Board of Directors
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors consists of parents experienced with childhood cancer and social workers. Our children are warriors, survivors and angels.
Meg Crossett
Co-President and Founding Member
Meg Crossett
Meg and her daughter Rachel spoke before Congress at the very first Childhood Cancer Days and Meg continues to be active in the lobbying efforts of the movement. After Rachel finished treatment, Meg dedicated herself to giving back to the families of children with cancer. Meg started the very first Hospital Teas, which provided support to the parents as they faced their child’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. Meg feels that the families need to have moments of fun throughout treatment and DC Candlelighters has been able to provide parties regularly to give the families time to enjoy each other and forget about cancer for a while.
Sheri Schaffer
Co-President, Founding Member, and Marketing & Advertising Chair
Sheri Schaffer
Sheri’s son was diagnosed at age 2 with T-cell Leukemia in 1998 and is a long-term survivor in his twenties now. Sheri is honored to be a part of this incredible organization and especially enjoys the interaction with families at various events throughout the year. In her spare time you’ll catch her at the Kennedy Center or Arena Stage taking in a play or musical.
Jennifer Teise
Vice-President, Volunteer Coordinator and Bereavement Support Chair
Jennifer Teise
Jen, a Nationally Certified Counselor, feels privileged to be a part of the DC Candlelighters organization. Jen understands all too well the range of physical and emotional needs families have as they navigate from a cancer diagnosis through treatment and beyond from the personal journey with her daughter, Monique, and husband, Rick. Her strong faith and the support from so many organizations and individuals helped her through that difficult period and continue to motivate her to want to be there for other families in need. Jen’s passion is ever present in all she does for the children and families associated with DC Candlelighters, whether it be meeting a mother for coffee and a hug, calling out Bingo numbers on family Bingo night, distributing holiday gifts for the children, or representing DC Candlelighters at community events. Jen also serves as a Big Buddy for Comfort Zone Camp, an organization that helps transform the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or significant person through three-day weekend camps that break the emotional isolation grief often brings. For Jen, all the volunteer work she does on behalf of children and families is a labor of love in support of those in need, and she is rewarded richly in helping them smile and feel the joy of life.
Michelle Slaughter
Treasurer, Webmaster, and Database Manager
Michelle Slaughter
Michelle’s son Alex was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in 2000. He lost his battle with cancer in 2002 after a long fight to survive. If it had not been for organizations like DC Candlelighters to assist her family through the journey, she doesn’t know how her family would have survived. It is Michelle’s pleasure to serve on the board of this organization and assist other children and their families as they navigate their way through the treatment of this horrible disease.
Constance Connor
Secretary and Special Events Chair
Constance Connor
Connie is a former licensed clinical social worker and oncology counselor who retired from Life with Cancer and the Inova Health System in June 2016 after 17 years of service in pediatric oncology. She is happy and honored to continue her long collaboration with DC Candlelighter’s in support of families now as a volunteer.
Laura Tartaro-McGowan
Development and Fundraising Director
Laura Tartaro-McGowan
Laura, known to most of her medical colleagues as LTM, is passionate about the DC Candlelighters organization because of the services provided to families with children who are diagnosed with cancer. One of her mottos is “Go Big or Go Home”, and “In A World Where You Can Be Anything—Be Kind”. Her goals are to provide substantial financial, emotional and educational support to families through the DC Candlelighters programs. You might ask why Laura is so passionate about this specific organization. When you hear those four words “Your child has cancer” it takes your breath away, the biggest kick you will ever feel in your life, you feel like you are living a nightmare. Once the shock is over you must fight for remission, a cure, survival of your child while still trying to have some sense of normalcy. There is nothing normal about Cancer! DC Candlelighters is the organization that will help you find that balance.
Laura remembers an Angel that was with her and her family during her child’s 11 year fight; that Angel’s name was Margy Jost. She was an advocate of DC Candlelighters. Margy was Laura’s friend, her confidant, her Angel on earth. Laura aspires to be like Margy. Please walk with Laura to provide support for these children and their families and honor Margy’s Memory.
Sharon Truzzi
Scholarship Chair
Sharon Truzzi
Sharon is honored to join DC Candlelighters as a board member having received support from this organization when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer at age 9 in 2008 and subsequent relapse in 2009. Both Sharon and her daughter are survivors of Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sharon, her husband, and daughter volunteer with various pediatric cancer groups to help other families.
Amy Switzer
Hospital & Clinic Liaison and
Light of the Month Coordinator
Amy Switzer
Amy’s son Reed was diagnosed with large B cell diffuse Lymphoma in July of 2012. He has been in remission for almost 5 years. She got to know this wonderful group when her son was in the hospital and knew she had to get involved. She is active in raising awareness and funds for various childhood cancer organizations.
Asia Watson
Special Events Support
Rachel Dacanay-Smith
Rachel’s daughter Lucia was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia when she was only 4 years-old on January 1, 2018. The Smith family received a lot of support from DC Candlighters during and after Lucia’s cancer treatment. Rachel joined the board because she is very grateful for the organization and would like to give back to the Childhood cancer community. Lucia is doing well and the family continuously supports fundraisers that can help find a cure for cancer.
Ian McGowan
Gold Ribbon Survivor Chair
Emeritus Board
Pat Lawless
Lisa Tignor
Gail Scheller
Tasha Virostek
Jennifer Click
Laurie Weiss
Professional Affiliations
Suzan Watkinson
Suzan J. Watkinson M.A., CCLS, CPMT, RWWP
Suzan J. Watkinson, M.A., CCLS, CPMT, RWWP, is a dedicated Child Life professional with a master’s degree in counseling and over 30 years’ experience. With a passion for working with children, adolescents, families, and professionals, Suzan’s expertise spans pediatric palliative care, grief support, oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, trauma, and emergency medicine. She has contributed to innovative Child Life programming and mentorship, advocating for expanded Child Life services to serve children of adult patients. In addition to being a Certified Child Life Specialist, Suzan is a Registered Wonders & Worries Provider and Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist.
Beyond local borders, Suzan’s commitment extends to global initiatives, participating in Child Life Disaster Relief efforts. Volunteering as the Mental Health Specialist for pediatric oncology camps in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Baltimore, and Lake Geneva, Suzan additionally serves as a Psychosocial Care Provider for Operation Smile, supporting children during facial surgery missions internationally.
Suzan imparts essential knowledge as an Adjunct Professor at Azusa Pacific University, guiding Child Life graduate students and overseeing the Academic Child Life Internship program. Based in Northern Virginia with her husband Steven, Suzan enjoys exercising, traveling, and cherishes time spent visiting their three adult children.
Get Involved
You too can help children & families in Washington DC by showing your support. Each gesture of kindness offers hope to hundreds of families battling the unthinkable.
