Alice's Kids team members sitting around a table

Our dedicated staff manages our operations all year.

Staff

  • Mr. Ron Fitzsimmons was raised in West Islip, New York just 50 miles from downtown Manhattan. He and his two younger siblings had a less than ideal childhood after their father abandoned the family. They were forced to rely on welfare payments which barely paid for food and rent but the experience gave him a unique perspective on the challenges faced by children living in poverty. Those experiences ultimately led to the formation of Alice’s Kids. Mr. Fitzsimmons spent most of his working years in the national political arena. Beginning in 1977, he worked for three Members of Congress, was the Director of Government Relations for a Portland-based law firm and in 1991 he formed a national organization that for 15 years lobbied to preserve reproductive rights for women. In recognition of that work, in 1994 the “Washingtonian Magazine” named him one of the “Top 50 Lobbyists” in Washington, D.C.

    Upon leaving the national scene, Mr. Fitzsimmons served as a staff person for Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland for 5 years and as a substitute teacher at Mount Vernon High School. A strong believer in public service, Mr. Fitzsimmons has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Landlord-Tenant Board, the Consumer Affairs Commission, United Community Ministries, the Wessynton Homeowner’s Association and the Fairfax Partnership for Youth. He was the President of the Mount Vernon High School Academic Boosters Corp and served on the Advisory Board for “Students Under Suspension.” In 2017 he was named “Mount Vernon Citizen of the Year” by Supervisor Dan Storck. A published author (“Chicken Soup for the Soul: Golf Edition”), Mr. Fitzsimmons received his B.A. in Political Science in 1977 from the State University of New York at Stonybrook. He is married and has two children.

  • Laura Basse has lived in Fairfax County since childhood and comes from a Louisiana-rooted family. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Randolph-Macon College and worked for several years in the defense industry as a writer, editor, and proposal manager. She later chose to step away from full-time employment to focus on raising her four children, staying closely involved in their schools, teams, and broader community.

    During those years, Laura developed a deep appreciation for the challenges families face and a strong desire to give back. She eventually returned to professional development, pursuing additional education and earning her real estate license. Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to Alice’s Kids and immediately connected with its mission. She began as a volunteer and proudly joined the staff in December 2019.

    Outside of her work, Laura and her husband enjoy renovating homes together and spending time at Washington Capitals and Nationals games.

  • Ms. Meg Knemeyer, a native of the Mojave Desert in California, has established herself as a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in financial management. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona, and furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. This educational background equipped her with a well-rounded perspective that she integrated into her professional journey. For 40 years, Ms. Knemeyer served as a senior financial manager at the National Academy of Sciences. In this role, she oversaw a $15 million portfolio, managing both government and private contracts in the domains of space science, space engineering, computer science, mathematics, government laboratory assessment, and health sciences.

    Ms. Knemeyer contributions extended across the entire lifecycle of contracts, from proposal development and contract management to reporting and contract close-out. Her duties included staff management and supervision, showcasing her leadership skills in a dynamic and challenging environment. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Knemeyer actively engaged with her local community. She dedicated her time and energy as a volunteer at her children’s public schools, where she worked with organizations such as the Mount Vernon High School Academic Boosters and the Marching Band. Her commitment to community service also extended to her involvement with Alices Kids from its inception. As a volunteer, she contributed to the establishment of financial practices and procedures for Alice’s Kids, demonstrating her passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others. Ms. Knemeyer is married and has two adult sons. She currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

  • Hilary is a seasoned communications professional with more than 20 years in social media, public relations and corporate communications. She works with clients across a broad range of spectrums including non-profits, associations, Fortune 500 companies, consumer packaged goods, government, and others. Hilary specializes in melding online and offline campaigns into effective and successful programs. These plans are often national in scope, focused on bringing attention to the business, product or issue. Tactics used regularly include earned and paid media placements, digital platform executions, solicitations and multi-pronged approaches to reach the objective. 

    She holds a Bachelor of Art degree in public relations from Susquehanna University, and a Master’s of public relations from Georgetown University.

  • Supporting Strategies has been serving businesses across the United States for 15 years, providing outsourced bookkeeping and controller services. The dedicated team behind Support Strategies works multiple aspects of business financing and has signed on to assist Alice’s Kids with the many facets of its accounting structure. Businesses big and small have turned to the dedicated team of bookkeepers and controllers at Supporting Strategies for streamlined accounting using the latest in remote bookkeeping software.

  • Mr. Patrick Fitzsimmons is an educator and freelance photographer living in the Washington, DC area. Patrick spent the past decade as a high school teacher and instructional coach in San Antonio, Chicago, and DC before pursuing a career in photography. The past three years, he's run a successful freelance photography business focusing on documentary and people-centered projects. Patrick also works as a High Impact Math Tutor at a middle school in Fairfax County, Virginia. Patrick is a graduate of The University of Virginia where he earned a Bachelors in American Government and a Masters of Public Policy.

  • Ms. Alison Ruth is an artist and designer based in Chicago. She has developed several key elements of the Alice's Kids visual brand, originating the Alice's Kids logo and designing Alice's Kids marketing and communications materials. She also formerly managed the organization's Instagram page. Outside of her professional work, Ms. Ruth is a muralist and creates charcoal landscapes and portraits. She hails from the central coast of California and has previously lived in Seattle, WA, and Ketchikan, AK

  • Mr. Mark LoProto is a Long Island native who made the trek west to Las Vegas. There, he established a freelance writing service and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis on professional writing. Mr. LoProto as been providing content writing, social media management, copywriting, event planning, and public relations spanning multiple industries since 2009. Along with Alice’s Kids, he has worked with high-profile clients and small businesses to develop brands and communities for improved outreach. Mr. LoProto has managed several private campaigns to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and has worked alongside Las Vegas' Opportunity Village for several of its Halloween and Christmas events. He lives with his supportive wife, Toni, and two boys, Jack and Ichabod.