Founders

SUSAN ROMAINE

After moving to Chapel Hill in 2004, Susan became actively involved in hunger relief efforts through the IFC, TABLE, and her church, St. Thomas More. She was especially drawn toward food drives offering a quick and easy way to collect food, strengthen neighborhood ties, and grow friendships – culminating in the creation of PORCH with Debbie and Christine on Mother’s Day in 2010. She considers the incorporation of PORCH and the extra safety net it provides the community as one of her proudest accomplishments.

Susan lives in Lake Hogan Farms with her husband, Craig; her three children, Andrew, Catherine, and Natnael; her mother, Virginia; and her golden retriever, Harley. Along with Craig’s Southern cuisine, she is nourished by family, friends, and faith.

DEBBIE HORWITZ

Debbie’s experience in the business world as a real estate appraiser, breastfeeding counselor and parenting educator, has given her useful knowledge in her journey to her position as Founder and Co-Director of PORCH, Inc. Debbie would credit her experience as Chief Operating Officer of Horwitz and Co.–running her household as the mother of four children (ages 18-24) — as the most valuable and practical job for developing the skills needed to form an organization like PORCH. While raising kids, one learns firsthand the importance of patience, organization, thoughtfulness, responsibility, cooperation, and compassion. Debbie hopes to combine these skills and her enthusiasm for reaching out to others in a meaningful way, to her position with PORCH. She has years of experience serving the homeless and those experiencing food insecurity in our community through her volunteer work for the IFC and her synagogue, Judea Reform Congregation. Debbie is grateful to live here in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, a community where there is so much support for organizations whose goal is to improve the lives of others. Together we can make the world a better place!

CHRISTINE COTTON

Christine lives in Chapel Hill with her husband and two sons (ages 19 and 13). She has been very active in the schools and the community, serving as the Carrboro Elementary PTA president, a member of the Morris Grove Planning Team and establishing and serving as the first president of the Morris Grove PTA, McDougle Middle PTA President in addition to serving on the Public School Foundation board as board vice-president and chairman of several committees. She has also served as a catechist in the St. Thomas More faith formation program.

Christine has an MBA from Elon University and an MS in Anatomy & Cell Biology. Prior to moving to Chapel Hill she worked as a pharmaceutical project manager and director of market development. Most recently, Christine served as the executive director and a founding member of the Children’s Fund of North Carolina, a Chapel Hill based non-profit dedicated to raising funds for the health and wellbeing of North Carolina’s children.

It is the combination of her volunteerism, her dedication to serving others and her professional background that led Christine to become involved with establishing PORCH. Christine hopes to utilize her skills and compassion to develop PORCH into a continuously growing organization that will be relevant in the community for years to come.