Meet the Team
CEO and Founder
Ruby Kate Chitsey
Ruby is an inspiring teen activist and the visionary founder and CEO of “Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents.” Through her innovative initiative, Ruby and her dedicated “Kid Board” collaborate with essential staff across the United States to fulfill small wishes for care home seniors.
Since 2018, Ruby has remarkably raised well over $500,000 to grant these wishes and raise awareness for the needs of nursing home residents. Her humanitarian efforts have earned her numerous prestigious accolades, highlighting her impact on the community and beyond.
Ruby is a sought-after national speaker and the author of the award-winning book "Kindness is My Hobby." In recognition of her exceptional contributions, she received the esteemed Princess Diana Award in 2021, presented by Prince Harry, a distinction awarded to the world’s most influential young humanitarians. Ruby's accolades include being named CNN's "Kid Wonder of the Year" in 2022 and a finalist for Time Magazine's Kid of the Year the same year. She was also featured in People Magazine's list of "Ten Girls Changing the World" and served as a Barbie & Mattel Role Model during their 2020-2021 tour, celebrating female leaders who have shattered glass ceilings. In addition, Ruby is the proud recipient of the national Prudential Spirit of Service Award for 2021, making her the first youth from Arkansas to achieve this national honor.
Ruby's passion for service and her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of nursing home seniors make her an invaluable member of our board and a powerful advocate for kindness and compassion.
Board of Directors
President
Amanda Chitsey APN RN MSN
Amanda Chitsey serves as the dedicated president of Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents, bringing over 25 years of invaluable experience as a geriatric nurse practitioner. Her extensive career has been marked by compassionate care for nursing home seniors, providing her with profound insights into their unique needs and challenges.
As a mother of three and a devoted wife, Amanda balances her family life with her roles as a small business owner, author, philanthropist, and passionate advocate for senior citizens. Working side by side with her daughter, Ruby Chitsey, their shared mission is to illuminate the lives of seniors in long-term care, ensuring that each day is filled with joy and dignity.
Amanda earned her degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, where she majored in Geriatrics and Adult Health. Following her training at the Medical University Hospital in Charleston, SC, where she specialized in Geriatrics, she transitioned to a private practice in Arkansas, further enhancing her commitment to elder care. For over 25 years, Amanda has been a steadfast champion for elder rights, advocating for improvements in the quality of life for seniors. Her leadership and dedication to the mission of Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents make her an inspiring force for change in the lives of those she serves.
Secretary
Mandy Cope
Ms. Cope is an award-winning nurse with over 20 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
Fiscal Manager
Lynda Barnard MEd
Lynda has a Master's in Elementary Education and has over 26 years experience as a kindergarten teacher in the Georgia Public School System. Lynda is a tireless leader in the field of education and brings an enormous amount of knowledge to our team. We value our relationship with fellow educators and Lynda helps us cultivate these relationships in our community and beyond.
Lynda is also one of our amazing senior citizen board members. Her insight on aging, ageism and geriatrics is paramount to what we do and how we view the world around us.
Lynda 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.
RN Long-Term Care Expert, Clinical Outreach
Jordan Chaney
Jordan is an award-winning RN with over a decade of diverse nursing experience. Jordan was named Arkansas "Nurse of the Year" in 2019 by the Arkansas Business Bureau as featured in Arkansas NEXT Magazine. She also received the "Heart Award" from The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Arkansas in 2018.
Jordan is a true advocate for seniors in long-term care. She states her first love in nursing was in long term care where the first half of her nursing career developed and blossomed. Jordan has nearly a lifetime of experience inside nursing homes as she grew up visiting her great-grandmother. Jordan acutely understands the need for greater good and joy in nursing homes and she is excited and honored to serve along with Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents!
Jordan is an Ozark native. She is married to Keagan and they have 5 kids: Aidan, Maggie, Judson, Auggie and Teddie Dru. They enjoy outdoors the most as a family. The love hiking, gardening, playing cards, walking, bike riding, playing basketball, and going to the river.
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.
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.
Public Relations
Leslie Hinson
Leslie Hinson is the face and voice of our beautiful 5000-square foot community center and organization headquarters located in Harrison, AR.
Leslie leads multiple free activities and classes inside our center that serve to connect the generations. We have approximately 50 children attending classes in our center each week and this is staffed by Leslie and our amazing senior volunteers!
Leslie also coordinates, packs and disperses wishes to seniors across our region. We typically fulfill over 800 wishes a month!
Come see Leslie and take a tour of our beautiful space! We are located at 102 W Stephenson Ave Harrison, AR 72601 870-517-5353
Kid Board Member
Delaney-Age 13
Delany is an award-winning beauty queen and a student at Jasper Elementary. She transitioned to a spot on our main Kid Board in 2022 after serving a year as our Youth Literacy Director. She has been volunteering more than half of her life! She started helping others in her community when she was just 7 years old. She and her brother raised chickens through 4-H and provided over 100 DOZEN eggs to a local Christian food bank. She is also an Arkansas Diamond State Princess.
Delaney is serious about raising awareness about the issues facing seniors living in long-term care. She is passionate about giving back to nursing home seniors, finding meaningful ways to connect with them and showing other kids how to do it! Her hobbies include basketball, soccer, singing, playing the piano, hunting, traveling with family, participating in pageants, and of course, READING!
Delaney has lived in Arkansas her whole life, and lives on the outskirts of Jasper just 5 minutes from the Buffalo National River. Jasper is known for its friendly people and the annual Elk Fest.
She would love to be an elementary teacher when she grows up so she can inspire young minds!
Delaney describes herself as sociable and compassionate. She loves people and especially senior citizens! She says her role model is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because he was courageous, God-fearing, and unrelenting.
Delaney believes that “Volunteering is a gift that has no boundaries.” She loves the wisdom and life experience of older folks. She says that her motto is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
KId Board Diversity and Inclusion Advisor
Michael Platt
Michael is an nationally recognized author, baker, business owner, social entrepreneur and food justice advocate. Michael has been baking since he was 9 years old but has been interested in the challenges of inequality since, at age 6, he learned about Dr Martin Luther King, the historic March on Washington and the fight for equality for people of color. Inspired by a pair of TOMS shoes he received as a present, Michael decided that he would begin a baking business with a 1-for1 model. From the beginning of Michael’s Desserts, he has donated a dessert to someone in need for every one dessert that he sells. With this model Michael has served hundreds of people
Michael appeared in season 4 of Kids Baking Championship on Food Network as well as Season 1 of Be Our Chef on Disney and has been featured in the Washington Post, Good Morning America, The Today Show and CNN.
We are thrilled to have Michael on board. He joined in December 2021.
Kid Board Member
Oliver-Age 14
Specialty: Books, literature, technology in the elderly, disabilities, blindness, Veterans
Oliver read a 1000-page book when he was 9 years old. The boy knows the importance of a good book. Oliver has collected over 2000 books nationally to build better libraries for elders residing in institutions. Oliver was inspired to collect books just for seniors when he noticed the books available to elders in nursing homes were poor quality and thrift store cast aways. Elders love to read and Oliver is providing quality books for them. Send Oliver your used books- he will put them to excellent use. PO Box 1546 Harrison AR 72602
Kid Secretary
Sawyer Hartman -Age 14
Specialty: Books, literature, activities for nursing home seniors
Sawyer is the workhorse behind many of the awesome activities we come up with for nursing home seniors. Sawyer arranges for live bands to play, fireworks and barbeques, child plays and skits and tons of homemade goodies for the residents. Sawyer also helps secure donated goods from local businesses and works hard to include local youth in all of our activities and programs.
Sawyer's family owns a small business that combines athletics with public service. It's called the Dug Out. Athletes don't just learn how to compete; they also learn how to give back to their community. Sawyer helps kids from his community complete small service projects before and after practice. The concept is great athletes, great humans. The athletes accomplish a lot for our local nursing home seniors!
Contact Us: 3wishesforruby@gmail.com
Find us on Facebook @ Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents
