Our Mission and Purpose
Our mission at The Compassion in Action Project is to provide hands-on community service opportunities for kids and families. We accomplish this through our after school club program and classroom visits. We also host community service events that allow families, sports teams, small groups, etc. to serve together, which increases their awareness of local needs and deepens their relationships with each other and with the community.
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"We want kids to connect service with fun and help them realize they can make a positive impact despite their young age. When children begin to think outside of themselves and notice others and their needs, they learn empathy and gratitude. And when groups come together to serve, it builds relationships and creates experiences and memories that last a lifetime." - Heather Sinyard, Founder & Executive Director
Our Team
Heather Sinyard, Founder and Executive Director
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Heather has worked with various nonprofits and ministries since she was a teenager. She has spent the years since then serving the community by organizing charity 5ks and events and volunteering in local schools providing service opportunities for kids. She founded The Compassion in Action Project to help children (and their grown-ups!) become servant leaders, believing that learning to give back is vital to cultivating empathy and gratitude.
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Heather has been married to her high school sweetheart David for 20 years. They have two children, who have graciously learned to grin while being "voluntold" quite a lot over the years. They attend 12Stone Church and love traveling and doing home renovation projects together. Heather also enjoys time in nature (but not camping), music (70s & 90s), triathlons (very short ones), and label makers.
Lindsey Davis, Board of Directors
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Lindsey has been working as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for the past eleven years. She also volunteers weekly at the elementary school media center and enjoys helping out in the classroom whenever possible. She is excited to be a part of The Compassion in Action Project as she believes that service is essential to building strong families and communities.
Lindsey met her husband, Drew, at college (Go Dawgs!) and they have two children and two dogs. They have a family goal of visiting all of the National Parks in the United States. She has a passion for traveling, playing tennis, and hiking and is a voracious reader.
Ashley Fireall, Board of Directors
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Ashley is a dedicated educator with a passion for nurturing growth, cultivating creativity, and encouraging community service. She is an avid reader who also enjoys cooking, gardening, and crafting. She resides in Sugar Hill, Georgia with her family.
Annie Valenty, Board of Directors
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Annie is a professional with over twenty five years experience in mission advancement, community affairs, and fundraising. She has worked in roles in both the public and private sector and enjoys serving and giving back to her community. Annie, her husband, and their three children reside in Gwinnett County.
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Kristin Bartholomew,
Club Leader at Riverside Elementary
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Ms. Bartholomew grew up the daughter of a military father and a mother who taught for 39 years. She followed in her mother's footsteps and has been working in education for over 34 years. Her role has taken her from many different classroom levels, to gifted pull out, to supporting students who struggle. Currently, she job shares the media specialist role at Riverside Elementary School and loves it!
Ms. Bartholomew enjoys nature, watching the Falcons, playing with her greyhound and whippet dogs, traveling, learning, her church, and working toward the common good.​​
Lucie Peace,
Co-Club Leader at Suwanee Elementary
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Lucie proudly serves as the media specialist at Suwanee ES. She is passionate about designing and cultivating dynamic learning spaces in the library where students feel seen, valued, and loved.
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Since high school, Lucie has taken on roles as a tutoring program coordinator and summer camp coordinator. Her goal is to empower the next generation of young minds to lead, serve, and make a positive impact in their communities. Through Compassion in Action, she aims to create an environment where empathy and kindness are at the heart of every service project. This initiative encourages students to extend their leadership beyond the classroom walls.​
In her free time, Lucie enjoys crafting, kayaking, and exploring local trails with her husband and their rescue dog, Bella.
Tanner Barry,
Co-Club Leader at Suwanee Elementary
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Tanner has been working in the technology industry for the past 15 years where she is currently a Director of Professional Services. She also volunteers regularly at the elementary school media center and at a variety of school events. Through Compassion in Action, Tanner hopes to inspire students to grow as leaders, find purpose in helping others, and see the power of small acts of compassion in shaping the world around them.
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In her free time, Tanner loves to garden, craft, and bake. She and her husband have two kids, a dog, and a cat. Tanner and her family love traveling, music, and dance parties.