Meet the Team
CEO and Founder
Ruby Kate Chitsey
Ruby has spent half of her life walking the halls of nursing homes.......building friendships with residents most of the world never notices.
The nursing home residents she loved weren't asking for expensive gifts. They wished for strawberries, sweatpants that fit, a Pepsi, stamps to mail a letter or food for their pet.
Those simple wishes became the beginning of Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents.
What started with one child helping one resident has grown into a national nonprofit that has fulfilled more than 125,000 wishes, mobilized youth volunteers across America, partnered with schools and care communities and reminded thousands of older adults that they are still seen, still valued, and still remembered.
Today, Ruby continues to lead the organization while attending the University of Arkansas, proving that age has never been a barrier to changing lives.
Her mission remains simple:
No care home resident should ever feel forgotten.
Board of Directors
President
Amanda Chitsey, MSN, APRN, FNP-C serves as President of Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents. With more than 29 years years of experience in geriatric care, she brings firsthand knowledge of the challenges older adults face every day.
Amanda works alongside her daughter, Ruby to ensure seniors living in long-term care receive not only the essentials they need, but the dignity, joy and human connection they deserve.
Secretary
Mandy Cope
Ms. Cope is an award-winning nurse with over 25 years of diverse nursing experience. Ms. Cope has received the prestigious Boone County "Nurse of the Year" award SIX times. Ms. Cope also received the merit award from the Boone County Chamber of Commerce for her dedication and unmatched service to Veterans. Ms. Cope has extensive nursing experience with seniors in long-term care, Veteran's healthcare services and primary care clinic management.
Ms. Cope manages a busy medical clinic and over 60% of their patient population is greater than 60 years old. Ms. Cope is constantly challenging healthcare to find ways to improve access to care for the older population. She has set up a telecommunication system for this population recently with great success. Ms. Cope also arranged for senior blood draws to be done from their car to minimize their exposure and struggles to get in and out of a car.
We love Mrs. Cope's innovation, energy and ability to improve the lives of our frail elders and we welcome what she brings to our team.
Treasurer
Lisa Martin
Lisa is a widely recognized as a key community leader and volunteer. Lisa had has success fundraising and volunteering for The American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life locally and she is always the first to sign up for volunteer opportunities in our area. Lisa is a hard worker who is not afraid to take on challenges. She has a heart for service and she has the grit and determination to make positive changes, especially when it comes to seniors in long-term care.
Lisa is a successful real estate agent with the Jerry Jackson Realty Team. She has lived in the area of Harrison, AR most of her life and her ancestors have a rich history both Newton and Boone County Arkansas. She is married to Larry Martin and together they have 2 sons. Lisa is a faithful member, teacher and volunteer at Northside Church of Christ.
Lisa works closely with our CPA, Doshier and Associates, to provide oversight, transparency and to ensure fiscal responsibility.
Robert E. Largent
Robert, "Bob" is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of the Harrison (AR) Regional Chamber of Commerce. During his 58-month tenure, he led collaboration with other organizations in the community, region, and state to fulfill the Chamber’s refocused economic and workforce development mission, identifying over $250,000,000 in new capital investment that helped create over 1,000 new jobs. He also led the Chamber’s rebranding, doubled its revenue, and increased its multi-faceted investor partnerships.
Bob is an U.S. Air Force veteran with over 24 years’ service, Bob spent thirteen years in the video teleconferencing industry. Immediately prior to joining the Harrison Chamber in March 2019, he was the Vice President, Customer Relationships for Vidyo, Inc, and previously held the same position with Cisco/Tandberg for over ten years.
Bob is a native of Springdale, AR. Bob was commissioned through Air Force ROTC and served in various strategic missile operations assignments, including Squadron Operations Officer, Commander, and Assistant Deputy Commander for Wing and Group Operations. He also served in a variety of staff assignments, including Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff; in the Office of the Director, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and as the Military Assistant to the Commander in Chief Pacific. Bob retired in 1992 as a colonel.
Maintaining a close relationship with the Air Force through the Air Force Association, he is past Chairman of the Board, having previously served as National President, today serving as an emeritus member of the Board of Directors. In 2008 he received the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award from the Secretary of the Air Force, recognizing his four-year leadership of AFA.
Bob is also involved in a variety of professional, civic, and community activities, including the Boy Scouts of America, Rotary, his local church, and serves on the Board of Directors of IMD International, the Recovery Center of the Ozarks, and Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma, and is a graduate of the Air War College. Bob and his wife Becky, a Registered Nurse and instructor at North Arkansas College, have resided in Harrison since 2006.
Community Outreach
Marsha Carter
Marsha (Hicks) Carter was born and raised in Harrison, Arkansas. Marsha is the former Director of Marketing for the nonprofit organization, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center. Marsha has been a well-known marketing leader in our area for decades. She has held multiple key marketing roles in large businesses in our community and she brings a wealth of knowledge to our board.
She was the last daughter of three to Arlis and Fayetta Hicks. She and her sisters were known as the “singing Hicks girls”.
Marsha graduated from Harrison High School and North Arkansas College. Marsha worked in marketing and public relations all of her life. Her career began at the Hits 96 radio station (formally 97 Country) in sales, followed by marketing, public relations, foundation, physician recruitment and volunteer management at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center for more than 30 years. She is currently employed by the office of Dr. Chris Taylor.
Marsha is married to Byron Carter and they have one son Colby Carter, Colby’s wife, Kali Carter, and one grandson Easton Carter.
Marsha and her family attend Batavia Assembly of God and enjoy the lakes and rivers, boating, riding side-by-side‘s, exploring dirt roads and doing anything in outside!
Director of Creativity & Wild Ideas!
Stephanie Prestridge
Stephanie Prestridge is the owner of Lineage Law, an estate planning law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Stephanie graduated magna cum laude from Louisiana College in 1998 and completed her legal studies at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2004. She spent the first few years of her career litigating business, insurance, and family law matters, until she discovered the field of estate planning when her grandfather became ill and required nursing home care. That experience forced her to rethink her personal goals as a legal professional, and to focus her practice solely on helping families with estate planning and related legal issues. Stephanie is married to her law partner (the one she still thinks of as her personal paralegal), and together they have a teenage hostage-negotiator-in-training named Ava Grayce and a future competitive chicken nugget eating contestant named Mason Michael.
Community Engagement
Hollie Campbell is a respected business co-owner with a strong background in public relations, customer service and community engagement. Before entering the insurance industry alongside her husband, she built years of professional experience with FedEx, where reliability, communication and follow-through were essential.
Hollie is known for building genuine relationships, earning trust, and turning ideas into action. She brings practical business experience, a strong community presence, and a sincere commitment to helping Three Wishes grow its reach and serve more nursing home residents.
Board Retention and Recruitment
Director of Hospitality
Wendy Evert RN
Wendy is a registered nurse. She has a diverse background in nursing and is well-known for providing excellent care and advocacy for senior citizens. Wendy has practiced in many healthcare settings including long-term care, hospice and primary clinic nursing. She currently works as a population health nurse at Baxter Health Crossroads Family Clinic. Wendy is a solid, strong leader with a kind heart and she promotes our mission for seniors seamlessly in all that she does.
The elderly have always had a special place in her heart. After losing her dad 7 years ago and her mom almost 2 years ago, Wendy enjoys reaching out to the older generation to help put a smile on their face and give them a feeling of being valued and needed.
Wendy is married to Daniel Evert.
Community Relations
Leslie Hinson
Leslie Hinson is often the first friendly face visitors meet at Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents. She helps make our Harrison Community Center a welcoming place where children, volunteers, seniors, and families come together to serve others.
Leslie coordinates youth service projects, leads intergenerational activities, organizes donated items, and helps prepare and deliver wishes to nursing home residents throughout our region.
Whether she is welcoming a new volunteer, organizing hundreds of wishes, or helping a child discover the joy of serving others, Leslie’s kindness and dedication are an important part of everything we do.
Visit Leslie at our Harrison Community Center at 102 W. Stephenson Ave., Harrison, Arkansas. We would love to show you around or call us at 870-517-5353
Contact Us: 3wishesforruby@gmail.com
Find us on Facebook @ Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents
