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Debra is a philanthropist and compassionate public servant. She is Founder and President of the Yvonne McCalla Foundation Incorporated (YMF Inc.); a non-profit breast cancer awareness organization.
Debra was inspired by her mother’s experience with breast cancer. Debra saw firsthand, the importance of educating and empowering women to take a proactive role when it comes to their breast health. Debra established YMF Inc. to educate the minority community on the importance of participating in breast cancer research studies particularly those exploring causes of the higher rates of breast cancer mortality and improve treatment options among minority women.
Through its scholarship initiatives, YMF Inc. provides financial assistance to minority women who are pursuing higher education in the field of nursing. Since its 2007 inception, YMF Inc. has awarded over $20,000 in scholarships towards women pursuing an education in nursing.
Debra coined the slogan, “Empowering Women and Saving Lives.” She believes that strengthening families is the key to health and wellness.
Debra is a successful Real Estate Agent, employed by one of the largest and most notable Real Estate Agencies in the country, Keller Williams Realtors. Debra has developed a diverse portfolio of work with buyers, sellers and investors. Debra is a leader, and a forward thinker. Debra is founder of Cosmopolitan Realty Group, LLC. where she mentors and trains a group of real estate agents across the State of New Jersey. Debra facilitates home buyer seminars in the community to help families realize their dream of becoming home owners.
For almost two decades, Debra has committed her life to serving children and families. She began her career in social work consulting and working for various foster care agencies in the New York City area.
For fourteen years, Debra was employed by the State of New Jersey Office of Training and Professional Development (NJOTPD) delivering competency based training for employees of the Division of Children and Families. While employed by NJOTPD Debra was instrumental in training over 7000 social work professionals throughout the State of New Jersey.
Debra is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Debra serves as Commissioner of The Fair Rental Housing Board in the City of Elizabeth, NJ. Debra is a former board member of YWCA; the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. In addition, Debra also previously served as a member of the board of directors of Candice’s Sickle Cell Fund Incorporated (2001-2008).
Debra earned a Masters of Social Work degree from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Debra is happily married to the Honorable Carl Lee Marshall, J.M.C. Debra enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling the world and exploring new cultures.
A graduate of The State University of New York College at Buffalo (BS) and The City University of New York Hunter College (MSEd) Ms. Holt has worked in the human services field for more than 20 years serving children and families.
In 2000, Ms. Holt began working as an Elementary/High School Counselor addressing the social/emotional and academic needs of her students; thus, providing students an opportunity to grow develop and explore their individual potential to ensure they become productive members of society.
Ms. Holt is a founding member of YMF Inc. where she strives to promote breast health in young minority women. She is also the proud parent of 2 children, Kelsey and Austin. Ms. Holt loves to travel the world.
Debbie Wynter has been employed by Corporate America in the financial service industry. Mrs. Wynter is a founding member of YMF Inc. where she has served as treasurer since 2007. Mrs. Wynter is responsible for creating and maintaining the accounting system for YMF Inc. In addition, Mrs. Wynter has been the driving force in securing corporate sponsorship and establishing relationships between YMF Inc. and other corporations.
Mrs. Wynter has a Master of Business Administration from the Rutgers Business School of Rutgers University.
Mrs. Wynter is the sister-in-law of Yvonne McCalla, the inspiration behind YMF Inc. Furthermore, Mrs. Wynter is very passionate about the work of YMF Inc., educating and empowering women about the importance of breast health.
Mrs. Wynter is a natural born advocate whose passion is to promote a better healthcare system and for a better educational system for the youth. She is a member of New Covenant Church of God. Debbie is married to the love of her life Ivan Wynter. She is a proud mother of two sons Brandon and Nathan. Debbie loves to read, travel, spend time with family and friends, and to learn and try new things.
Vivian L. Arrindell has worked as a Surgical and Medical Oncology Nurse for twenty-three years at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Mrs. Arrindell has attended to the medical needs of thousands of patients and because of her love for the nursing profession, she decided to further her education in the field by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Nursing.
Mrs. Arrindell is a founding member of YMF Inc. She serves as YMF Inc’s Oncology Community Nurse Educator. Mrs. Arrindell is committed to promoting breast cancer awareness and treatment by educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health.
Mrs. Arrindell has been married for 37 years and has two children.
Celeste is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She received her Bachelor of Arts from The City University of New York Hunter College and a Master’s of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work.
Celeste demonstrated compassion early on for the health and well-being of others through pursuing a career in nursing, and later Social Work.
Shortly after receiving her undergraduate degree, Celeste began working in the field of child welfare. This has led to a career in Child Welfare spanning over 30 years. Her professional career also includes, consulting, training, substance abuse counseling and curriculum development. She has been a conference presenter for Child Welfare League of America Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Rutgers New Jersey Family Preservation Institute and The Northeast Family Preservation Institute. Currently, Celeste is employed with the Department of Children and Families Office of Training and Professional Development. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor with the Rutgers University, Seton Hall University and Middlesex County Community College.
Growing up in a close-knit family, Celeste understands and recognizes the importance of a strong social support system to help one through difficult times.
Celeste also serves on the Board of Breathe New Life Sarcoidosis Foundation, whose focus is to bring awareness and help support victims and their families as they struggle through coping with this disease that affects their breathing.
An avid traveler, Celeste enjoys reading, music, spending time with family and exploring new adventures.
Celeste has been a member of YMF, Inc.’s Board of Directors since 2014.
AUTHOR|ENTREPRENEUR|PHILANTHROPIST
Fatima Scipio is a woman dedicated to empowering everyone that she comes in contact with on a daily basis. She has spent over two decades working with children and families. She began her career as a teacher in the New York City Public School system and most recently worked in New Jersey, training social workers on how to empower children and families involved in the child welfare system. Currently, Fatima is the Director of College and Career Services at the Boys & Girls Club and an adjunct professor at Mercer County Community College.
She is the CEO of Young Enterprising Sisters an entrepreneurial and leadership program for girls 8-17 that educates, empower and energizes the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. She has lectured to college students and participated in panel discussions in New York and New Jersey so that she can share her message to the masses. “She believes that anything is possible if you just believe.”
Fatima is the Author of First Aid for First Year Teachers, Boss Lady (Seven Life Principles to Reign in the New Economy) and most recently The Little Book of Big Bold Prayers. She is the CEO of Brave Girl Media Group and Co-owner of New Society Commercial Cleaning, LLC.
Fatima is a board member of the Yvonne McCalla Foundation, a breast cancer awareness organization. She has been featured on NBC Positively Black, News 12 New Jersey, Success Magazine, Essence, Redbook magazine, Vista magazine and a former contributor blogger with the Huffington Post. She has received numerous awards for her work with girls who are marginalized and was nominated Change Maker for the United State of Women and nominated as the White House Champion for Change under The Obama Administration.
Fatima received her Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Virginia State University and her Master of Science degree in urban affairs from Hunter College in New York City. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Fatima currently resides in New Jersey, is a wife and the proud mother of one son.
To learn more about Fatima Scipio please visit www.fatimascipio.com
Cecilia Dallis Ricks, is a retired social worker who has been a community leader for over 30 years. She possesses a BBA in marketing. Due to her desire to help others became a social worker and previously served as a councilmember for the Borough of Roselle.
Ms. Dallis Ricks spends much of her time as a volunteer with various organizations. She was a proud union member of CWA and currently serves as recording secretary to the AFL-CIO Union County Central Labor Council. She takes pride in supporting all those she comes in contact with.
Cecilia is a mother of two, and honorary mother to many. She and her daughter were inspired during Covid to become the authors of “The Empowerment ABC’s” which provides inspiration and encouragement to children. As a former Board of Education member, she hopes that their book will be used as a learning vessel for people of all ages!
Dr. Michelle Azu is an energetic, eloquent, fiercely compassionate and highly skilled physician and surgeon specializing in breast surgical oncology as well as benign breast diseases. She completed her breast surgery fellowship in 2009 at the world renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, New York. In 2016, Dr. Azu joined Columbia University Medical Center as Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of Breast Surgical Services at New York Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital where she is also the Associate Director of the Breast Disease Management Team. With this academic power- house, Dr. Azu has continued every effort to provide extraordinary, evidence-based care tailored to the patient as an individual.
Dr. Azu is also a staunch advocate for patient education. She has a long-standing commitment to the eradication of cancer and in her career she has always been an ambassador for the critical importance of community education of this public health threat. As an advisory board member of the Yvonne McCalla Foundation, a member of the American Cancer Society’s editorial review board and a member of the New York State Department of Health Cancer Detection & Education Program Advisory Council, she is able to educate the masses.
Empowering women by helping them achieve breast wellness through education, and treatment when necessary, is Dr. Azu’s passion. The healthcare journey is one her patients do not walk alone because she is with them every step of the way.
Lady Mary Searight is a powerful yet graceful force in the kingdom of God. Known for her loving and caring demeanor, passion for people and intense love of family, Mary Searight is a walking demonstration of the Proverbs 31 woman. Strength and honor are her clothing, and as a woman who fears and reverences the Lord, she is praised. Her constant instruction to all of those she leads is: “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Lady Mary, affectionately known as Pastor Mary, is the Pastor of the Abundant Life Family Worship Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she serves with her husband, Bishop George Searight, Senior Pastor and Founder. Called to ministry over 19 years ago, Mary began walking in her calling as a powerful intercessor, preacher and teacher. After ‘growing up’ in the Pentecostal church, she equipped herself for ministry by attending the Bethel Bible Institute. God continued to elevate her, and after spending more than 20 years in Corporate America, she now leads a congregation of more than 2,000 members and manages the church’s operations on a daily basis. As an extension of her leadership in the New Brunswick community, Mary serves in the Supervisory Ministry of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary where she helps oversee interns and seminary students.
With a unique heart and anointing for women, Mary has dedicated much of her ministry to leading women to wholeness through prayer, personal development, and spiritual direction. She leads the Women’s Ministry at Abundant Life, known as W.I.S.E (Women In Support of Each Other) and has established monthly fellowships where hundreds of women gather to be edified and nurtured. Born out of her own experience, Mary also mentors first ladies in various parts of the country, sharing her own experience through intimate, bi-monthly meet ups. Mary has extended her focus on leadership and personal development for women internationally, ministering to and mentoring women from all backgrounds in countries such South Africa, Mexico, the British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. With a strong commitment to advancing causes that benefit and uplift women facing health and life life challenges, she currently serves as an advisory board member of Yvonne McCalla Foundation, and has actively supported programs and initiatives led by the Sisters Network (national breast cancer organization dedicated to African American women) and March of Dimes.
Through her commitment to God and faithfulness to Bishop George C. Searight, the Lord has blessed them to celebrate twenty-one years in excellence in Pastoral Leadership. Lady Mary has been married to Bishop Searight for 36 years. Out of this union, the Lord has blessed them with two children, Erika and George II, and their first grandson, George Searight, III.
