Board Highlight: Katie Serevitch
Board Secretary Katie Serevitch has had connections to Youth Challenge for decades. She grew up in Fairview Park, and in high school, had friends who were teen volunteers. It wasn’t until her oldest son, Jimmy (age 18) became a teen volunteer about six years ago that she became more involved. Jimmy’s younger siblings Tommy (age 16) and Evelyn (14) volunteer as well.
“That sense of inclusion and community is really important to me,” Katie Serevitch said. “Making sure everybody gets value out of those interactions, whether the volunteer or the participant.”
Katie is a Vice President, Assistant General Secretary, and Corporate Secretary at Owens Corning, where she works in governance, finance, mergers, and acquisitions. When she is not at YC or work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and playing sports with her family. She also enjoys playing with her family’s two Golden Retrievers Cookie and Lenny.
Katie’s favorite YC program is Crosstown Showdown because it gives parents like her an opportunity to see volunteers and participants in action. She said she tries to remind her kids that while this may be one of many after-school activities for them, for many participants, it may be the only opportunity they get to do something out of school. At the end of the day, despite outward differences, kids with disabilities are the same as her kids.
“We’re all part of the same world, and we should all be valuing people no matter what our differences are,” Katie said.
