Our board members

I love to garden and I founded Heroic Gardens to extend  my passion to support veterans and their families. 

In today's world, it seems that the people that are most deserving of help don't have access to what they need, or even are aware of what they can do to help themselves.

My Grandfather was a US Army SSgt in WWII. I remember, as a small child, spending hours in my Grandparent's vegetable garden in Somers Point, NJ. We were lucky, that garden was the size of a football field. I was too young to understand how and why my Grandfather spent hours there. 

He was healing.

My mother also spent hours in her garden. Growing up, I remember her  starting with very manicured designs. Over time, she transformed her spaces in to more natural and organic landscapes. My mother was a conservationist that fought land developers in an effort to preserve nature and I know she was not alone in that fight...

Having grown up affiliated with the American Legion Auxiliary, and seeing how my Grandparents continued to give back to their community and the soldiers that served, I felt the call to continue their commitment and honor their legacy. 

I'm a candidate for a certification in Horticultural Therapy in 2021 through Temple University's Tyler School of Art Division of Architectural & Environmental Design.

I never thought I would follow the footsteps of my family in this way, but I am proud to have this important connection.

" My first gardening memory is as a 3 or 4 year-old, in our tiny back yard in Lancaster, PA, fascinated with 4 O'Clocks, those marvelous flowers which don't open till late afternoon. 

Later, growing up in farm country there, I helped tend our veggie garden, and hung out on classmates' farms. 

Now, garden life is about coaxing veggies and ornamentals to thrive despite shade - and deer."

By day, Dawn is a TV news producer for the ABC-owned station in Philadelphia, specializing in health & medical stories. 

"Before you can tell a good story, you have to listen, inquire, analyze, and empathize."

Dawn has also always dabbled in textiles, color, and design, now as a quilt maker and quilt historian. Dawn is a former board member of American Quilt Study Group and she is a nationally certified appraiser, lecturer, participant in documentation projects, and authorship.     

"It's much like forensic detective work. Through it, one appreciates community, the anonymous contributions of women, and how much textiles shaped America." 

She is also daughter of a WWII submariner from the Pacific Theater. 

Not everyone can say they played with McEnroe and well.....neither can Mark.  

But being a father of 3 with a full-time career and an avid tennis player, Mark can say he works and plays as hard as McEnroe.  

In his life, he has been lucky enough to work for some great companies such as Merck, Campbell Soup Company, Pfizer, and Astra Zeneca.  But the best gig he ever landed was at Pointroll, a rich media technology company, where he was lucky enough to learn the ropes of the role by an amazing woman (who later became his wife) Carolyn.

When not hard at work, he spends most of his time with his kids, playing tennis, practicing lacrosse with his son, watching horseback riding competitions and running with (usually behind) his wife.  

He is also active in the community, as a volunteer Den Leader to the local cub scout pack and coaching soccer with Greater Chester Valley Soccer Association.

I’m Philadelphia born and raised and currently work for the city. Through my professional carrier I encountered Heroic Gardens. 

I didn’t have much experience with gardening until I met Collie but like fate she set me on a new path. In the time I’ve known her I’ve accomplished and learned so much. 

I’ve removed large swathes of bamboo, ripped two trees out of the ground with my hands, and built a patio but the most important part of all of this has been giving back to the veteran community. 

Being a veteran myself, I feel passionate about taking care of my fellow veterans and doing what I can to improve their quality of life. 

After having participated in several projects and volunteer events I gladly accepted a position on the Board when offered. For me, this is the next step to take on more responsibilities and give back to the veteran community in new ways.

 I’ve always been willing and able to adjust, adapt, and overcome any obstacle in front of me and I look forward to serving as a Board Member of Heroic Gardens.