Leadership and Governance

Leadership Profiles

Staff

Board Officers

Board of Directors

Free Mom Hugs’ Board of Directors oversees the Executive Director and other staff members in the competent and ethical operation of Free Mom Hugs on a day-to-day basis and assures that the long-term interests of donors and the mission are being served. To satisfy the Board’s duties, directors are expected to take a proactive, focused approach to their positions, and set standards to ensure that Free Mom Hugs is committed to business success through the maintenance of high standards of responsibility and ethics.

Transgender Military Ban Lifted

We are so grateful to have Paula Sophia Schonauer contribute her story regarding the ban on transgender military members being lifted Jan 25, 2021. Paula, an author of Shadowboxer, activist and featured in the documentary Real Life Test has an amazing story to tell as...
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Ethan’s Story

In honor of Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance, we wanted to share Ethan's story. Sara and I met Ethan's moms on our Free Mom Hugs Tour of Hope in 2019. As always, the Tour had proven to be magical with our stops along the way to San...
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Parker Cunningham

Parker Cunningham: Coming Out Story

Getting to Know You A lot of you know me as Sara Cunningham’s son, the “Parker” from “the book”, or the LGBTQIA+ Advocate for Free Mom Hugs. You might NOT know that I’m an artist and a musician, that I’m a cancer (Gemini rising) or that I’ve got a chiweenie named...
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National Coming Out Day

October is LBGTQ History month, and it also holds a life-changing holiday, National Coming Out Day. This holiday was first celebrated in the US in 1988, and was created as a form of activism. The belief that the more people see LGBTQ+ people in their families and in...
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Ruth Bader Ginsberg

May Her Memory Be a Blessing

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away Sept 18, 2020 and the news sent many within our LGBTQIA+ circles into a deep state of loss. Justice Ginsburg has been a mighty force for justice and equality, and has been especially dear to the LGBTQIA+ community and to those...
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Help Us Celebrate Sara

Proud Mama Bear Free Mom Hugs founder, Sara Cunningham celebrates her birthday this month, and we at Free Mom Hugs can't help but celebrate all she has done for the organization, but also for families, and the LGBTQIA+ communities as well. Sara works tirelessly being...
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Sara Cunningham speaking at a High School Gay Straight Alliance 2019

The Back to School Issue

We know so many parents, students and teachers are struggling right now with what to make of the 2020 school year. We want to send all of you virtual hugs for the challenges ahead. There is so much stress equated with the opening of schools, the decisions to be...
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Stillwater, OK Pride 2019 with Sara and Parker

Katrina Kalb — Behind the Hug

Stillwater, OK Pride 2019 with Sara and Parker I am so excited to get to share my story, the behind the scenes look, of my involvement with Free Mom Hugs. This movement, and these people, have altered my life in more ways to count. And my experience over the past 4...
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Erin Ritter – Board Member/Chapter Coordinator

I’m Erin McKennah - Ritter, mom of 2 kids, 13 and 9, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and I am still here. I am approaching the end of my graduate program and – fingers crossed – I will be a licensed clinical mental health counselor soon! Becoming Fully Affirming...
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SCOTUS Ruling for LGBTQ+ Persons

Guest blogger Cristina Spencer is an author, activist and certified Life Coach. She is a lifelong advocate for gender equality and recently appeared on our Free Mom Hugs Virtual Tour. Cristina joined Sara Cunningham and Kimberly Shappley on one of our most successful...
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