Who We Are - AFSP Virginia

4 min read

On behalf of our Chapter leadership, thank you for your interest in learning more about the work of the Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We'd like to take a moment to introduce ourselves and share some background on the Virginia Chapter.

The Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was officially chartered on February 27, 2015 after hosting fundraising events for several years. Shirley Ramsey, our Chapter Founder, built a team of dedicated volunteers to launch our efforts in Virginia. Our current staff support team consists of our Executive Director, Kathe Goller, who joined us in 2018, followed by our Programs Manager, Markita Madden and Special Events Manager, Emily Bacalis in 2022. We are a working board, meaning that all of our Board Members actively serve in various capacities in our communities to deliver our mission.

Since our charter in 2015, and particularly within the last 3 years, we have experienced a huge increase in both support and demand, and we have launched several new programs. We can't wait to see what the future holds, and we would love for you to be a part of it!

Join us for Get to Know Us: A Volunteer Introduction to AFSP Virginia
Apply to volunteer with us!

Virginia Chapter Delegation Orlando 2024

Our leadership and volunteers work daily to accomplish our mission, and we are excited to have received the following recognition for our efforts.

2015 Outstanding New Chapter of the Year
2016 Chapter of the Year, Large Market
2016 Outstanding Chapter Program Tracker
2017 Outstanding Chapter Social Media
2017 Outstanding International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day Event
2017 Outstanding Chapter Education & Prevention Program
Top Community Walk Per Capita - 2017 Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk
Top Community Walk Per Capita - 2018 Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk
Century Club Award - 2019 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
Century Club Award - 2021 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
2021 Most Improved Chapter
2022 Lynchburg Living Giving Back Award
Century Club Award - 2022 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
Century Club Award - 2022 Virginia Beach Out of the Darkness Walk
Century Club Award - 2023 Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk
2023 Pacesetter Award

Meet Our Leadership

AFSP Virginia Chapter Board Members

Winter Brooks, Virginia Chapter Board Chair

Welcome and thank you for taking time to get to know about the Virginia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Your support, skills, and time can help our communities in Virginia promote awareness, and we hope that you will consider volunteering with us. As a fellow volunteer, I hope to get to know you. We have no greater resource than the people who join us in this mission to save lives and we are truly grateful for everyone who helps share the message that hope lives here.

WINTER BROOKS
Stephens City | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: White, Blue

Virginia Chapter Board Chair, Loss & Healing Committee Member, Healing Conversations Volunteer, Education Committee Member/Presenter, Volunteerism Committee, Stephens City Out of the Darkness Walk Chair

Matthew Austin, Virginia Chapter Treasurer

MATTHEW AUSTIN
Moseley | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Purple
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Vice Chair, Executive Board Team, Development Committee Co-Chair, Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk Chair, Education Committee Member/Presenter

SEAN HIGDON
Broadway | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Green, Teal, Purple, Rainbow
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Treasurer, Executive Board Team, LGBTQ Outreach Committee Member, DEI Committee Co-Chair

SHANNON SULLIVAN
Ruther Glen | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Blue, Green, Teal, Purple, Silver
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Secretary, Executive Board Team, Volunteerism Committee Co-Chair, Public Policy Committee Member - Field Ambassador, Greater Fredericksburg Out of the Darkness Walk Chair

DR. CASSIE GLENN
Virginia Beach | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Blue. Teal
Youth Risk & Resilience Lab

Board President, Executive Board Team

Briddge, Virginia Chapter Board Member

ANOZAIRE BRIDDGE ORIUS
Virginia Beach | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Green
LinkedIn

Board Member, Education Committee Member/Presenter

Joe Cusimano, PharmD, BCPPE
Winchester | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue
LinkedIn

Board Member, Public Policy Committee Member

Lorrie Eanes, Virginia Chapter Board Member

LORRIE EANES
Danville | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Green, Teal, Blue
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Board Member, Public Policy Committee Chair, AFSP Field Ambassador, Danville - South Central Out of the Darkness Walk Chair, Education Committee Member/Presenter

Kevin Long, AFSP Board Member

KEVIN LONG
Bridgewater | He/Him/His
Bead Color: White
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Board Member, Nominations Committee Chair

Katherine Martinez, Virginia Chapter Board Member

KATHERINE MARTINEZ
Virginia | She/Her/Hers
Bead Color: Blue, Silver
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Board Member, DEI Committee Co-Chair

Robert Noriega, Virginia Chapter Board Member

ROBERT NORIEGA
Richmond | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Purple
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Board Member, Virginia Chapter Project 2025 Champion

Ronald North, Jr., AFSP Virginia LGBTQ Ambassador

RONALD NORTH, JR.
Waynesboro | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Green, Purple, Silver, Teal, Red, Rainbow

Virginia Chapter Board Member, LGBTQ Outreach Committee Chair, Virginia Chapter LGBTQ Ambassador, Nominations Committee Member, Public Policy Committee Member, Education Committee Member/Presenter

Shirley Ramsey, Virginia Chapter Founder & Board Member

SHIRLEY RAMSEY
Glen Allen | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: White, Gold, Teal, Blue, Purple
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Board Member, AFSP Virginia Chapter Founder, Loss & Healing Committee Chair, Education Committee Member/Presenter, Richmond Out of the Darkness Walk Founder

Stephanie Cole, Virginia Chapter Board Member

STEPHANIE SCHLESINGER
Richmond | She/Her/Hers
Bead Colors: Blue, Teal, Purple, Silver
LinkedIn

Board Member, Development Committee Co-Chair

Scott Stevens, Virginia Chapter Board Member

SCOTT STEVENS
Christiansburg | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Teal, Purple

Virginia Chapter Board Member, Marketing & Publicity Committee Chair, Lynchburg Out of the Darkness Walk Emcee

Carl Trost, Virginia Chapter Board Member

CARL TROST
Staunton | He/Him/His
Bead Colors: Blue, Purple, Silver
LinkedIn

Virginia Chapter Board Member, Greater Shenandoah Valley - Charlottesville Out of the Darkness Walk Chair, Education Committee Member/Presenter, Loss & Healing Committee Member, Healing Conversations Volunteer