Meet the Heart Behind Bubby’s Place

At the core of Bubby’s Place is a team of passionate individuals who have experienced life to the fullest—through love, loss, challenges, and triumphs. What unites them is a shared commitment to standing beside foster children and the families who care for them. They know firsthand the beauty and the heartache that comes with fostering, and they believe that every child deserves more than just a place to stay—they deserve a place to belong.

Tom and Wendy Powell founded Bubby’s Place from a deeply personal space, inspired by the newborns they fostered and the real needs they saw in the system. Chris Jones brings both a lifetime of public service and the personal experience of adopting his daughter from foster care, ensuring that love and stability reach as many children as possible. Patrick Ryan knows what it means to age out of the system, and he has made it his mission to stand beside young adults as they step into their future. Charity Sexton and her husband have opened their home to foster teens, bringing wisdom and guidance to those who need it most, all while carrying the perspective of a cancer survivor who understands just how precious life is.

Together, they are more than just board of directors—they are advocates, mentors, and caregivers who believe in sharing life to the fullest. Their focus is clear: to make sure every foster child and every foster parent has the support, resources, and love they need to thrive.

S. Chris Jones

Steven Christopher "Chris" Jones has dedicated his life to public service and community development in Suffolk, Virginia. A lifelong resident, he earned his Bachelor of Science from the Medical College of Virginia's School of Pharmacy in 1982 and has served the community as a pharmacist for decades. His passion for his hometown led him into public office, where he served on the Suffolk City Council, became mayor in 1992, and later represented the 76th district in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1998 to 2020. As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, he played a key role in shaping Virginia’s financial policies and community investments.

Beyond his political career, Chris has a deep commitment to supporting foster children and families. His dedication to Bubby’s Place is personal—he and his late wife, Karen, adopted their daughter from foster care, creating a home filled with love, stability, and opportunity. Inspired by their journey, Chris is passionate about ensuring every child has the chance to grow up in a nurturing environment. Through Bubby’s Place, he continues his mission of service, working to provide foster children and caregivers with the resources, support, and hope they need to thrive.

Tom & Wendy Powell

For Tom and Wendy Powell, caring for children has always been at the heart of their family. As parents to four of their own, they felt a deep calling to open their home to newborns in foster care, providing love and stability during the most fragile days of a child’s life. Their journey as foster parents began when they welcomed a tiny baby boy into their arms at just two days old. He quickly became a part of their hearts, and before long, they lovingly called him “Bubby.”

Through their front-row experience of fostering, Tom and Wendy saw not only the joys but also the deep needs within the foster care system. They witnessed the challenges that caregivers face—how something as simple as a pack of diapers or a car seat could make an enormous difference in a child's life. With that understanding, Bubby’s Place was born—not just as an organization, but as a mission to serve, uplift, and provide for children in foster care and the families who care for them.

Tom, owner and Creative Director of The Addison Group, and Wendy, owner and certified Enneagram Coach of Adventure 9, have built their careers around creativity, strategy, and service. But Bubby’s Place is their most personal project yet—a reflection of the love and care they poured into every child who entered their home. Today, Bubby’s Place stands as a legacy of that very first baby, “Bubby,” whose tiny hands left an immeasurable imprint on their hearts and inspired a movement to help so many more.

Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan's journey from foster care to accomplished musician is a testament to resilience and determination. Growing up in the foster system, Patrick faced numerous challenges, but his passion for music became a guiding light, leading him to a degree at Old Dominion University and a successful career through Patrick Ryan Jams as a full-time musician, band leader, and songwriter based in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Having aged out of the foster care system, Patrick understands the unique struggles that young adults face during this critical transition. His personal experiences fuel his commitment to stand beside foster youth, offering guidance and support as they navigate adulthood. Through mentorship and advocacy, Patrick dedicates himself to ensuring that every young person aging out of foster care has the direction and opportunities they need to build a promising future.

Beyond his musical endeavors, Patrick's heart lies in empowering the next generation, transforming his own story into a beacon of hope for others.

Charity Sexton

For Charity Sexton, life is a gift meant to be shared, nurtured, and protected. As a wife, mother, business owner, cancer survivor, and foster parent, she has dedicated herself to pouring love and stability into the lives of others. She and her husband, David, who serves as the pastor of CrossPointe Church in Suffolk, have raised four children of their own while also opening their hearts and home to foster teenagers in need of guidance, encouragement, and a safe place to grow.

Charity’s journey has been one of faith, resilience, and deep compassion. As a cancer survivor, she understands the preciousness of life and the power of hope. That same hope fuels her passion for standing alongside foster youth—especially teens who are often overlooked. She believes that every child, no matter their past, deserves a future filled with possibility and love.

Beyond her role as a mentor and advocate, Charity is also a dedicated entrepreneur. She operates the GEICO franchise in Garner, North Carolina, where she applies the same leadership and care that she brings to every aspect of her life. Through her work with Bubby’s Place, Charity continues to be a voice for those who need one most, ensuring that foster children—no matter their age—have the support, guidance, and opportunity to thrive.