Hear From Three Ravens Serving Together on Nonprofit’s Board

Drummond: My parents were very active in a number of local charities growing up, and for as long as I can remember, I spent a lot of time at the InterFaith Food Shuttle. What started as something my parents sent me to do eventually became something I felt called to do. I have tried to remain active in the community ever since. The idea of giving back is important to me, so when I learned about the Diaper Train, it was a no-brainer.

O’Connor: Like many people, I grew up volunteering through church organizations and Ravenscroft community opportunities, so the idea of giving back was always something that was just part of what we did. After college, I joined the Junior League of New York, which was such a wonderful opportunity to get involved with different nonprofits in the area. My mom had been involved with the Junior League for years, and I knew what a strong organization it was.

When I moved back to Raleigh and transferred membership to the Raleigh chapter, I was able to really get involved in the planning and execution of A Shopping SPREE! — their largest annual fundraiser and a massive undertaking (which I remember being held on the Ravenscroft campus when I was younger!).

Badham: I have always loved children and, even dating back to my time at Ravenscroft, have been an active volunteer in the youth community. Helping children is incredibly rewarding with a clear impact on all involved. Given that history, when I learned about Diaper Train and its mission, it was an easy decision to get involved.

Drummond: Shortly after our daughter was born in 2018, I was discussing how expensive diapers were with another parent and they told me about Diaper Train. I was shocked to learn that federal assistance programs do not cover diapers and how many families in Wake County make the difficult decision between buying food and buying diapers each month. The next day, I showed up to the Diaper Train offices and asked them to put me to work. I have been involved ever since! Not long after, they asked me to be on the board. I’m now in my fourth year, this year serving as president. I chose to serve on the board because we believe that a diaper can change a life and I love being around a group of people united by the same cause.

O’Connor: Chris invited me to one of Diaper Train’s fundraisers, and I was happy to go support such a wonderful mission because any parent knows how expensive diapers and wipes are. But at the event, I was shocked to learn that diapers are considered “luxury items” and not covered by federal programs and that families experiencing diaper poverty miss an average of five days of work a month because they don’t have the supply of diapers required for day care. It was heartbreaking. The more I talked to Chris and the team there, the more I realized the difference this organization makes is so much more than providing diapers to Wake County families. Diaper poverty has such a ripple effect on a family and a community. Chris and Paxton talked to me about joining the board, and I started in January 2023. I’ve jumped in with both feet, running point on their annual Bottoms Up fundraiser held in September.

Badham: Years ago, I was invited by a friend and former board member to the Diaper Train’s annual fundraiser, Bottoms Up. At the time, we had two young children in day care and were in the thick of the “diaper ages” at our house. What I learned at the event was impossible to ignore: federal assistance programs do not cover diapers, and day care facilities do not accept children without their own supply of diapers. The mission and the benefit to working families was so crystal clear that I wanted to be involved. I am now in my fifth year on the board and am currently serving as its treasurer.

Drummond: It was definitely a surprise to see Paxton when I showed up to my first board meeting, and we were lucky that Ellen joined us a few years later. When I think back, it makes sense that we’ve had so many Ravens serve the Diaper Train because service was a large point of emphasis during my years at Ravenscroft. I have fond memories of volunteering at the Special Olympics over the years and the outside service projects we were able to be involved in. I am thankful that we were given so many of those opportunities through our time at Ravenscroft.

O’Connor: In learning more about Diaper Train, I saw how deep its connection to Ravenscroft was — even beyond serving on the board with good friends Chris and Paxton and being in our old Tucker Street location! Cindy Poole Roberts ’75 is also on the board, and our recent Bottoms Up fundraiser was supported by so many Ravenscroft alumni and families: the Alex Floyd family, the Rob Grew family, the Bob Wright family, Easter Maynard ’89, John (’86) and Elizabeth (’85) Purrington and Tucker Street alumnus Smedes York ’59, to name just a small handful! I think it’s such a testament to the culture of lifelong philanthropy that Ravenscroft instills and encourages in its student body.

Badham: Chris and Ellen are both fantastic and have provided incredible leadership to the organization and the rest of the board. It was definitely a pleasant surprise to have them join a board — but not at all surprising that other Ravens are active in the community. Service and community were such an emphasis during my 13 years at Ravenscroft. During that time, we were all very fortunate to have had opportunities to volunteer and work in the community, and it remains instilled in us as adults.