Our Team
Miracle at KSU has always placed a huge emphasis on being a family. As a family, it is important that you know why we do what we do. Our 'why' is our everything. It's what keeps each member of this organization going when the road gets long and our goals seem so far out of reach. Get to know us by getting to know our 'why's!
MEET THE PRESIDENT
Emma Buckner | Executive Director
My why is my future and current patients! I have the honor of working as a Nurse Extern on the TICU floor at the Arthur M. Blank Hospital of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta! It has been one of my biggest opportunities to start my medical career and I could not be more thankful than to start it at Children’s! Children’s is such an amazing hospital and organization, and I am so fortunate to be able to fundraise and work for them! I am so grateful to be the Executive Director and to work hard for the kiddos who can’t! It is such a blessing to be able to go the extra mile for the kids inside and outside of the hospital and I would not change it for the world!!
MEET THE DIRECTORS
maddie taylor internal
Children’s will always be close to my heart. As a child, I received care there after experiencing seizures, and my sister’s life was saved when she was treated for neuroblastoma as a baby and she’s now cancer-free. Those experiences shaped who I am and inspire me to give back. I want every child to feel the same comfort, hope, and love that my family felt. Fundraising is my way of saying thank you and helping other kids and families facing challenges know they’re not alone.
sarah biederman marketing
My why for joining Miracle at KSU is my best friend who was treated at Children’s as a kid. The treatment and the care at the hospital are the reason she is who she is today and how she can do anything she wants. After I got more involved, and saw the work that we do in Miracle, and the work they do at the hospitals, my why grew. I continue to work hard because the work we do, and everything we fundraise truly makes a difference in these kids’ and families lives. As an aspiring Physical Therapist, I also joined for everything that Children’s stands for, and all the lives they change.
gracee coker finance
My ‘why’ behind fundraising for Miracle at KSU is my future patients. As an aspiring Physician Assistant and biology major, I understand the importance of innovative research and quality care in giving children a healthy future. The funds we raise go directly toward life-saving medical equipment, research, and family support. Most importantly, the funds help ensure that kids can still be kids during their time at Children’s. Every child deserves that, and by being part of Miracle at KSU, we’re making that possible.
ryley Fleming campus & community
This organization’s mission is especially meaningful to me because I wouldn’t be here today without the care and treatment I received at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. In January 2006, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at two years old, and underwent chemotherapy at Scottish Rite until April of 2008.
Nicole Gartavel operations
My why is to walk alongside children facing difficult circumstances with compassion—caring for them not only as my future patients but as kids who deserve love, hope, and a voice.
MEET THE INTERNAL DEPARTMENT
molly kish
DANCE MARATHON
My why is for my future students! I wanted to be apart of something bigger than myself! Miracle is just amazing way to pour into others and make connections that last a life time!
nadia Garcia-Veurink
FAMILY RELATIONS
My why is for my future patients and for our amazing Miracle Families that I have the privilege of working with! Each of our Miracle Kids are an amazing testament to what our work can do for children and their families and I want to ensure that miracles continue happening for all my future patients!
devon delarm
morale
Having a place where I know I can make an impact on kids lives and do my part in helping the Children’s Hospital in creating the best experience possible is so important to me.
Aly Micalizzi
MORALE
I’m involved in Miracle because I hope to work in pediatrics in the future, and this is one way I can already start making a difference for my future patients. Being able to combine my passion for helping kids with such an amazing cause.
MEET THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT
Farren phillips
merch and design
I believe every child deserves to feel seen, heard and cared for. If I can bring a moment of hope or happiness to a child then I know I am doing something important.
kassidy gross
SOCIAL MEDIA
My ‘why’ is for my dad, who had juvenile type one diabetes. He continues to serve others and taught me how important it was to use your health as a blessing to others. He inspired me to be a nurse and now I have the hope to give the same type of care he received growing up and currently to my future patients!
MEET THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT
ELENA DELGADO
FUNDRAISING
My Why is seeing the looks on the kids faces when they come to Dance Marathon or other events and being able to show them how many people care so much about them.
Tolu Ogundele
Corporate Sponsorship
I want to be apart of something bigger than myself and I love getting to hear the stories of how out work effects the lives of others.
Mary Grace Girardeau
Corporate Sponsorship
My why is for my future patients and also for children like my childhood best friend who beat cancer with help from the amazing staff at the hospitals and organizations like miracle that helped families like hers!
MEET THE CAMPUS & COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT
paige vondra recruitment
My ‘why’ is being able to help brighten the days of the strongest kiddos and support the sweetest families!!
Lillian Zaidel
events
My ‘why’ for joining Miracle is to help little ones find their smiles and confidence again, while being a bright spot of comfort for their families through the harder time!