Carrie grew up in Kaneohe, Hawaii. She married her high school sweetheart and left the island to be an Army officer’s wife.  In 1985, she moved to Spanaway, Washington where her husband had orders for Ft. Lewis.  Carrie and her family continued their military career and came back to Spanaway in 1992 to retire. 

After settling in, Carrie went to work for Tacoma School District in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program and focused on finishing her college degree.  She attended Seattle Central Community College and took advanced American Sign Language classes to improve her signing skills. In June 1996, she graduated with honors from Pierce College.  After taking a year off, she continued her education at the University of Washington, Tacoma.  In 2000, she graduated, Cum Laude, with an Interdisciplinary Arts and Science degree and certification in the American Humanics Nonprofit Management program.

While at the University of Washington, Carrie started doing her internship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.  Being a resident of Spanaway, she knew there were limited affordable activities for youths in the area. She worked with the Teen Advisory Committee, community leaders, and the Bethel and Franklin Pierce school districts to set up a Boys & Girls Club in the Parkland-Spanaway area. As a result of the community’s dedication and commitment to making Parkland-Spanaway a positive place for youths, Thompson and Brookdale Elementary started Boys & Girls Club After School Learning Centers in 2001.  This school year, the outreach program has been expanded to Spanaway, Shining Mountain, and Christensen Elementary schools.  In the near future, the South Pierce County Branch will become a reality at Harry Sprinker Recreation Center.

Carrie feels that being a team member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound for the past 3½ years has been very rewarding. The smiling faces she sees each day, along with the opportunities and hope that the Boys & Girls Club offers, makes serving the youth of Parkland and Spanaway a very worthwhile job.  Carrie also emphasizes, “I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my family. I’d like to thank Clay, Cori, and Chris for their love and understanding.”

If anyone is interested in learning about the Boys & Girls Club Movement to South Pierce County, please contact Carrie at carriec@bg-clubs.com.