Meet the team

"My philosophy in the work that we do is from Matthew 25: 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to me."

Maria Young, Executive Director

Employees

Executive Director

  • Maria has been a clinical social worker in Wake County since 1998. She received a BA in Psychology from Bucknell University and her Masters of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill. After working with countless impoverished families with various needs, her family and close friends decided to actively make a difference in the lives of many. In 2010, she co-founded A Doorway to Hope. Maria is passionate about her work serving others and does so with the support of her husband Michael and their two children Gabriella and Nicholas. They love to play pickleball, watch hockey and enjoy time in the outdoors.

Program Manager

  • Leigh-Ann was born and raised in Cary. She is a graduate of Cary High School and East Carolina University, where she earned a BS in Elementary Education and English. She taught second grade for years before marrying her high school sweetheart and starting a family. She enjoyed helping out in the classrooms while her three children were in school and volunteering in community programs, such as Brown Bag Ministry and A Doorway to Hope. In her free time, she enjoys cooking with her family, playing tennis and pickleball, and walks with her dog.

volunteer and program manager

  • Ali brings a strong background in education and athletics, having most recently served as an Academic Coordinator at Campbell University supporting the football and lacrosse programs through academic guidance and NCAA eligibility monitoring. Previously, she was a middle school teacher in North Carolina and Delaware, teaching STEM subjects and building strong partnerships with students and families. A former student-athlete and team captain on Wilmington University’s women’s lacrosse team, Ali has also coached varsity field hockey and lacrosse and spent over a decade as a certified women’s lacrosse official. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education from Wilmington University, is certified in multiple content areas and educational technologies, and lives in Willow Springs, North Carolina, with her husband and two children.

strategic outreach and development coordinator

  • Moriah is from Columbus, Ohio with roots in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but moved to North Carolina for school. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina State University and currently lives in the Raleigh area after graduating in May 2025. Moriah is driven by people-first work that builds trust and strengthens communities. She most recently served as a Marketing Coordinator for Chick-fil-A Restaurants, with experience in customer engagement, event planning, research, and community-focused initiatives. During college, she also held ministry leadership roles with Delight Ministries, where she helped lead gatherings, support social media efforts, and coordinate events that fostered connection, belonging, and spiritual growth.

Marketing INtern

  • Anna was born and raised in Holly Springs and is currently a senior at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York. She is pursuing a degree in Communications with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations. During her time as an Account Executive for a nonprofit client at a communications firm, Anna discovered a passion for using her skills to make a meaningful impact. She joined the team in May 2025 and is looking forward to learning, collaborating, doing work that makes a difference, and helping others through the power of effective communication.

Executive Board

  • Kathy brings over three decades of executive leadership and a deep passion for community service to her role as President of the Board of Directors for A Doorway to Hope. Following a distinguished 30-year career at Verizon, where she served as a Finance Executive leading global teams and managing complex revenue streams, Kathy transitioned her corporate expertise into impactful community advocacy. A dedicated resident and volunteer in Wake County for over 25 years, she has lent her leadership to organizations including Wake County Public Schools and Dress for Success. Kathy holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Marymount University. She resides in Morrisville with her husband, TJ, their three children, and two dogs.

Kathy Cawley

  • Martina is one of the founders of A Doorway to Hope. She has lived in the area for over 30 years and has been involved in a wide variety of service organizations in the area and internationally. Martina received her A.A. from Miami University, in Oxford OH, B.S. in Accounting from Rutgers University, and M.R.E. from Loyola University in New Orleans. She also attended Michigan State University. She currently owns her own accounting business focusing on small businesses.

Martina Young

  • Sparky grew up in Raleigh and has lived in the Cary area for more than 30 years.  He attended UNC Chapel Hill and graduated with a BS in Business Administration and a Master of Accounting.  After starting his career in public accounting, he transitioned to corporate finance.  He has held various CFO roles at companies in the triangle area over the past 30 years and is excited to be able to donate some of his experience to a great organization.  He and his wife, Jennifer, currently reside in Morrisville and have two daughters, both of whom attended St. Michael School and Cardinal Gibbons HS.  They have been involved with ADTH for many years and look forward to supporting the mission for many more.  

Sparky Cullen

Board of Directors

  • Paul grew up in New York but has lived in the Cary area since 1995. He graduated from UNC Chapel-Hill with a BS degree in Business Management and from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with an MBA. He currently is the Human Resources Director for JMP, a subsidiary of SAS Institute. Paul and his wife, Amanda, have four children. He is passionate about volunteering and serving others. Paul is very involved in various ministries at St. Mary Magdalene, including youth group leadership, the Knights of Columbus, and men’s faith formation, and serves as a volunteer soccer coach for a local league.

  • Maulin is a dedicated military veteran with over two decades of customer experience leadership in healthcare, financial services, and beyond. An NC State graduate and 25-year Wake County resident, his dedication to the community is reflected in his service with the North Carolina  National Guard, leadership at Blue Cross NC, and advisory work with the USO of North Carolina. Maulin resides in Apex with his wife, two daughters, and labradoodle.

  • Paco is an organizational development consultant and executive coach with over 20 years of experience working in the technology and healthcare industries. Originally from Puerto Rico, he was raised in Connecticut and came to North Carolina in 1992 to attend Graduate School at NCSU where he met his wife, Ashley. They have lived in Cary since 1998 and have 3 children. Paco has been involved with A Doorway to Hope since its inception. He has been a member of the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals and served on the St. Michael Honduras Parish committee and technology committee at Cardinal Gibbons High School. He was also a founding member of the DadCru at Cardinal Gibbons. Paco has coached youth football for the Carolina Copperheads and the Raleigh Revolution.

  • Alex Bass is a staff writer for The Triangle Tribune and holds master's degrees in Teaching (UNC Charlotte), Educational Leadership (Creighton University), and Technical Communication (NC State), along with a bachelor's degree in History from UNC-Chapel Hill. Throughout a career spanning education, athletics administration, and communications, Bass has combined research, writing, public speaking, and leadership to advance organizational missions and strengthen community partnerships. A graduate of Cathedral School and Cardinal Gibbons High School, Bass is a lifelong member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Raleigh, where he serves on the Parish Council and ministers as a lector and lay liturgical master of ceremonies. Bass also serves as Vice Chair of the Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award Committee for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, recognizing excellence and lifetime achievement in Catholic education.

  • Charles P. Dougherty, MBA, ret. CPA, is a highly accomplished financial and strategic advisor with over 30 years of experience across a diverse range of industries, including private equity, technology, manufacturing, and professional services. As the founder of MRO Electric, Charles grew the company from a start-up with zero revenue to a $12 million business, eventually overseeing its successful acquisition by a private equity firm. Throughout his career, Charles has held senior leadership positions at major corporations such as ABB, KPMG, IBM, and Source Alliance, where he led global initiatives in corporate finance, M&A, process improvement, and operational restructuring. His expertise in financial strategy, P&L growth, and investment opportunities has helped companies achieve significant cost savings and revenue growth. Outside of his professional life, Charles is deeply committed to community service and faith-based initiatives. He and his wife Shannon are proud parents of eight children and grandparents to eight grandchildren. Charles has served on various charitable boards, including the Legatus Raleigh Chapter, where he and Shannon were recognized as Ambassador of the Year in 2022.

  • Anne is a seasoned development and nonprofit professional of almost 40 years, the majority of which she spent in North Carolina. Upon her retirement in 2019, she became actively involved in volunteer work with St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in the Pastoral Care Ministry. Anne has always had a passion for writing and speaking. She self-published her first book God Does Not Take Naps, a collection of 51 faith-filled inspirational essays in April of 2025 and plans to launch her second book in early 2026. Her connection with A Doorway To Hope began in 2023 when she became a volunteer grant writer. Subsequently, she served on the Advisory Board and now the ADTH Board of Directors.

  • Julie Malloy is a retired technology sales & marketing executive with more than three decades of experience leading complex, cross-functional teams at Intel Corporation. Drawing on a career spanning strategic planning, program management, and stakeholder engagement, Julie is focused on helping to create mission-driven priorities and long-range goals that translate into clear, measurable outcomes that strengthen ADTH programs and partnerships. Julie has lived in the Triangle area for over 25 years and has three children with her husband, Stephen. She is very involved in the community through various ministries at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill as well as Habitat for Humanity, Orange County. Julie is a colon cancer survivor and brings lived experience in patient advocacy and community fundraising to the boardroom perspective