the Piedmont. She freelances as a grant prospect researcher to help an array of organizations find the right grants. She loves to volunteer and support area nonprofits any way she can, so you’ll see her registering for runs and walks, attending galas, and buying merch.
Kara McClurken (Bennett’s mom and co-founder of Bennett’s Village)
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Bio coming soon!
Brian Gibney (Bennett’s dad and co-founder of Bennett’s Village, emeritus)
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Bio coming soon!
Mladen Nesic (Treasurer)
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Bio coming soon!
Julie Basic
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Bio coming soon!
Bellamy Brown
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Bellamy Brown is an experienced, well-trained leader with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. He has served our country honorably as a U.S. Marine, in addition to having gained public, private, and non-profit experience at various organizations throughout Virginia and the D.C. Metro area. His transformational leadership style focuses on leading with love in a collaborative manner. His interests include serving his hometown of Charlottesville, fitness, hiking, cooking, golfing, and all things JMU.
Emily Hillaker
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Emily Hillaker is a resident physician in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at the University of Virginia. Her passion is working with and advocating for children with disabilities. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Heather Kunk
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Heather Kunk has lived in Charlottesville and worked in the medical community here for almost 12 years.
In 2020, Heather’s youngest son, Asher, spent 4 months in the NICU at UVA and has required substantial medical attention since. Heather said of this time, “our only real reprieve as a family was to play outdoors. Outdoor play allowed us to put a little distance between the sterility of the hospital and the seriousness of Asher’s condition. My hope is for other families in Charlottesville enduring similar circumstances to be able to have a place where their entire family, of all abilities, ages and stages, can play together and escape the daily stressors of having a child with medical needs.”
When not working as a nurse at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband and three small children swimming, traveling, and exploring the outdoors.
Samantha Strong
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Since moving to Charlottesville in 2014, Samantha and her family have loved becoming more a part of this community. Samantha works with University Physicians Group as the DEI Program Coordinator, and says, “I can’t wait to bring my passion in work and life to the cause of Bennett’s Village. As a local foster family, we know the need for all children and adults to have a space to be themselves and find their joy!”
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE
In addition to our Board, Bennett’s Village also has an Advisory Committee. These individuals are invested in making our dream of creating an all-abilities, multigenerational play space a reality in our community.
Members of the Advisory Committee:
- Aimee Carter, Director of Development, Miller School of Albemarle
- Bryan Harris, Director of Development and Community Relations for The Arc of the Piedmont
- Jim Herndon, Senior Peer Advocate, Independent Resource Center
- Dr. Paul Matherne, UVA Children’s Hospital
- Rosemary Miller, VPM
- Ashely Schneider, Milliken Marketing
- Lisa Torres, Home healthcare physical therapist and Chair, Charlottesville City School Board
- Juandiego Wade, Charlottesville City Council
Advisory Committee members
- Act as resources to the Bennett’s Village Board of Directors by providing counsel, guidance, and insight on issues and questions related to their special skills or background;
- Provide feedback and advice on initiatives, practices, policies, and campaigns put forth by the Board of Directors; and,
- Provide access and introductions when appropriate to community stakeholders – including donors, grantees, volunteers, community connections, potential Board and committee members, and others – that will assist in furthering the mission of Bennett’s Village, Inc.
