Kathy Gingery - CEO & Founder
Kathy has worked with children’s programs and summer camps for over 30 years. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, she has also been a self-employed business owner for over 30 years specializing in real estate. Kathy once received the “Celebration of Human Spirit” award, started the first Cub Scouts group in the Fraser Valley, was an active 4-H leader for 12 years, and was the recipient of the 2011 Colorado Rockies Leadership Award. She founded Shining Stars in 2001 and has since been the energy and leadership behind the development of the Foundation. In her free time, you can find Kathy out riding her horses or cross country skiing. She dreams of one day being a competitive endurance rider!
Rosemary White - Director of Operations
Rosemary started working for the Shining Stars Foundation in the fall of 2013. Prior to joining our team, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a degree in English Literature and Sociology. The summer after graduating, she was a program fellow at The Taproot Foundation, a capacity building non-profit in Chicago. The mountain lifestyle called her to Winter Park, and she has been in Grand County ever since! In her free time, Rosemary enjoys skiing, reading, making birthday cards, cooking, gardening and beekeeping. Her favorite thing about working with Shining Stars Foundation is the opportunity to get to know our kids and families.
Megan Nelson - Director of Development
Megan is a graduate of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA where she specialized in international development and studied nonprofit organizations all around the world. She has completed 18 months with the AmeriCorps VISTA Program promoting the growth and development of Chicago based nonprofits. In 2010, Megan began working with Shining Stars. She loves trail running, skiing, snowball fights, and has a slightly secret juggling talent!
Ryndi Zastrow - Director of Programs and Events
Ryndi has been involved with the Shining Stars Foundation since 2015. After graduating from Regis University, she worked with Habitat for Humanity in Denver before returning to her roots in the Fraser Valley. A former teacher, Ryndi loves that she can continue making a meaningful impact on people's lives through her work with the Shining Stars Foundation. Ryndi is passionate about outdoor adventure, and she enjoys sharing her love for outdoor recreation with the community through her work at the foundation. In her free time, you can find Ryndi skiing, biking, or exploring far-off countries - usually with her dog, Retta, in tow!
Mary Price - Programs Coordinator
Mary, originally from Florida, studied environmental science at Florida Gulf Coast University. Growing up, she was heavily involved in scouting and family camping adventures, sparking her love for the outdoors. Mary worked as a backpacking guide and environmental educator at Philmont Scout Ranch before settling in Grand County seven years ago. For the past seven years, Mary has been active in local environmental nonprofits before joining the Shining Stars Foundation in February 2024. In her free time, she enjoys cross-country skiing with her dog, hiking, and fishing. Mary is thrilled to share her passion for outdoor adventure with the children and families served by the Shining Stars Foundation.
