Trevor Romain Foundation

The Trevor Romain Foundation was first organized in 2005 after a visit to a children’s hospital in Ohio where Trevor met a 12 year old boy that had been battling cancer for several years. The two became friends and one day he asked Trevor if he would help him write a book. Together they wrote, Best of Lauck. Through the generosity of family and friends, funds were collected so that the boy and his family could travel together to California where Trevor was attending the Newport Beach Film Festival.

In 2007, the Trevor Romain Foundation, a nonprofit organization, received its first major donation and was established as a fiscal sponsorship fund of the Austin Community Foundation. In February of 2008, we celebrated our official launch with the viewing of Drawing Closer, the movie produced and directed by Carl Thiel based on the children living with cancer that Trevor has worked with over the years.

The Trevor Romain Foundation will create and produce a series of comfort kits that are customized to meet a child’s specific needs. Whether a child has experienced the loss of a loved one, has a family member deployed in the military, or has been diagnosed with cancer, a comfort kit will be developed to include resources that are both educational and comforting to that child. In general, a comfort kit will include a topic specific DVD, informative booklet, a journal for self expression, a keepsake box and Coco, a plush toy mouse representing Trevor Romain’s Comfort Crew.

In 2009, we created and began distributing Grief Comfort Kits, a set of resources to help children cope with the loss of a famiy member. Thousands of these kits have been given to the children of fallen US service members, most recently following the tragic events at Fort Hood.

Who is the Comfort Crew?

Foundation Board
Coco, Ambassador
As you may have noticed, I am a mouse. Actually, I am a mouse on a mission! I am looking for good things around the world to share with people who want to make this planet a better place, especially for kids. The Comfort Crew has put their trust in me to represent them and comfort kids in Austin, TX and around the world. It is an honor to serve Trevor Romain’s Comfort Crew and I invite you to join us.

Trevor Romain, Co-Founder and Board President
Trevor began donating his time to help kids during his required military training as a young man in the South African Army in 1975. His assignment was to set up medical tents for injured children. Against the warnings of his superiors, Trevor befriended the children he met there and discovered that he had a natural talent to make children laugh. It was then that he earned the nickname Doctor of Mischief.

In 1982, Trevor moved to the U.S. where he made his home with his wife, Amiel, in Austin, Texas. He still visits his family in South Africa regularly. Over the past 25 years, Trevor has written and/or illustrated dozens of children’s books, including Chemo, Craziness and Comfort that is given to children diagnosed with cancer through the American Childhood Cancer Organization. Trevor has been involved with the American Childhood Cancer Organization since 1993 and is now President of their Board.

Trevor is currently President of the Trevor Romain Company, a children’s educational publishing company.

Ronda Englander, Co-Founder and Executive Director

Child advocacy has long been a passion for Ronda. For over 25 years, she has worked as a child advocate, supporting children in need and promoting child health and education issues. She holds a Masters degree from The University of Texas in Child Development and has worked with youth populations at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, at the Child Life Department at John’s Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, worked as a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, and as the Director of the Early Childhood Center at La Vega Independent School District in Waco.

In 2003, from a chance meeting with Trevor, the Trevor Romain Company, a children’s educational publishing company, was born. In 2008, eager to pursue their vision of helping children cope during difficult times, the Trevor Romain Foundation was launched.

Having lost her father in combat during the Vietnam War, Ronda has had a special passion for the difficulties faced by military families. She was participated in the Huey 091 Foundation, a foundation focused on military loss. Ronda’s personal experience and understanding of the challenges faced by military families resulted in the Foundation developing a partnership with the DOD and USO, and the eventual creation of resources specifically designed for military children.

Sharmila Kassam, Secretary
Sharmila is Assistant General Council at the Employees Retirement System of Texas. She has advised several nonprofits in financial and legal matters. Her professional expertise and guidance was instrumental in the formation of the Trevor Romain Foundation.

Jennifer Horne, Treasurer
Jennifer is the Business Manager for a small, but thriving, Austin business. She has worked with fundraising in the corporate sector and brings experience of marketing to the Foundation Board. After meeting Ronda and Trevor in 2006, she has been active in supporting and promoting all the endeavors of the Trevor Romain Foundation.

Dr. Marita Frackowiak, Director
Marita is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice in Austin, TX. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families conducting Therapeutic Assessments, teaches assessment, supervises students, and consults with schools or other professionals. Dr. Marita was born in Poland; she moved to U.S. in 1992. She received her degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Marita has been friends with Trevor Romain for many years; they enjoy drinking tea together and collaborating on projects. Their most recent project was co-hosting a fundraiser to support an orphanage in Botshabelo, South Africa.

Becky Hopkins, Director
Becky Stento Hopkins has been very active helping children with cancer since she lost her daughter, Megan, to cancer in 1994. She served for eight years on the Board of “Candlelighters”, two years on the Board of the “Make-A-Wish Foundation”, and has helped with many fundraisers to help children diagnosed with cancer and their families for the last fourteen years through “For the Love of Christi”, “Any Baby Can”, and the “Dell Children’s Hospital” organizations. Becky’s daughter, Megan, became very close to Trevor Romain during her year of illness, and even has one of Trevor’s books dedicated to her. He even promised to read her the book when he finished it, and she remarked that he’d have to read very loud since she would be in heaven. He kept that promise by reading the book from a rooftop to a sea of children after she passed away. It is indeed a pleasure to work with such a talent as Trevor Romain, who has always had the ability to communicate to children on their level.

Kierstan Schwab, Director

Honorary Board
Sandy Youman
Mandi DuPuy, MSW
JP Forage, MD
Dr. Pamela Ryan

Staff
Nicole Kucera

Steven Abrams

Volunteers