Our Team
The Director
Susan Bowers
Executive Director
Susan Bowers, Executive Director of the Helene Foundation since 2012, is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and the community. Through her work with The Helene Foundation, she has witnessed the heartbreak that mothers experience during their cancer journey, but also the heartwarming impact that this organization can have on families struggling with a mother’s cancer diagnosis. Prior to her work with The Helene Foundation, Susan taught elementary school. Currently, she is a member of the Junior League of Raleigh, where she served as President in 2006-2007. She is an Advisory Board Member of Kappa Kappa Gamma at North Carolina State University and serves on the Community Allocations Committee with her church.
Susan is married to fellow Virginia Tech graduate Mark and they are the proud parents of three children - Will, Mary Kate, and Anne.
The Founders
Tracy L. Davidian, DDS, LVIF
and
Daniel K. Davidian, Sr. DDS
Dan was inspired to start the foundation by his mother, Helene Davidian, who lost her battle with cancer in 2009. As Dan reflected on the life of his mother - a beloved homemaker who continued to focus on her children even throughout her illness - he discovered a strong desire to help other mothers maintain family normalcy while struggling with cancer treatment.
Dan started the Foundation with his wife, Tracy, who wanted to create an organization that would support mothers and their families during their fight against cancer. She envisioned a circle of support that supported the daily lives of these families, allowing each mother to focus on what matters most - spending valuable time with her children.
Both Dan and Tracy practice General and Sedation Dentistry at Sedation Dental Care & Raleigh Smile Center which is owned by Dan. They live in Raleigh with their two boys.
The Board
Andrea Fox
Andrea Fox is passionate about giving back to the community. As such, she has served in numerous volunteer roles, including the Vice President of Training for the Junior League of Raleigh Board of Directors and the Vice President of Funding and Chair of the Capital Campaign. She has advisory roles with the Meredith College Fund Advisory Board and the Capital Campaign Steering Committee for Meredith College and is a member of Duke University Hospital’s Shingleton Society, a volunteer group raising monies to help find the cure for cancer. Professionally, Andrea works for Charles Aris and runs their New Promoter Score program. Her hobbies are cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband Neil and their two boys, Jackson and Oakley.
Teresa Merritt
Teresa’s passion for giving back to the community is best illustrated by her twenty years of dedication to the We Build People Annual Campaign at the A.E. Finley YMCA. Her fundraising knowledge and expertise play a crucial role in defining the future of the Helene Foundation. Teresa and her husband Lee live in Raleigh with their two children, Zachary and Ashley.
Anita Jones Wells
Dentist and Partner, Renaissance Dental Center
Wendie Hill
Wendie Hill began her journey with the Helene Foundation many years ago as a donor and avid supporter of the organization's mission. In 2019, Wendie joined the Board as Treasurer and shares her love of people and community, along with her expertise in project management & financial services, to make a difference in the lives of Mom's and families navigating a cancer diagnosis. Wendie is a Senior Vice President at Bank of America where she has been employed for 18 years, currently working as a Portfolio Manager in Global Operations. In her free time, Wendie enjoys playing tennis, water sports, traveling and volunteering at her daughter's school and in her community. Wendie serves as the Community Outreach chair on the Leesville Middle School PTSA and is an alumni of the Cherie Blair Foundation Mentoring Program. Wendie lives in Raleigh, and is the proud mom of four girls - Marcie, Jennifer, Rebecca and Elizabeth.
Kristi McKeown
Before working in the pharmaceutical industry at Millennium Pharmaceutical Incorporated, Kristi McKoewn was a counselor for cancer patients and their families at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center and focused on providing psychosocial support and counseling to persons living with cancer. McKeown is a member of the Junior League of Raleigh, the Chair of the Community Cares Committee at Duke Schools, Co-owner of Burn Athletic Fitness Studio in Brier Creek as well as a certified cycling instructor. She has a BA degree in Social Research from the University of Hartford and a MA degree in Counseling from North Carolina Central University. Kristi and her husband Bob have one son.
Alice Tate
Alice Tate brings over 25 years of professional and volunteer marketing communications experience to the Helene Foundation Board, where she serves on the Development & Communications Committee. She is the executive director of the SNIA STA Forum, a nonprofit data storage trade association. Her professional background is primarily in communications leadership for high-tech trade associations.
A longtime supporter of the Helene Foundation, Alice has attended the annual Gala for more than a decade. She has held leadership roles on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Friends of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and Raleigh Charter High School. Alice is a graduate of the University of Rochester and grew up in the Saudi Aramco communities in Saudi Arabia. She is passionate about community engagement, new challenges, and supporting families in need.
Henry DeHart
Kesha Dozier
Get Involved
The Helene Foundation is entirely volunteer-driven, and we rely on our volunteers to achieve our mission of assisting these families. Learn about the different ways you can use your time and skills to help. We look forward to working with you!