About Us

Who We Serve

SBIM serves vulnerable children and their families who face a wide variety of challenges on a daily basis.

Many lack space to call their own, with over half living in single family dwellings that house multiple family groups or non-relatives. The majority do not have the ability or financial opportunity to enroll in afterschool programs or extracurricular activities. Children often care for siblings or younger relatives in the absence of a parent or guardian.

Who We Are

SBIM is primarily a volunteer-run, dedicated group of volunteers who truly care and believe that together we have the power to change lives.

SBIM was founded in 2018 by a school counselor and a group of teachers and social workers in Herndon, Virginia. These professionals recognized an urgent and growing need to provide support to young girls in the community, many of whom were suffering as a result of poverty and trauma. Through the years, we have realized there is a deeper need to help the girls’ whole family unit within the community.

SBIM is a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN #83-1447190.

Photo of SBIM leardership: Teri Taylor, Kathleen Arace, Renee Gorman

Leadership Team

Renee Gorman
Founder and President

As a mother of three daughters, helping children feel confident and have a healthy self-esteem has been Renee’s job for the last 25 years. As a School Counselor for 20+ years, Renee has been an advocate for children and is fueled by a passion to help children feel socially and emotionally strong. Prior to founding She Believes in Me, Renee worked with non-profit Code 3 Association to forge positive relationships between the police department and local at-risk communities. The success of this program was featured in the Washington Post and Associated Press and helped inspire her to go further to address the emotional needs of young children in the community she witnessed daily through her work as a school counselor. Renee is a true believer in establishing a support system for young children to help them become confident and strong community members. Helping to empower children to live strong lives for a successful future is the reason Renee started She Believes in Me.

Teri Taylor
Executive Director

Having spent over 20 years in the corporate world, she left it to focus on motherhood and a second career using her interpersonal and organizational skills to support those in need. She has a 20-year track record as an active, dedicated, and consistent volunteer for various organizations. Teri’s childhood family was exposed to too much, too young. It took a village to empower Teri’s family from their challenges, showing her that community support can make all the difference in a child’s life story, as it did with her. She is keenly aware that a child whose emotional and psychological needs are nurtured is more likely to have academic and social success. Teri is deeply passionate about She Believes in Me and the children and families they serve. She understands that even a smile can change a child’s day, and a warm blanket can feel like a hug for someone in need.

Meghan Coughlin
Director, Events and Curriculum

As an educator for 17 years, Meghan has been a passionate advocate for children in the Herndon community. Meghan has taught elementary students at both, Hutchison and Clearview elementary schools in Fairfax County. Building strong, positive relationships with her students, and their families, has been the highlight of Meghan’s education career. Working for She Believes in Me gives Meghan the opportunity to foster and build upon the social and emotional skills needed to help young girls fuel their passions and dreams. She is dedicated to helping girls by designing curriculum and planning events that encourage girls to explore their strengths, overcome challenges, and build upon their mental, physical, and emotional health and wellness. Meghan currently works as a content developer for a company that serves the military. She loves spending time with family, friends, and her dog Stanley. She enjoys reading, hiking, yoga, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers in her free time.

Luke Watling
Liaison Program Coordinator

Luke graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Luke has developed a passion for working with kids through his time working as a swim coach. Luke was also the Director of Recreation for Four Seasons Recreation Association, where he sought to enhance community outreach by becoming community partners with She Believes In Me. Through this partnership, Luke was able to help Four Seasons and She Believes in Me put on more events for kids in need of support in the Herndon Community. Luke became a volunteer liaison for She Believes In Me in the beginning of 2023 and has gotten increasingly involved since then. Luke hopes to continue helping families in need in the Herndon area through his role as the Liaison Program Coordinator as well as in going back to school to become a School Counselor.

Sarah Buttrey
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

After a career in the arts, with a focus on operations, sales, and event planning, Sarah left the workforce to take time to raise her two children. She was an active volunteer in their schools and activities through their high school years and is now using that time and energy to help vulnerable families in the Herndon community. She started volunteering for She Believes in Me in 2022 as an event mentor and office assistant and became the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator in 2023. Sarah helps organize summer camps, recruit volunteers, and assists in keeping things running smoothly. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading, exercising, playing word games, and spending time with friends and family.

Community Partners

Thank you!

She Believes in Me works with community and corporate sponsors to help fund and / or supply items for our pantry, family liaison program, emotional support items, camps, and a myriad of other programs and events that support our local community. We often work together to do collection drives, packing events, and fundraising.

She Believes in Me has a strong support system in place with our community and corporate sponsors. We simply couldn't do what we do without their help and we are grateful for these important partnerships. If you would like to discuss how you can become a partner with She Believes in Me, please contact Teri Taylor, Executive Director at teri@shebelievesinme.org.

How to Become a Community Partner

She Believes in Me is seeking to partner with other organizations that want to make a difference in the lives of young women through fundraising, development, strategic collaboration, events and volunteer engagement.

Please fill out the form to connect.

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