GEORGINA CHAPMAN grew up near New Orleans, LA, and graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communications from Louisiana State University. She moved to Huntsville, AL, in August, 2001, as a promotions writer-producer at WAFF Channel 48. That's where she met her husband, Chris Chapman, who also works at Channel 48 as the Chief Photographer.
It was while doing a story on John Croyle and the Big Oak Ranch that something changed. The Big Oak Ranch offered homes and schooling for foster children. She wanted out of television and in with a career helping children. Meeting Lynn Hays introduced her to the world of special education and the financial restraints which plague schools each year. Forming the Ability Foundation is the most pro-active approach to solving the problem...and raising money for hundreds of thousands of children is now her new focus.
In order to work with special needs children first-hand, Georgina worked as an assistant teacher in the special-education department at Challenger Middle School. She has already met some of the most incredible kids, including Jason Thies, and his twin brother Sean, who were both born with cerebral palsy.
After working as a freelance writer for the Huntsville Times, Health for Alabama Magazine, and the Valley Planet, Georgina is now the Communications Manager for the Huntsville Museum of Art.
She and Chris married on March 21st, 2004, at the Oak Alley Plantation in New Orleans before honeymooning in Malaysia. They now have a son named Reece who is the light and love of their lives.
LYNN HAYS was born and raised in Huntsville, AL, completing a degree in Speech/Language Pathology and Audiology at Jacksonville State University and Alabama A & M University. He taught special-education for 8 years at Lee High School, was a Special Olympics Coordinator and coach for the city of Huntsville, and was also promoted as the AOD (Alabama Occupational Diploma Transition Coordinator) for Huntsville City Schools. He now works as a Resource Coordinator for special needs children with Madison County schools.
One day while teaching in his classroom he noticed one of his students was missing. She often liked to go up and down in the hallways in her wheelchair and talk to her friends. So Lynn went looking for her and found her stuck in the school door building. Unable to get through by herself, no one heard her cries for help and she would have stayed there if Lynn hadn't found her first.
That's what started Lynn thinking of ways to raise money and installing handicapped-accessible, automatic doors in schools. With a little nudge and Georgina as his partner, the two set off with plans for the Ability Foundation.
