Team

Katie Lowe

UPLIFT Program Coordinator

Katie serves as our UPLIFT Program Coordinator for the UPLIFT Program.  She is also a Certified Child Life Specialist who currently works at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.  Katie obtained her Bachelors degree in Psychology at Florida Southern College and a graduate degree at the College of Charleston in their Master of Science in Child Life program.

Katie started as a volunteer within The Lonon Foundation and UPLIFT Program, and she is eager to continue with TLF!  She is extremely passionate about supporting children, teens, and families through stressful life experiences, and she loves helping individuals overcome their challenges!

Anna Lonon

Founder

As founder of The Lonon Foundation, Anna is driven by her own experience after losing her husband to cancer with two children to raise.

Anna is a writer/editor for a software company. Previously, she worked as a Visiting Instructor in English at the College of Charleston, with a focus on composition and rhetoric. She earned her Masters in English from the College of Charleston and The Citadel.  She earned her BA at The University of South Carolina, where she met Michael Lonon.

Formally, Anna served as the Assistant Director of Strategic Development and Communication for the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.

Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Krista Godek

Chairman of the board

Krista earned her undergraduate dual degree in Elementary and Special Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She began her career in Maryland, where she worked with students with emotional disabilities.

In 2007, Krista relocated to Charleston, South Carolina and earned her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. As an LISW-CP, Krista has a wide variety of experience in school social work, direct clinical practice, program development, and supervising clinical staff. Krista is certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed care as it relates to treatment services for clients and their families.  Krista also specializes in program development and operations.

Jennifer Stout

Jennifer Stout serves as a South Carolina State Certified Educator for Dorchester School District Four. She has 15 years of experience in elementary education serving as a tutor and mentor in grades K-5, teaching gifted and talented students, and teaching grades 5th-6th. Jennifer enjoys working with children to help them achieve their full potential. 

In her free time Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, pets, and friends. She also enjoys reading, cake decorating, and nature. She is excited to be able to make a positive contribution while working with The Lonon Foundation and the UPLIFT Program.

Allison Hardy

Allison Hardy is a Senior Director, Healthcare Integration with Oracle Corporation.  She focuses on leading her team to partner with clinicians to increase satisfaction and EHR efficiency. Allison works with her clients individually to ensure the value of their strategic partnership, provide ongoing client relationship support, and influence the clinician’s experience.

Allison received her Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Management from Northwest Missouri State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri.

Allison is passionate about helping children of caregivers or parents with cancer navigate their experience and find a community. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two kids. They enjoy boating, hiking, and playing various sports.

McKenzie Evans

Founding member

After attending College of Charleston and earning an Associate’s Degree in Science, McKenzie went on to graduate from the University of South Carolina-Upstate MBSON, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She is currently a Registered Nurse in the emergency room at an Upstate hospital. 

McKenzie first became involved with The Lonon Foundation when she was assigned a marketing project in an English class at the College of Charleston. It was there that she met Anna Lonon and helped found The Lonon Foundation. Since then, McKenzie has been pivotal in a variety of ways including, event photography, marketing material ideation and creation, fundraising, and finance. 

McKenzie prides herself in saving lives as an emergency room nurse, then being able to go home to her daughter, Piper, and her husband, Dallas. McKenzie and her family enjoy long walks with their two dogs, time in the garden planting flowers, and spending time outdoors.

Ellie Tate

Ellie Tate is the owner of Elder & Co., an artisanal candle company inspired by a great love and respect for the outdoors. Previously, she worked in marketing, brand development, and event planning within the specialty toy industry.

Ellie is a 2013 graduate of the Honors College at the College of Charleston, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She was recognized as one of Charleston’s Best & Brightest young professionals by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2016.

Driven by her personal experience with a parent undergoing cancer treatment, Ellie is excited to support local children through the Lonon Foundation and UPLIFT! She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog, as well as reading, traveling, and any outdoor activity.

Chloe McAuley

Chloe McAuley has taught at The Little School at Grace Church for the past six years. Prior to this, she taught the Fourth Grade. Chloe attended The University of South Carolina, where she double majored in Art History and English. She then attended East Carolina University for her teaching degree.

​She has been married to Jody H. McAuley for more than 25 years and has two daughters, Chloe, a sophomore at The University of South Carolina, and Clark, a rising Senior at Porter Gaud School.

Chloe met Anna, Mike and Jack when Jack was in her 4 year old class at The Little School. Being able to provide support to Jack during such a difficult time was very important to Chloe and she hopes to be able to help other children in similar circumstances.

Jennifer Page

Jennifer Page is a nurse practitioner within an ENT/head and neck cancer practice in Charleston, SC with over 20 years experience working with cancer patients and their families. She focuses her care on the whole patient, providing excellent evidence-based medical treatments, as well as guidance for the social and emotional aspects of caring for an adult oncology patient and their families. She is also a cancer survivor and current Uplift mother, so empathizes with her patients, families, and friends. She serves as a resource for colleagues, patients, and her friends who also find themselves faced with a cancer diagnosis.

Jennifer graduated from Presbyterian College with her BS in Biology and went to the Medical

University of South Carolina to complete her BS in Nursing. After practicing as an RN, she completed her MSN at MUSC and her certification as a nurse practitioner with the AANP.

Jennifer looks forward to helping TLF foster relationships in the medical community to grow the

UPLIFT program providing support to children faced with a cancer diagnosis in their family. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their two boys in the outdoors, boating, cooking, reading, and attending local sporting events and concerts.

Anna Kooper

Anna Kooper graduated from the College of Charleston in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health. She worked in marketing for two years and then entered the world of finance, where she now works as a Loan Servicing Associate.

Anna first got involved with the Lonon Foundation when she was an undergraduate at CofC. She volunteered and interned for TLF for a number of years, assisting with growing our social media platforms, creating marketing materials, helping with fundraising campaigns, and other various marketing efforts. Anna became a board member in 2021 and plays a role in event planning, marketing, and community connections.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, taking walks outside, practicing yoga, and playing with her dog, Evie.

Sam Myers

After earning my bachelor degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston, I chose to join Edward Jones in 2018 as a second generation financial advisor. Today, I help families in the Charleston area with their financial needs to support their aspirations in life. My fiancé Katie introduced me to The Lonon Foundation, and I have seen the impact of The Lonon Foundation on local families by attending events related to the organization. After hearing first-hand the stories from programs that support these children and families, I am eager to be involved with The Lonon Foundation and support their mission. In my free time, I enjoy playing golf, spending time with Katie and exploring the low country with our dog, Tater.