Join us for our 50th Anniversary & CRi Honors Program - September 27, 2025!

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Support for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

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2025 CRi Champions of the Year Candidates

Dr. Amanda Carter

  Dr. Carter founded Care and Recreational Activities for Autistic People (CARAFAP, LLC) in 2014 with the mission of providing a supportive environment for individuals with disabilities to participate freely, unconstrained by societal expectations. CARAFAP accepts private pay, Medicaid, DDA, Self-Directed funding, and clients on the autism waiver in Maryland, and has since expanded its services to Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Carter has contributed to television and radio programs at multiple levels to advance autism awareness and advocacy. Additionally, she has delivered training sessions and seminars, and facilitated services to promote autism awareness internationally, including in Ghana, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

As a member of the Women Presidents Organization, Dr. Carter is recognized among women entrepreneurs who are making significant contributions to their fields. She has played an active role in fundraising, organizing, and participating in 5k events supporting children diagnosed with autism, as well as collaborating with organizations dedicated to autism advocacy. Dr. Carter has raised a service dog for a child with autism and has supported the training of CARAFAP’s therapy dog, Bailey, for client engagement. Her personal interests encompass horseback riding, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family. Dr. Carter remains committed to ensuring that CARAFAP delivers exemplary services to clients and their families through diligent and ethical practice.

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Cary Hatch

Cary Hatch has established a formidable track record in marketing communications, domestically and internationally. Her client experience includes: National Geographic, Fannie Mae, DC Lottery, Destination DC, Roy Rogers Restaurants, Sprint and many others. Following four decades, Hatch successfully sold her firm, MDB Communications.
 

Cary was recently honored by the Washington Business Journal with the inaugural Women Who Mean Business - Lifetime Achievement Award. Additional recognitions: WBJ POWER 100 and DC Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year.

Cary has served as the Chair for the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) Mid-Atlantic Board of Governors and on the National Government Relations Committee. Additional board service includes: National Advertising Review Board, University System of Maryland Foundation, Washington Housing Conservancy, International Women's Forum-DC, Leadership Greater Washington and the Greater Washington Board of Trade.
 

Cary presently serves on the Whitman Walker Foundation Board and the Advisory Board of 51 Steps to Freedom; she is a frequent speaker and panelist addressing branding, regional advocacy, business leadership, reputation management and entrepreneurship.


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Support for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

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Tania Hammock

Campaign Sponsored by Thomas Clark

Tania Hammock, LCSW, ADS, is an accomplished clinical leader with extensive experience in mental health and social services. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at Community Residences, Inc., she drives the strategic vision for clinical services, integrating innovative models to enhance community-based care. 


With a strong background in program development, regulatory compliance, and crisis management, she has led multidisciplinary teams across various organizations. 


Her expertise spans behavioral health, change management, and service integration, ensuring high-quality, person-centered care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs.






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Tiffany Meehan

 As a disabled Latina professional, Tiffany Meehan is a leader in accessibility, inclusive technology, and strategic marketing. Her work transforms how organizations approach accessibility—developing comprehensive strategies, creating impactful content, and collaborating with teams to build truly inclusive workplaces and experiences.

With 12+ years of experience spanning government, technology, startups, and live entertainment, Tiffany brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every initiative, including: the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, Inclusively, the Office of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, SiriusXM, The National Conference Center, and Lisner Auditorium.

Based in Northern Virginia, Tiffany graduated from The George Washington University with a BA in English and Religion. She also serves on the board of directors for nonprofits Loudoun Cares and The Arc of Loudoun, extending her commitment to community engagement and advocacy.  In her spare time, she enjoys travel photography, attending concerts, spending time with her puppy, and making home-cooked meals for family and friends.

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Bernice Meanchop

Campaign Sponsored by Carolyn Howell 

As Clinical Director, my goal is to ensure that the individuals we serve receive quality person centered services in a wholistic manner. I see them as people not with disabilities but with abilities that are just a little different. I serve as an advocate for these individuals, their families and the staff, because without them my passion to serve will be irrelevant.

During my tenure, I have served as an efficient communicator, servant leader, passionate advocate and great team builder. After my introduction to the human services field as a Direct Support Professional, I have immersed myself and grown to manage and supervise multiple programs, supporting individuals with varying diagnoses and fortified strong bonds within teams. I also lead a diverse and multicultural staff, who each day strive to make a difference in the lives of the individuals and the world. I have a post graduate diploma in Business Law and degree in Law from Cameroon, West /Central Africa. I have also received certificates and recognition as a leader. 

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Christine Plummer

Campaign Sponsored by Paul Gallagher  

Christine Plummer was a kid in a hurry, yearning to learn, grow, strive, help, and achieve, even as it was unclear what that would mean. In her late teens, she left the first of many universities she attended to marry an Air Force fighter pilot. She also had the first of her three children, a son born prematurely and with significant disabilities who medical professionals found challenging and puzzling. Clarity about how her life would unfold began to take shape. It has included amazing things, including her family; numerous moves; caregiving; living in different countries; community support, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles; a university degree; employment as a technical writer and in client services; research in a psychology lab; innovative community problem solving in civilian and military venues; participating in the lives of her family, which now includes grandchildren; and hobbies in various visual art forms, textile arts, and gardening.  


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Copyright © 2025 CRi Champions of the Year - All Rights Reserved.

CRi is a Virginia nonprofit corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Federal Tax ID #: 541004092.  

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Purchase Your Tickets by September 15!

There is still time to save on your tickets to the 50th Anniversary Gala & CRi Honors program to help make positive impact in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, mental health needs and support at-risk youth who are homeless, precariously housed and/or aging out of the foster care system.


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