About Us

Raise, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to create opportunities for training, employment, and community engagement for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities. Find us on Facebook by searching “Raise Mechanicsville”.

Generous donations from community members allow Raise to provide coffee cart materials to schools in Hanover County at no cost to them, meaning that money earned from the coffee carts can stay in the classrooms. During the 2021/2022 school year, Raise provided schools with $5,769 worth of coffee equipment and supplies.

Your donations are used locally to create opportunities for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities. Thank you!

Our Generous Staff

Jennifer Barnum

Board Treasurer

Jennifer Barnum, Board Treasurer

Jennifer Barnum lives in Mechanicsville, VA with her husband Nathan, and 18-year-old son, Eli, who is on the autism spectrum. Eli attends Atlee High School and enjoys being the Varsity Football manager and a member of the SODA club. Jennifer currently serves as a Director of Partner Operations at EAB, a best practices firm that uses marketing, research, and consulting to address challenges within the education industry. Jennifer has used her marketing background at EAB for 19 years by supporting colleges and universities with recruitment and enrollment. Jennifer is a basketball coach for the Hanover Compass Sports Challenger division and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Autism Society of Central VA. She also served 6 years on Hanover County's Special Education Advisory Council. She has enjoyed serving on the Raise Inc. Board since 2017. Jennifer is passionate about continuing her involvement with the special needs community and making Hanover County an inclusive place where employment opportunities are available for those with developmental disabilities.

Melodie Kenney

Co-founder and Executive Director

Melodie Fearnow-Kenney, Executive Director

Jennifer Barnum lives in Mechanicsville, VA with her husband Nathan, and 18-year-old son, Eli, who is on the autism spectrum. Eli attends Atlee High School and enjoys being the Varsity Football manager and a member of the SODA club. Jennifer currently serves as a Director of Partner Operations at EAB, a best practices firm that uses marketing, research, and consulting to address challenges within the education industry. Jennifer has used her marketing background at EAB for 19 years by supporting colleges and universities with recruitment and enrollment. Jennifer is a basketball coach for the Hanover Compass Sports Challenger division and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Autism Society of Central VA. She also served 6 years on Hanover County's Special Education Advisory Council. She has enjoyed serving on the Raise Inc. Board since 2017. Jennifer is passionate about continuing her involvement with the special needs community and making Hanover County an inclusive place where employment opportunities are available for those with developmental disabilities.

Greta Scott Selden

Board Secretary

Greta Scott Selden, Treasurer

Jennifer Barnum lives in Mechanicsville, VA with her husband Nathan, and 18-year-old son, Eli, who is on the autism spectrum. Eli attends Atlee High School and enjoys being the Varsity Football manager and a member of the SODA club. Jennifer currently serves as a Director of Partner Operations at EAB, a best practices firm that uses marketing, research, and consulting to address challenges within the education industry. Jennifer has used her marketing background at EAB for 19 years by supporting colleges and universities with recruitment and enrollment. Jennifer is a basketball coach for the Hanover Compass Sports Challenger division and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Autism Society of Central VA. She also served 6 years on Hanover County's Special Education Advisory Council. She has enjoyed serving on the Raise Inc. Board since 2017. Jennifer is passionate about continuing her involvement with the special needs community and making Hanover County an inclusive place where employment opportunities are available for those with developmental disabilities.

Jennifer Dickerson

Board Member

Jennifer Marie Dickerson, Board Member

Jennifer Barnum lives in Mechanicsville, VA with her husband Nathan, and 18-year-old son, Eli, who is on the autism spectrum. Eli attends Atlee High School and enjoys being the Varsity Football manager and a member of the SODA club. Jennifer currently serves as a Director of Partner Operations at EAB, a best practices firm that uses marketing, research, and consulting to address challenges within the education industry. Jennifer has used her marketing background at EAB for 19 years by supporting colleges and universities with recruitment and enrollment. Jennifer is a basketball coach for the Hanover Compass Sports Challenger division and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Autism Society of Central VA. She also served 6 years on Hanover County's Special Education Advisory Council. She has enjoyed serving on the Raise Inc. Board since 2017. Jennifer is passionate about continuing her involvement with the special needs community and making Hanover County an inclusive place where employment opportunities are available for those with developmental disabilities.

MacKenzie Flickinger

Board Member

MacKenzie Flickinger, Board Member

Jennifer Barnum lives in Mechanicsville, VA with her husband Nathan, and 18-year-old son, Eli, who is on the autism spectrum. Eli attends Atlee High School and enjoys being the Varsity Football manager and a member of the SODA club. Jennifer currently serves as a Director of Partner Operations at EAB, a best practices firm that uses marketing, research, and consulting to address challenges within the education industry. Jennifer has used her marketing background at EAB for 19 years by supporting colleges and universities with recruitment and enrollment. Jennifer is a basketball coach for the Hanover Compass Sports Challenger division and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Autism Society of Central VA. She also served 6 years on Hanover County's Special Education Advisory Council. She has enjoyed serving on the Raise Inc. Board since 2017. Jennifer is passionate about continuing her involvement with the special needs community and making Hanover County an inclusive place where employment opportunities are available for those with developmental disabilities.

Based in Mechanicsville, Virginia, Raise, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 charitable organization that serves the needs of youth and young adults with disabilities. We were founded in August of 2016 by two moms of kids with autism and intellectual disabilities. At this time, we are 100% volunteer-led and have no overhead costs.  Therefore, all of your donations will be used to create opportunities for our young people and our community. In addition, we are committed to sharing our process and lessons learned with other groups who are interested in starting inclusive coffee programs in their communities. Your support will impact lives locally, as well as nationally. We hope you will join us in whatever way you see fit because we hold tight to the belief that TOGETHER WE ALL RAISE!

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