Lauren Barnacastle, Director of Development at Childcare Resources
It has been a busy five months since Lauren joined the agency in February, and we couldn't have asked for a better addition to the Childcare Resources team! Lauren grew up in Nashville, Tennessee back when she says it still felt like a small town. Fast forward a few years and she graduated from Samford University with a bachelor’s degree in history and a love for Birmingham.
In the past decade, she has been fortunate to serve in several different capacities that allowed her to help strengthen our community and its citizens. She's helped children in Title I schools learn to read, taught some of our community’s youngest learners critical skills, and raised millions of dollars to support a wide range of critically-needed services for some of our state's most vulnerable populations-- from life-coaching and job placement for adults with developmental disabilities, to safe shelters for women and children in crisis, to monthly distributions of healthy food for low-income seniors, children, and families.
You’ve worked at several local nonprofits that provide critical services. Can you share more about your experiences?
My nonprofit career began at Triumph Services. My years at Triumph were very fulfilling, not only because of my love for the job itself, but also because of the cause for which I was fundraising. Before I started working at Triumph, I knew very little about the population it served --adults with developmental disabilities, like autism. I learned a lot at Triumph, and it is also where I met some of my nearest and dearest friends.
After Triumph I had the privilege of working shoulder-to-shoulder with and learning from some of our community's most influential and inspiring women at the Junior League of Birmingham. There I sharpened my skills as a fundraising professional while raising funds from a variety of stakeholders for over forty of the League’s community-based projects.
Most recently, I served as the Director of Development at STAIR of Birmingham where I was responsible for all fundraising activities for the organization, including the creation of a new, and now annual, fundraising event, Rise to Read. One of the most rewarding aspects of my STAIR career was the time spent in local schools providing one-on-one tutoring to 1st and 2nd graders who needed extra help with reading. In fact, I've signed up to return as a tutor this fall-- can't wait!
"I see it as an honor to serve as the Director of Development at Childcare Resources and in collaboration with the Development team, we will work to ensure every child in our community receives access to quality care and education through our fundraising efforts."
What are your favorite hobbies? What do you like to do for fun?
My husband Jon and I welcomed our daughter, Ruth, in May 2022. These days our world revolves around watching her grow with numerous hours spent at the playground. Our family favorite is the playground at City Walk. You can usually find us at Eugene’s Hot Chicken afterwards.
I am notoriously late to watching ‘big’ shows. Jon and I just finished The Sopranos and we finally got to experience the final episode we’ve heard so many rumors about.
When I find time to myself, I enjoy reading and taking a long weekend afternoon nap. This year I joined a book club created by a friend from high school. Once a month we meet virtually with members all over the country and talk about our most recent reads.
With my friends, you can find us catching up on our porch, at a favorite restaurant, or seeing the latest production at Red Mountain Theatre.
What’s your current focus at work right now?
Preparation for the 18th annual Fairy Tale Ball is well underway! At Childcare Resources, we believe it's never too early to instill a love of philanthropy in our children. Guests young and young at heart are invited to wear their most sparkly ball gown or superhero cape when they arrive at the Grand Bohemian Hotel on Saturday, August 24.
The Fairy Tale Ball is a magical evening for children and families. Attendees can dance to their heart's content thanks to DJ Danny from Feel the Beat, meet their favorite fairy tale characters, princesses, and superheroes, plus learn Jedi knight skills from the characters of Star Wars. And I can’t forget to mention the sing-a-longs, face painting, fairy hair, adult and child-friendly hors d’oeuvres, and beverages available for all ages!
All proceeds will benefit the children and families in Central Alabama who receive support from the programs and services offered by Childcare Resources. Now, more than ever, families in central Alabama are depending on us to give their children the absolute best start in life.
For more information on the Fairy Tale Ball visit:
Feel free to contact me directly at lbarnacastle@ccr-bhm.org or 205-945-0018 ext. 306.
Comments