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About Us
In the days after Hurricane Katrina, Paige Ellison-Smith traveled through some of the most devastated coastal areas and saw first-hand the need for emergency child care services. Children were exposed to environments in chaos, lacking food, water, clothing or proper sanitation facilities.
In many instances, children were inadequately supervised and exposed to injury from "playing" amidst flood waters and debris. Even in the best cases, the needs of caring for the immediate supervision of their children hampered parents' efforts to obtain what they needed for survival, shelter, and relief.
With her past experience in training child care workers for the U.S. Armed Services and other organizations, Paige saw the need and knew how to respond.
Project K.I.D., Inc. was established to organize a timely and effective response to kids in devastation by providing what we are calling " PlayCare."
Board of Directors
Lenore T. Ealy, Ph.D., Chairman
Lenore Ealy is President of Thinkitecture, Inc., a consultancy engaged in understanding and promoting the transformative work of philanthropy and the voluntary sector in America and around the globe. Serving presently as an
affiliated senior scholar with The Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Ealy is participating in a five-year project to follow the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast in the wake of the terrible destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina. As an associate fellow with the Sagamore Institute for Policy Research (Indianapolis, IN), Ealy convened a research team in 2005 to conduct an outside review of the giving strategies of the Florida Hurricane Fund during the 2004 hurricane season. She is also the editor of Conversations on Philanthropy, a semi-annual journal published by DonorsTrust that explores the role of philanthropy in a free society. Ealy holds a Ph.D. in the history of moral and political thought from Johns Hopkins University, as well as degrees from the University of Alabama and Auburn University. She is married to Steve, a senior fellow with Liberty Fund, Inc. (Indianapolis), has one son, Rafe (7). They are members of Christ Community Church (PCA) in Carmel, IN.Paige T. Ellison-Smith, President & CEO
When she founded Project K.I.D., Paige T. Ellison-Smith was a Surgical Specialty Executive Account Manager with Glaxo Smith Kline. Prior to her work in pharmaceutical sales Paige was trained and worked in military and nonprofit child care. She operated child care during the Desert Storm military deployment for Department of the Army, Ft. Huachuca, AZ, and Vint Hill Farms Station, VA. Later, as a civil service employee, Paige inspected all the US Marine Corps Child Development Services Programs in the continental US, Hawaii, and Japan. Paige has professional relationships with National Association for the Education of Young Children, where she has served as an accreditation validator. She has also been a validator for the Council for Professional Recognition Child Development Association (CDA) credentialing program. Paige has degrees from Auburn University (B.S.) and Boston University (Masters in counseling). She resides in Fairhope, AL, and has two children, Thomas, 8th grade, and Madeline, 2nd grade. Paige is a member of Daphne United Methodist Church.
Reverend James E. Fillingim, Secretary-Treasurer
Jim Fillingim is pastor of Daphne United Methodist Church, Daphne, Alabama. Rev. Fillingim is a Biblical preacher, who believes that "all things are possible with God." He seeks to live out the Gospel as an example and encourages us to come to Christ and then grow into mature Christians, serving our community for Christ. Rev. Fillingim has demonstrated servant-leadership in helping his Gulf coast congregation respond to the devastation and has been a strong advocate of Project K.I.D. from its inception.