About Us

Executive Director

Sabrina Hughes

Sabrina Hughes serves as Camp Kudzu’s Executive Director, where she provides visionary leadership to the professional staff and works in close partnership with the Board of Directors to drive policy, strategic growth, financial strength, and transformative relationships with donors, partners, volunteers, and community organizations. With a lifelong passion for children, youth, families, and community, Sabrina brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to addressing the unique needs of those living with type 1 diabetes and its many complications. She believes camp is more than a program, it is a life-changing environment of growth, belonging, and hope, and she is driven to expand Camp Kudzu’s reach and impact across Georgia.

For more than two decades, Sabrina has built a career marked by bold leadership and measurable results in nonprofit management. She has served with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Solomon’s Temple Foundation, and the Arthritis Foundation, consistently elevating mission impact and organizational growth. Most recently, as National Director of Partner Relations at the American Diabetes Association, she secured and stewarded national and global partnerships, advanced research that saved lives, drove advocacy that shaped national policy, delivered education that empowered communities, and built collaborations that touched millions around the globe.

Outside of her professional role, Sabrina embraces the spirit of Camp Kudzu in her everyday life. An adventurer at heart, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and exploring the outdoors. A sports enthusiast and natural community builder, she thrives on creating connections that inspire resilience, joy, and strength in others.

VP of Development

Desirae August, MBA

Desirae August serves as the VP of Development for Camp Kudzu! She brings over 18 years of diverse nonprofit, fundraising, and event planning experience. As a devoted community leader, Desirae is passionate about empowering children and families.

Prior to joining Camp Kudzu, Desirae served as the Chief Development Officer at Buckhead Christian Ministry and managed fundraising events with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. As a volunteer, she served as the President and Event-Co-Chair of Twelve Days of Christmas, Inc. Atlanta Chapter. She earned a Master of Business Administration with an Executive Certificate in Public and Nonprofit Leadership from Brandman University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University Fullerton. Desirae is looking forward to growing Camp Kudzu’s fundraising efforts and furthering the mission to educate, empower and inspire children and teens living with type 1 diabetes. Desirae and her husband, Troy, are the proud parents of Makayla and Elyjah. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

Medical Director

Natalie Vinson, BSN, RN

Natalie Vinson is a Registered Nurse and joins Camp Kudzu as our Medical Director! With a background in Emergency Medicine, Diabetes Research and a minor in Global Health Studies, Natalie brings a well-rounded perspective to pediatric diabetes care.  Her work is rooted in both clinical knowledge and a deep commitment to health equity.

Her connection to Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is deeply personal.  Natalie’s husband was diagnosed at age 8 with T1D.  He never had the opportunity to attend a diabetes camp as a child, which has given Natalie a unique appreciation for the impact Camp Kudzu can make. She sees firsthand how education, community, and encouragement can transform what once felt like a challenge into something empowering.

Natalie is passionate about continuous learning and research, and she’s especially committed to helping make camp accessible for children living with T1D.  She believes every child deserves the chance to learn, connect, and grow in a place where they feel understood and supported.

Senior Engagement Manager

Patricia Clark

Patricia Clark joins Camp Kudzu as our Program Manager! She has spent the past 7 years in the ministry world leading middle and high school students with an occasional time serving elementary, college and young adults.  She has a passion and heart for young people and their families.  Patricia brings over 7 years of experience in directing Youth programs, fundraising events, retreats, community outreach, and leading volunteers. Patricia knew of Camp Kudzu since she grew up serving with Camp Hope at Camp Twin Lakes. She also grew up going to Camp High Harbour where she served as a Leader in Training, Counselor in Training, and Assistant Counselor. Patricia understands the impact and joy camp can have on a youth.

Patricia moved back to the Atlanta area after spending 3 years in Denver, Colorado. She loves all things sports and outdoors. Also, as a graduate of the University of Alabama, you can catch her watching any and all college football games. She is excited to join the team and looks forward to serving the families of Camp Kudzu.

Development Manager

Gabbi Markle

Gabbi Markle joins Camp Kudzu as our Development Manager! For 7 years, she led volunteer programming and special events at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta before opening and managing the first Seacrest Studios, a multimedia center for pediatric patients, at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York. With a passion for storytelling and serving others, she has led hundreds of events and initiatives that reflect and amplify the voices of children and their families. Gabbi is currently working toward her master’s in nonprofit management from Northeastern University and is excited to apply that knowledge to Camp Kudzu’s mission of empowering children living with T1D. 

A Georgia girl at heart, Gabbi was raised in the south and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Georgia. She is excited to return “home” and bring her creativity, compassion, and relationship-building skills into this new chapter. 

She’s currently on the hunt for the best vanilla latte in Atlanta, so you’re guaranteed to find her at a local coffee shop in her downtime.

Medical Manager

Olivia Thompson, MS, CCLS

Olivia Thompson joins Camp Kudzu as our Medical Manager! She brings nearly 4 years of experience working as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), combined with 8 years of experience working in many different capacities with Camp Twin Lakes (CTL).

During Olivia’s time at CHOA, she worked on the Endocrine and Pulmonology floors. She found a passion for developing new resources to better serve the type 1 diabetes community and is excited to build on this passion by helping provide diabetes education at Camp Kudzu.

Starting in college, Olivia worked as a part of the outdoor adventure staff at CTL, and from there grew to take on many other roles including directing some of the weekend and summer camp programs. Camp is such a special place for her and that is how she first found out about Camp Kudzu.

Olivia and her husband, Will, met at camp. They love spending time outdoors and going on many hikes. Having both grown up in Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, they also love spending Saturdays cheering on the Dawgs!

Program Coordinator

Reagan Dees

Reagan Dees joins Camp Kudzu as our Program Coordinator! A recent graduate from DePauw University, Reagan is excited to join the T1D mission. With over five years of summer camp experience, she has worked with all age groups throughout Wisconsin, California, and Alaska, and developed a deep passion for outdoor education and youth development along the way.

While in school, Reagan served as the Community Engagement Director for her Civic Service Fellowship, where she established her skills in program development, volunteer coordination, and community outreach. Additionally, she served as the Vice President of Philanthropy for her sorority, a First Year Orientation Leader, and a Speech and English Language tutor for her peers.

Reagan is eager to bring her energy, creativity, and passion to Camp Kudzu!

Development Coordinator

Lisa Hanimov

Lisa serves as Camp Kudzu’s Development Coordinator, bringing both lived experience and a deep sense of purpose to her role. Originally from Miami, Florida, Lisa has lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) since childhood and has always known she wanted to give back to the T1D community. After years of volunteering with Breakthrough Diabetes and attending diabetes camps herself, she initially joined Camp Kudzu as a Development Intern last year and is now proud to be part of the team that brings Camp Kudzu’s life-changing programs to life through her fundraising efforts.

Lisa holds a degree in medical anthropology and brings professional experience in youth development, nonprofit operations, and community education. She’s known for her sweet soul, compassionate nature, and thoughtful, detail-oriented mindset. With a mellow, go-with-the-flow energy and occasional bursts of enthusiasm, Lisa leads with both heart and intention. Her creative side fuels her innovative approach to supporting fundraising and outreach efforts. A key goal for Lisa is to help provide resources to the Kudzu Community and ensure every camper has the opportunity to attend Camp Kudzu through fundraising efforts. Outside of work, she enjoys being in nature, spending time with friends, caring for animals and collaging.

Community Development Coordinator

Blakely Queen

Blakely Queen joins Camp Kudzu as the Community Development Coordinator! Blakely learned about Camp Kudzu through her best friend who grew up attending camp. She joined the Kudzu team initially in the Summer of 2024 as the Community Engagement Intern, then joined the team in December 2024 as a contract employee. She is focusing on expanding Kudzu’s reach and building community in the Athens & Gainesville areas. Blakely graduated from Georgia College & State University with her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Sociology. She is currently attending the University of Georgia as a graduate student, earning her Master of Public Health in Health Promotion & Behavior.

Blakely currently lives in Athens with her dog. Outside of work, she enjoys curling up with a good book, hiking, working on research projects, and watching Georgia football and Braves baseball. Blakely also enjoys volunteering within her community as much as she can!

Development Associate

Julie McCarren

Julie joined Camp Kudzu with more than a decade of experience in non-profit fundraising at the local, state, and national levels. After a period working outside of a non–profit, Julie was purposed to get back to where she feels she belongs – helping to mobilize a non-profit to do its best for the community it serves.

Julie has worked with the World Golf Foundation – The First Tee, Take Stock in Children, United Way of NE FL, and several others throughout her career and is thrilled to play a role in the work of Camp Kudzu to empower the next generation living with T1D.

Julie remembers a close friend sharing about their child’s first experience with Sprouts after being diagnosed with T1D. It was a game changer for her as a little girl to meet others with T1D and not feel alone anymore. When the opportunity to join the team became available, Camp Kudzu was an easy yes for Julie.

Julie and her husband live in Marietta with their dog, and she enjoys all things outdoors! If she’s not on a trail exploring the outdoors, you can find her happily immersed in a project at home, spending time with friends or volunteering with a variety of organizations.