Kelly Hughes: Executive Director
Kelly Hughes is wife to Andrew and mama to 4 kids, two of whom were adopted through foster care. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music from Northland International University. As foster parents to eight children at different times, she and her husband were often overwhelmed at the challenges during transition times. With a burden and desire to help others in this scenario, she created the Foster Love Project to help provide placement bags for kids transitioning into foster care. In 2017, this developed into operating a full-time free shopping center for kids in foster or kinship care. Kelly is passionate about her faith as well as speaking to the needs of kids in foster care or adoption. They maintain an open adoption with their kids' first family and love to share the beauty and challenges along the way. Along with the FLP staff, Kelly is passionate about continuing to provide education, resources and community in the realms of foster care and adoption in Pittsburgh and Western PA. You can reach her at fosterlovepittsburgh@gmail.com.
Jacqui Colmenares: Donation Center Supervisor
Jacqui is a Pittsburgh native and has lived near Foster Love Project all her life. She is passionate about her faith and has a heart to serve our city. She values hospitality and making everyone feel welcome by creating a safe place for people to come as they are. She loves building relationships and strongly values community. She has served in various non-profit roles and also serves with Youth With A Mission Pittsburgh, Inc. Jacqui and her husband have experience in adoption with their little girl and have walked closely with friends in foster care as well. Her and her husband hold a big place in their lives for families and children in foster care and through adoption. Her desire is to serve the families and volunteers with Foster Love Project the best way she can and is excited to establish new relationships and help families and children understand their value and worth in this big world!
Elizabeth Baldoni: Administrative Assistant and Outreach Coordinator
Elizabeth Baldoni joined our staff in September 2019 as our Administrative Assistant and Outreach Coordinator. A Duquesne University graduate, Liz spent many years as an English teacher in a nearby urban district. In her role at Foster Love Project, Liz will assist guests in the Center and accompany families to events in the community. With a passion for literacy, you can expect Liz to remind you to take plenty of books before you leave the center! Ask her anything at ebaldoni@fosterloveproject.org. If she doesn't know the answer, she will do her best to find out!
Lorraine Marks: Manager of Development and Programming
Working for a non-profit that supports women, children and community were the three drivers for Lorraine, when looking for a career change; Foster Love Project embraces this and more. Her career development has honed management skills in sales, customer service and communication, and her volunteer experience has benefited from all of that. Starting a soup kitchen in her hometown of Maidstone, England at the age of 17, serving as the President of a Neighborhood Watch for 8 years, fundraising for a playground renovation, supporting a park purchase and sitting on the Boards of the Junior League of Pittsburgh and Fox Chapel Racquet Club, are just some of the ways that are important for Lorraine to “give back.” Graduating from CCAC, Allegheny campus in 2018 with an Associates in Business Management has enabled her to tackle Common Core Math homework with 2 of her 3 children and she is rather proud of her oldest daughter, who is now “living her best life” in Portland, OR. Alice volunteers with her local food bank in Portland and Olivia and Hayden have been volunteering since before they were born. Lorraine can be found in the boxing ring, running the streets of Pittsburgh in training for the half marathon, or hitting a mean cross-court forehand, as well as hiking with her husband, kids and their family pooch, Winston, whenever they have the opportunity.
Emily Thornton: Adoptee consultant + Speaking Partner
Emily Thornton joined our staff in August 2018 as Director of Finance and Donor Development. Since then she has stepped away from regular capacity as she focuses on raising her 3 young sons and running her family's business. Emily brings with her a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She also has worked for the adoption agency, Holt International, as well as another nonprofit.
Emily is a transracial Adoptee from Korea and we are grateful for her vital voice in helping Foster Love Project speak to the unique needs of kids who have experienced foster care and/or adoption. Emily & her husband are currently foster parents who have adopted one son and have one biological son as well. Kelly & Emily often speak together on the benefits of open adoption. She has a vision to expand resources available to our Pittsburgh foster and adopted youth and we are excited to implement her ideas in our region. Her life experiences are an incredible asset to our Foster Love Project community.
Emily is a transracial Adoptee from Korea and we are grateful for her vital voice in helping Foster Love Project speak to the unique needs of kids who have experienced foster care and/or adoption. Emily & her husband are currently foster parents who have adopted one son and have one biological son as well. Kelly & Emily often speak together on the benefits of open adoption. She has a vision to expand resources available to our Pittsburgh foster and adopted youth and we are excited to implement her ideas in our region. Her life experiences are an incredible asset to our Foster Love Project community.