Organization and Mission: Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL)® is a nonprofit organization 501-c-3 whose mission is to reverse the rising childhood health epidemic of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and early signs of heart disease through a school curriculum as well as a family and community out reach program. Our goal is to provide children with a forum through which they will become more physically active in a non-competitive environment that encourages movement regardless of current fitness level.

Governance: HEAL® is comprised of three organizational arms, each of which serves a specific role in the governance, development and implementation of the HEAL© program: the Board of Directors, the Curriculum Design Team and an Advisory Board.

Board of Directors: HEAL® is governed by a Board of Directors that is empowered to manage the property, business and affairs of HEAL®. The Board directs all fundraising activities, oversees the budgeting process and capital expenditures, monitors program implementation and provides guidance to the CEO in a variety of operational matters including vendor selection. The Board is comprised of the following members:

Christy Swaid

Christy Swaid, formerly Christy Carlson, is a 6x World Champion Professional Watercraft Racer and the “winningest female in the history of the sport”. She carried endorsements covering the world of general fitness and was recognized as “One of the fittest women in America” by Competitor Magazine and Muscle and Fitness. The rigorous aerobic and anaerobic demands of her sport propelled her to attain a fitness level that ranked in the less than 1% of the U.S. population. Following her racing career Christy performed film and television stunts.

In 2002 Christy married Dr. Swaid and moved to Alabama in 2002, where she immediately became aware of the poor health epidemic plaguing Alabama’s children; finding a solution became her passion. After much research, consultation and testing, Christy created HEAL®. She strives to practice what she preaches in her home with her husband, their two baby boys and three adult step children. Christy is determined to rescue the families of Alabama from debilitating diseases that can be prevented through practicing healthy lifestyle habits.

Sherrie D. LeMier

Sherrie LeMier is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. She earned her BS from the University of Alabama and her MBA from the University of Phoenix. She serves on the Board of trustees of the Alabama Council on Economic Education and is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, Leadership Development Association, and YMCA Momentum. Sherrie is deeply concerned about the health and economic consequences our society is facing due to growing poor health statistics. She believes HEAL® offers the most comprehensive approach to a solution for this epidemic. Sherrie is a wife and mother of two children. This cause is both personally and professionally important to her.

Janice Smith Farr

Board member Janice Smith Farr is an active member of our community whose influence on Alabamians ranges from staffing a preschool to managing a successful campaign for a senate seat. Now a resident of North Selby County, Janice grew up in rural central Alabama on a farm. Her father worked for the Soil Conservation Service, and her mother was a public school teacher. Her brother is currently a principal. Education has always been an important part of life for Janice.

After earning her B.S. Degree from the University of Montevallo, Janice taught for three years. She worked for seven years at a church preschool/kindergarten program, where she developed and implemented fund raising events and was instrumental in doubling the school’s enrollment and teaching staff. Janice’s marriage to the late Jack Farr, long-time educator, principal, and, finally, school superintendent, guaranteed that she would always be mindful of the needs of school children and their teachers. She was active in the extracurricular activities of her own daughter, Jani, who was on the dance team and in show choir in high school and college. Jani graduated from the University of Tennessee and now works in Birmingham.

Always concerned about our government at all levels, Janice became involved in the campaign of a candidate for state senator. Her successful management of the campaign was instrumental in launching the political career of a first-time candidate, who went on to serve not only at the state level, but also in federal government. Janice makes it a policy not only to remain informed about current issues, but to remain involved.

In keeping with her life-long love of learning, Janice ventured into a new arena of work when she became an account executive with Lincoln Financial Advisors. During her 23 years at Lincoln, in addition to working in her own practice, Janice recruited across the state for professionals, especially accounting practices, to help build more planning offices for the company. She served as the field representative on the Distribution and Marketing Team at Lincoln corporate. Her team developed the initial distribution and marketing strategy for the corporation, involving “branding” and multiple distribution sources. Obviously, her ability to plan and organize, and her willingness to lead and to implement novel techniques have enabled Janice to succeed.

Dr. Sharon Spencer

Dr. Spencer is currently a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. She is the Clinical Director of the Department. She is also the recipient of the Ruby F. Meredith Outstanding Clinician in Radiation Oncology Endowed Chair. She is a board member for the American Cancer Society. Her primary academic interest includes the treatment of brain, head and neck, and lung cancer. She is a part of the RTOG head and neck clinical trials committee as well as the radiation oncology chair of the ECOG head and neck clinical trials committee. Dr. Spencer is currently the academic PI for the NCI supported Community Radiation Oncology Disparity Group Program and serves as one of the mentors to the Singing River Hospital in Pascagula, MS. She has supported the School of Preventive Medicine at UAB as liaison to the Women's Health Initiative, the PLCO and CANcors.

Curriculum Design and Implementation Team: The HEAL® curriculum design and implementation team has been working individually and/or collectively for the past five years on the development of an effective, measurable program that can be integrated into an elementary school regardless of location or funding level. This team is responsible for all curriculum programming, collateral material development, teacher training, pilot program implementation, on-going program monitoring, data collection and analysis, and results publication.

Donna J. Hester, Ph. D.

Donna Hester, Ph. D. is an Associate Professor of Physical Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition to publications and presentations at the state, district, national and international levels, Dr. Hester has provided continuous community and professional service since 1983. Some activities of note include the following:



  • Executive Director of the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (ASAHPERD)
  • Member of Alabama State Department of Education Committee on Fitness Testing and Assessment, 2006
  • Co-Author “Wheel of Champions” integrated curriculum for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, 2006
  • Chair of Physical Activity Subcommittee of Alabama State Department of Education Committee to Address Student Health Issues, 2005
  • External reviewer for revision of Alabama Course of Study, Physical Education, 2003
  • Chair of Committee to write Alabama Course of Study, Physical Education, 1996 – 97
  • 50+ in-service presentations throughout Alabama as well as neighboring states

Donna L. Dunaway, Ed. D.

Donna Dunaway, Ed. D. is a Professor of Physical Education at Samford University. In addition to the many publications and presentations at the state, district, national and international levels, Dr. Dunaway has provided continuous community and professional service since 1980. Some activities of note include the following:


  • Chair of Alabama State Department of Education Committee on Fitness Testing and Assessment, 2006
  • Co-Author “Wheel of Champions” integrated curriculum for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, 2006
  • Member of Governor’s Commission for Physical Fitness and Sport (Governor appointment)
  • Member of Governor’s Commission for Physical Fitness and Sport Task Force to Develop Implementation Plan for Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity
  • Member of Alabama Comprehensive Health Education Advisory Council
  • 50+ in-service presentations throughout Alabama as well as neighboring states

Bonnie A. Spear, Ph. D., RD

Professor Pediatrics and Nutrition, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Kathy Harrington

Dr. Harrington is committed to improving the health of Alabama’s children. This commitment began when Dr. Harrington completed her graduate training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), first completing a Masters in Education, then a Masters in Epidemiology and finally a doctorate in Health Education and Promotion. Dr. Harrington has worked on numerous externally and internally funded grants at UAB, including projects in area schools promoting healthy nutrition and obesity prevention. As faculty at UAB’s Lung Health Center, she has concerns over the suspected asthma risk that is associated with obesity and overweight in children. Her involvement with HEAL® began when she recognized it as one of the few programs that documented a reduction in BMI among those children with increased health risk.

Advisory Board: The establishment of an Advisory Board was approved by HEAL®’s Board of Directors in July 2007 for the specific purpose of managing private fundraising efforts. Board members are appointed based on their passion for HEAL®’s mission and their ability to personally commit to a minimum fundraising goal.

HEAL® Supportive Partners and Endorsements: HEAL® has initiated a program of partners who are supportive of the HEAL® mission. Supportive Partners include Governor Bob Riley and First Lady Patsy Riley; Lt. Governor Jim Folsom and Marsha Folsom; State Superintendent of Education, Joseph B. Morton, The State of Alabama Department of Education.