Stacie Thornton

“I’m very passionate about volunteering, serving my community and paying it forward,” says Stacie. She donates her time and talents to a number of impactful groups, and has served in multiple capacities over the years, from mentor to board member and beyond. Stacie has had a soft spot for helping others since she was a child. Growing up in Michigan, she recalls reading the children’s classic, Charlotte’s Web, at least five times. “I enjoyed it so much because it’s simply about the value of true friendship and kindness—and pigs. Who doesn’t love a cute barnyard pig?” As an adult, the novel Cane River resonated, providing Stacie “with both a sense of pride and sadness in the story shared by many African Americans whose ancestors survived slavery while creating a lasting family legacy,” she explains. “It helped me better understand and appreciate the richness, pain and strength of family history, and instilled a sense of responsibility to continue to move a powerful legacy forward.”