Walking With Children, Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Our mission is to empower children, families and communities affected by HIV/AIDS. We further this mission by partnering with other community-based organizations in Honduras and in the U.S., sharing skills, knowledge and resources in the battle against HIV/AIDS.
Walking With Children is governed by the following volunteer Board of Directors:
BOARD CHAIRPERSON
CHRISTINE A. FREDERICK, RN, MSN
Also serving as Executive Director, Ms. Frederick is the visionary behind Walking With Children, Inc. She has created and managed several successful organizations in Honduras which serve HIV/AIDS affected children, families and communities, and written and received numerous grants for those organizations. Ms. Frederick received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University in 1998 and her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Nazareth College in 1989. She has served as Executive Director of Caminando Con Niños in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for five years and continues to serve in that position. She is an active member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) and in 2005 was awarded the ANAC Pediatric Nursing Excellence Award. From 2006 - 2010 she served on a committee of the civil society of Honduras working to improve quality of HIV multidisciplinary care. Bilingual in Spanish and English and well versed in medical terms in both languages, in 2007 Ms. Frederick assisted Honduras in its technical translation and modification of its proposal to the Global Fund, which enabled Honduras to receive $27 million to care for people living with HIV. Additonally, she regularly lectures at seminars, conferences and universities sharing her experience and knowledge with regard to HIV. Adding to her academic and professional perspective, Ms. Frederick has had the unique personal experience of adopting her son, Gregorio, who lost both parents to AIDS. Gregorio’s presence in Christine’s life is her greatest blessing, and a constant reminder of the overwhelming circumstances into which these vulnerable children are born.
BOARD PRESIDENT
KELLY H. GILLING
Ms. Gilling brings to the board significant experience in business matters. She currently manages the business operations for Gilling Legal Group, PLLC, a law firm principally owned by her husband, Mark. In the past she has worked in the Corporate Contracts departments of Hypercom Corporation (NYSE:HYC) and Samaritan Health System (now Banner Health System) in Arizona, where she negotiated a wide range of corporate contracts and leases. Ms. Gilling received her Bachelor of Arts in International Business Administration from Alma College and spent portions of her undergraduate years in Madrid, Spain and Green Island, Jamaica, completing Spanish and European business and cultural studies, as well as third world cross-cultural studies. She went on to receive her juris doctorate degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and has worked in both business and law firm settings. She is a member of the Michigan and Arizona State Bar Associations.
BOARD SECRETARY
AUDREY M. LOOMAN
An experienced hospice nurse and member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, Ms. Looman has traveled to Honduras several times to share her knowledge and experience, teaching staff about hospice care, end-of-life issues and working with children with HIV/AIDS. Currently employed by Heartland Hospice and Home Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she regularly visits end-of-life patients in their homes, nursing home or assisted living facility to offer peace and comfort. Ms. Looman received her Certificate in Practical Nursing from Grand Rapids Junior College, and her Certificate in Hospice Education from Madonna College in Livonia, Michigan. Additionally, she has attended numerous seminars dealing with HIV/AIDS issues, death and dying, pain control, grief and cultural diversity. She is a Charter Member of West Michigan ANAC and has served in several officer positions for that organization, as well as President of the International Rose O’Neill Club Foundation 2002-2004 and 2006-2008.
BOARD TREASURER
MARY P. BUSALACCHI
An HIV Nurse Clinician for the Aurora Medical Group, Ms. Busalacchi is responsible for the coordination of care of complex HIV patients, patient and family education, and staff education regarding HIV/AIDS, as well as managing the Ambulatory Anticoagulant Clinic. Ms. Busalacchi received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and is an AIDS Certified Registered Nurse. She has been a Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center Consultant since 2010 and is a member of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, having served as both president and treasurer of ANAC. Vastly experienced in the HIV/AIDS arena, she has presented several times on AIDS topics for the International Conference on AIDS held around the world, as well as for the Wisconsin Division of Health, Roche Speakers Bureau, Gilead Sciences, and Merck & Co. Ms. Busalacchi received the Southeastern Wisconsin District nurses Award in 2006 for “Nurse of the Year.”
