Amy Smith of Falls Creek has volunteered with Grady’s Decision for eight years and has also served as an area coordinator in the DuBois area. Now she is ready to take on a new role — executive director — with the non-profit organization that blesses babies and their families throughout their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit journey.

“We are excited to have Amy in a position to lead our organization,” said founder and President Ryan Smith. “She brings the skills, the leadership, and the passion to take our organization and create new opportunities to bless even more families.”

In her new position, which was effective Sept. 17, Amy will be thoroughly committed to Grady’s Decision and will act as the management leader. She will oversee the organization’s mission and strategic plans. Her administrative responsibilities will include “blessing families, public relations, fundraising, corporate donations and grant writing,” according to Amy.

“I am excited to take Grady’s Decision to the next level,” said Amy, who is also a hairstylist at Marnie’s Styling Salon at Treasure Lake. While serving as the area coordinator, she enjoyed fundraising and meeting with families supported by Grady’s Decision emotionally, spiritually and financially.

“I have found God’s purpose for me, through Grady’s Decision,” Amy said. “I will continue growing this mission, so we can bless families one miracle at a time.”

Grady’s Decision was started in 2008 by Katrina and Ryan Smith of Erie, formerly of DuBois, to honor their son, Graden Vincent, who died less than three days after being born premature in July 2008 and weighed only 2 pounds, 5 ounces. His twin sister, Gianna Kayleen, who was born one minute earlier and weighed 2 pounds, remained for 71 days in the NICU of Saint Vincent Health System in Erie and is now a healthy 10-year-old.

Recommended Video Over the past 10 years, Grady’s Decision has raised $1.4 million. It has helped more than 1,500 local families, and is connected with six local NICU’s in Western Pennsylvania. Grady’s helps approximately 200 families a year. There are three Fortune 500 companies that give to the mission of Grady’s. And 93 percent of the money raised goes directly to families.

Amy, who is also the aunt of Gianna and Grady, has participated in many fundraising activities since Grady’s Decision’s inception. In 2011, she became the chairperson of the DuBois Dinner Dance to benefit Grady’s Decision and has done that for the past six years.

“We’ve raised a minimum of $20,000 each time. And, to date, it is our largest fundraiser that Grady’s Decision holds,” said Amy, noting that the dinner-dance will not be held in 2019.

“We’ve decided to take a year off from the dance and are thinking of another fundraiser for next year,” said Amy.

The organization has grown so much over the last 10 years that it is time to take it to the next level, she said.