OUR STORY

Louie’s Kids is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that raises funds to help treat childhood obesity, which afflicts 25 million American children today. Louie’s Kids works to find the best treatment options to meet the needs of each child. We find the fix that fits, one kid at a time. Founded in 2001 in Alexandria, Virginia and operated today out of Charleston, South Carolina, Louie’s Kids serves economically disadvantaged kids nationwide.

Our Mission

To empower kids to make changes, both physically and mentally, for a healthier & more productive life. To strengthen the future of the communities we serve by making children better, healthier citizens. To provide excellent stewardship to those funders who invest their time and treasure in the children we serve. To provide our employees with challenging and rewarding careers in facilitating healthy changes in children.

OUR STAFF

Louis Yuhasz

A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Louis Yuhasz was the child of a morbidly obese parent – affectionately named “Big Louie.” Louis’ father weighed 550 pounds at the time of his death in January 2001. Louis founded Louie’s Kids – his very personal crusade to educate as many of the 25 million children suffering from childhood obesity. Today Louis and his staff work with hundreds of children each year in dozens of communities across the country. An esteemed member of the Charleston, South Carolina community, Louis devotes an enormous amount of time, energy and personal resources to Louie’s Kids among other local non-profits. With numerous philanthropic awards and national recognition for his non-profit, Louis is poised to reach an even larger national audience with his message of change and can-do attitude. Louis has multiple degrees in hospitality management and culinary arts and in his spare time enjoys yoga, running and gardening.

Margaret Taylor

Margaret’s professional education includes a master’s degree in counseling from Clemson University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Davidson College. Since graduate school, her counseling career has included work in a residential treatment center, private practice, employee assistance counseling, and working as a middle and upper school guidance counselor. As an athlete with type 1 diabetes for 25 years, Margaret has a personal interest in coaching families who are managing health and wellness issues.

As a licensed professional counselor and parent coach, she relies on traditional parenting’s practical, common sense approach to solving family problems. Margaret believes parent coaching is an excellent platform for parents seeking to establish authority, and raise their families with leadership and a sense of humor. Margaret lives in Mount Pleasant, SC with her husband Gray and two daughters.

OUR COACHES

Justin Bennett

Justin Bennett is a native of Charleston, SC and attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he attained a degree in accounting. Justin started volunteering with Louie’s Kids in the spring of  2011. He has been a running track and field since high school and has completed more than 12 marathons. Working with children and giving back started while at The Citadel in the Bulldog-Bullpup mentoring program. A program designed to help at-risk children ages 4 to 10 in the downtown community. Justin has a passion for helping and encouraging others with a smile! Justin excited to continue his work here in Charleston with Louie’s Kids.

Allison Lapp

Coach Allison Lapp (31) has been with Louie’s Kids as a volunteer and coach since 2014. Allison is originally from Olney, Maryland, where she developed a love for swimming, as well as coaching. She found herself in the south during her college years, attending Clemson University for four years as a Varsity Letter winner in Swimming. She coached swimming each summer during those years and still cherishes the relationships that she developed with her swim kids. She received her Masters in Health Promotion Management at the American University after her time at Clemson and is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), but South Carolina kept calling her back. She moved to Charleston in 2014 and never looked back. Allison now works at the Roper St. Francis Research and Innovation Center as a Clinical Project Coordinator, specializing in Alzheimer’s research. She is able to continue coaching children and developing relationships through Fit Fam, where she challenges others to push out of their comfort zones to make lasting lifestyle changes. Allison has also been able to overcome the “retired college athlete” stigma by competing in road races, and plans to add triathlons to the mix in the near future.

Robert Hickey

Bobby Hickey is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and has been working with Louie’s Kids since he moved to Charleston in 2016.  He attended Clemson University where he graduated with a degree in Biosystems Engineering.  Bobby has been in love with fitness and competition from a young age, and races whenever he can, from local 5Ks to half-marathon Spartan Races.  Bobby developed a passion for working with kids while building schools during his many trips in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to affect change in his own community through Louie’s Kids.

BOARD MEMBERS

DOUG BLALOCK

BAYVIEW AVIATION

Alpana Wegner

Mount Pleasant, SC

RICHARD HRICIK

Lawyer

CHRIS YOUNG

Entrepreneur

TAMMI DOWER

Entrepreneur

DAVID CLARK

Owner – SOL Restaurant, Wild Wing Oakland Market

FRED WSZOLEK

Principal WWP Strategies

KELLY GREENE

Entrepreneur

ADVISOR

DEBORAH A BOWLBY, MD

Director, Pediatric Endocrinology, MUSC