Our Founders
Rob and Reece Scheer are the proud fathers of five children from the foster care system who arrived at their home with trash bags. Growing up in foster care himself, Rob remembered feeling disposable as a child carrying a trash bag to his foster home, and he wondered how this could still be happening 30 years later.
In 2013, the Scheer family set out on a mission to eliminate the use of trash bags in the foster care system and provide children entering the system with brand new essential and comfort items. To date, Comfort Cases has impacted over 200,000 children in the foster care system.
Rob is currently the CEO of Comfort Cases, traveling the country to share his story and advocate for youth in foster care. He published his memoir in 2018: A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time. Reece cares for their five children at home. They live on a farm in Darnestown, MD with 2 cats, 2 dogs, a bird, 3 goats, several chickens and ducks, and a pig named Penelope.
READ ROB’S FULL BIO
Board of Directors
Jill C. Ross
President
Read Bio Jill C. Ross
President
Tracy Jacobs
Secretary
Read Bio Tracy Jacobs
Secretary
Andrew Lewis
Treasurer
Read Bio Andrew Lewis
Treasurer
Andrew Lewis is an audit partner at KPMG LLP, one of the world’s leading professional services firms providing audit, tax, and advisory firm to many of the world’s largest organizations. He lives with his wife and three children in Maryland.
Charlyne H. McWilliams
Read Bio Charlyne H. McWilliams
Charlyne H. McWilliams is an award-winning communications specialist with more than three decades of experience in public relations and journalism. She specializes in developing strategic communications initiatives that include message development, thought leadership training and media relationships. Charlyne was a board member of a non-profit organization that ignited the love for STEAM (Science Technology, Art and Mathematics) among young black girls. Charlyne resides in Silver Spring with her daughter.
Christine Freeland
Read Bio Christine Freeland
Christy is a retired CEO and Co-Owner of the second largest property management group in the United States where she had responsibility for all facets of the organization from profitability, best practices, risk management, legal, and human resources. Providing a home to people was very fulfilling since it is a basic human need for everyone. Christy is excited to join the board of Comfort Cases and looks forward to helping in projects or committees that will support the foster children across our country.
Ed Sumangil
Read Bio Ed Sumangil
Ed Sumangil is a retired Colonel with a distinguished 26-year career in the United
States Air Force. He held key leadership roles, including commanding the 7th Bomb
Wing and serving as the Director of the Secretary of the Air Force Senate Liaison
Office, where he collaborated with Senators and their staff to advance critical priorities for the Department of the Air Force. Currently, as Director of Government Relations at SBCC, Ed advises on federal and legislative affairs and builds relationships with policymakers. Passionate about service and supporting children and youth, Ed is excited to contribute to the Comfort Cases mission. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Jennifer, their three children—Amelia, AJ, and Ryan-and their black Labrador Retriever, Crew.
Our Team
Steve Barber
Chief Financial Officer
Read Bio Steve Barber
Chief Financial Officer
Barrie Carr
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
Read Bio Barrie Carr
Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator
Barrie first became involved with Comfort Cases in 2014 when her son Miles was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah with the requirement to participate in a meaningful social action project. Her entire family soon learned Comfort Cases was more than just a project. It became their mission and they joined forces with Comfort Cases to provide dignity, hope and love to youth entering the foster care system. Barrie now oversees the logistics of all off-site events, including school events, faith-based events, birthday celebrations, nonprofit fairs and major corporate engagements. She serves as the point person and liaison for all partnerships and special initiatives, as well as works closely with, and leads our volunteers in our production suite.