Member Type: Staff

April first learned about Bags of Fun when her kids did the annual Gabby Krause Swim-A-Thon at their neighborhood pool. The more she learned about the organization and the incredible community that supported it, the more she knew she had to become involved. She started volunteering by stuffing and delivering bags to co-chairing Bring out the Bags for several years. She has 20+ years of graphic design experience and is so proud to be part of such an amazing organization.

April was born and raised in Ohio but has lived in Colorado since 2001 with her husband, Matt. She is the mom of 2 kids, Henry and Gracie, and has been very involved in the Cherry Creek school district and community since they were young. She loves going to her kid’s sporting events and activities, walking her dog Bailey and traveling to visit friends and family.

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud
– Maya Angelou

Louisa is the director of Bags of Fun KC and has been since its inception in 2011. She has a degree in Special Education and taught and tutored before starting Bags of Fun in Kansas City.  As a close family friend of executive director and founder, Tammy Krause, she is honored to continue keeping Gabby’s wish alive.  “Gabby was such a bubbly, funny girl. She loved joking around, and made us all laugh! She spent many hours playing at our house, riding in our car, and even gave my husband a nickname we all still use today.  Her legacy has brought her same joy and laughter to so many children and their families!”  Louisa is proud to be a KC native.  She and her husband have five children and when not working she likes traveling and reading.

Kelly Fallin has been an active supporter of Bags of Fun since 2008. Friends of the Rudden family since high school, she enjoyed attending various Bags of Fun events with her family for years. She became more involved by volunteering to help with the annual Bring out the Bags fundraiser and is now a proud team member. Now with firsthand, personal experience, she believes strongly in our mission and hopes to grow and expand the Bags of Fun program in Colorado, so that every child fighting a life- threatening disease or condition receives a Bag of Fun. Kelly works with the local community, Corporate Sponsors, Foundations and Individual Donors to increase the scope and awareness of our wonderful program. Her roles include running the annual charity golf tournament, grant and corporate outreach, grant writing, social media marketing, Bring out the Bags sponsorship and event planning, community event assistance and really whatever is thrown her way.

Kelly is a busy mom to her 2 children.  She enjoys time with her large extended family, tennis, golf, spin, skiing and travel.

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Dolly Parton

Kelly Moran has been a part of the Gabby Krause Foundation since 2007. She had the opportunity to watch Gabby participate during the summer on the neighborhood swim team. Gabby was like all of the other kids on the team in that she cared most about swimming with friends and continuing to play in the pool and on the playground after practice despite her difficult treatments. Kelly is grateful to be a part of Bags of Fun as the organization continues to expand and deliver as many Bags of Fun as they can to kids who are in the fight of their lives. Kelly manages the finances for the Foundation with a goal of fulfilling every single hospital request for a Bag of Fun. She is proud to be part of a compassionate team who is focused on continuing to live out Gabby’s request of delivering a Bag of Fun to all of the kids who have a long-term or life-threatening illness. Kelly and her husband have three young adult daughters. She enjoys being active in her community as well as spending time enjoying the outdoors with family and friends.

“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” – Diane Ackerman

Windy started volunteering at the Sundance Hills Swim-a-thon for Bags of Fun and just loved how kids were impacted immediately.  Being a former teacher, Windy is a strong believer in kids helping kids, and the power of play, which translate directly to her role as Program Director for the Gabby Krause Foundation. Windy works on all things related to the Bags and helps with volunteers and events.

Windy is a mom of 2 young men, Ryan and Jack, who are both in college.  She loves going to visit them and traveling with them and her husband, Matt. She also enjoys playing golf, reading and being in the great outdoors of Colorado.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”
– George Bernard Shaw

Kirklyn Simonton has been involved with The Gabby Krause Foundation since its inception in 2004. When Gabby was first diagnosed, Kirklyn was her tennis instructor and remembers vividly “Gabby’s intense need to play, even when she was dealing with the horrible fatigue and side effects of treatment. She would literally not give up on that tennis ball, even though she could barely hold the racquet!” Initially as a volunteer, then as a Board Member and now as an employee, Kirklyn believes strongly that the power of play and the power of community are essential elements to dealing with difficult situations! Speaking from personal experience, “Bags of Fun are a powerful tool to help children feel like laughing and playing, but are also a reminder of that there are people out there that care and understand the feeling of helplessness as a parent. It is a gift of joy, laughter, comfort, strength and hope at a time when those feelings are not thought possible.” Kirklyn works directly with the community, corporate sponsors, foundations, and individual donors to continue to fund Bags of Fun in Colorado and to expand this program to other sites.

Kirklyn is an avid tennis player and loves spending time with family and friends in beautiful Colorado. Kirklyn cherishes her husband, John and their 3 adult children and believes that Faith, Family and Friends are essential to navigating life and is grateful for these gifts in her life.

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” e.e. cummings