Peggy Ballin comes from Philadelphia. Gwynedd-Mercy College was the underpinning for her undergraduate education. Her postgraduate studies were at Catholic University and Trinity University in Washington, D.C. where she lives with her husband Scott. Starting her career as an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia, she now teaches (since 2001) English as a Second Language in the DC Public Schools in some of the lowest performing schools in Northeast Washington. Peggy’s early professional life was shaped in part by her work as a Peace Corps Volunteer (teacher) in Palau, Western Caroline Islands, Micronesia.

Since then her work has placed an emphasis on the well-being of children, whether in teaching, public relations, the Department of Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs where she served as the Youth Bureau Officer for the Pacific to her service in the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Youth Conservation Program at Kinlichee Boarding School in Ganado, Arizona, Peggy’s skill set combines with her compassion for children to make her a powerful force for social change.

Peggy’s current activities in Virginia include serving as a CASA (court appointed supervised advocate) volunteer representing abused children; teaching homeless family members at the Valley Mission to work towards self sufficiency; volunteering at the Blue Ridge Food Bank supplying food to over 200 member agencies; and serving on the Board of the Valley Programs for Aging Seniors to provide services that allow seniors to remain at home.

“I look at the world with great expectations and a spirit of adventure. My main focus in life has been the care and education of children, coming to personal fruition when my husband and I adopted two young boys from Poland in 1993, both with various challenges. Nancy Robertson’s dedication to the children is contagious. Through my work as an educator and experiences as a volunteer in different cultures, I too have witnessed the profound needs of so many children. I am honored to join in with the Grace Children’s Foundation, to help move forward the concept of coordinating resources, to help change the outcome for children globally.”