About Us

Who We Are

Open Arms of Blue Ridge is a private, non-profit corporation that has been working to develop a short-term residential child care home for abused and neglected children who live in Fannin, Gilmer, Union and Towns County. The mission of Open Arms of Blue Ridge is "To strengthen our community by providing a safe, temporary and quality residential home for children, ages 6-17, male and female, in need of care outside of their homes due to abuse and/or neglect."

Our core values are respect, compassion, optimism, integrity, team spirit, and excellence.

When the Open Arms of Blue Ridge short-term residential child care home opens, services will include temporary residential housing, child advocacy services, family transition services and basic short-term foster care. As a child care provider, residents will be offered love, support, trust, and comfort, along with a menu of life enrichment programs (funded via the Open Arms Enrichment Fund) focused on creating brighter futures for these children.

Every child has a dream of what he or she wants to be when they grow up. Unfortunately, not every child gets a fair chance at acquiring that dream.

Open Arms of Blue Ridge, along with people like you, gives children that chance. We also give them the things that every child deserves: a loving environment, healthy meals each day, access to clean clothes, and life enrichment programs... and above all, an environment void of abuse.

The Need

All too often when abused and/or neglected children who reside in Fannin, Gilmer, Union and Towns Counties are removed from their home, they are place into temporary shelters far outside their home communities. Local juvenile court judges are very supportive with our efforts to create a local solution for this growing problem. Open Arms of Blue Ridge will keep these children closer to their support systems who in turn play a vital role in the social wellbeing of the child and their overall healing process.

Board Members

President - Dianne Mallernee

In 2004, Dianne was recommended to the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce by her peers to represent Fannin County in the 2004 Fannin County Leadership Program. Participation in the is program is by invitation only and it is administered through the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce and in conjunction with the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership at the University of Georgia. After attending several classes, it became clear to Dianne that local children (children neglected and abused), here in Fannin County and neighboring Gilmer, Union and Towns County, were in dire need of assistance.

A desire to help these local children became overwhelming and Dianne was determined to make a difference. "I felt I needed to come out of my shell (a shell I felt I had been in for so many years) and get involved somehow to help protect these children." That spark led to formation of Open Arms of Blue Ridge.

A short time later, Dianne, along with several others, started a 501c3 non-profit organization called Open Arms of Blue Ridge. Through Dianne's leadership, the team created an Executive Board and then set out on a mission to make a difference. The team rolled up their sleeves and went to work raising awareness of the abuse and neglect of children in the area. Today, as a direct result of Dianne's enthusiastic leadership, Open Arms of Blue Ridge is a thriving organization that recently completed a major renovation of a residential structure and has also furnished that structure in anticipation of it becoming an Emergency Child Advocacy Center for abused and neglected children here in north Georgia. The organization is debt- free and it continues to develop new campaigns to raise awareness and funding to further the Open Arms cause.

Dianne has been married to Dwight "Tuse" Mallernee for 34 years and has two beautiful daughters, Carla and Missi. Dianne is also blessed with having four grandsons; Josh 14, Jack 10, Jace 6 and Blaine 11. Dianne works for ERA - The Real Estate Connection as Office Manager and is currently attending CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) classes to become a CASA Volunteer. Dianne is also an active member of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Alzheimer's Association, and Relay for Life.

Vice President - Stacy Lewis

Stacy was also an invited participant in the 2004 Fannin County Leadership Program. Alarmed by how much abuse local children were living through and how unaware the community was (and still is) compelled her to join forces with Dianne Mallernee to make a difference. "These children need a place to come to a place where they can feel safe and be safe from abuse and neglect."

Stacy is married to Scott Lewis and they have one daughter, Reese. Stacy is Assistant Vice President, Deposit Manager for United Community Bank in Blue Ridge. Stacey and Scott live in Blue Ridge.

Member - Linda Mahan

Career Path: Polk County Schools, Bartow, Florida; High School Business Teacher; High School Marketing Teacher; Federal Programs Administrator; Business Owner - Skeenah Mill, Inc., Fannin County Family Connection - Executive Director

Professional Affiliations: Polk County Vocational Association - Founder and President, Florida Vocational Association - Vice-President, Florida Marketing Teachers Association - President, National Educators Association, Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association - President, Appalachian Health Alliance - Board Chair, Appalachian Children's Center - President, Fannin County Child Abuse Protocol Committee - Board Chair, Local Interagency Planning Team - Board Chair, Board of Realtors Citizen of the Year

Member - Peter N. Knutzen

Peter has been specializing in branding, marketing, sales and project management for the past 22 years. In the fall of 2003, Peter and his wife Kim made a visit to Blue Ridge, fell in love with the area and decided to purchase a home. Since moving to Blue Ridge full-time, Peter has involved himself in many child-focused programs and associations. As a past Board Member with the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, Peter helped launch a complete menu of children's art programs. Peter is also an Executive Committee Member for the Georgia Children's Health Alliance; a non-profit alliance headed up by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The GCHA is focused on statewide childhood obesity and child maltreatment issues.

In 2008, Ginnie Martin, another Board Member of Open Arms, introduced Peter to the child abuse and neglect issues here in Fannin and surrounding counties. After participating in multiple fundraising benefits Peter decided he could contribute more as a Board Member. Peter became a Board Member in 2009.

Peter and his wife Kim have two sons - Gregg and Ashton. Peter is a 2009 graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development - Leadership Program, a 2007 and 2008 graduate of the University of Georgia Fanning Institute Leadership Program, and is currently a member of the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors.

Member - Ginnie Martin

As a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Ginnie has spent her entire adult life dedicated to children. Ginnie spent many years as a pre-school and elementary teacher and has been active in the PTA, the Blue Ridge community, and within her church. Ginnie brings to Open Arms experience in fund-raising and volunteer organization. Ginnie has been a part time resident of Blue Ridge for over 30 years and donates her time to the Sunny D Children's Theater and Lucky 13 Fire Station. Ginnie is also a member of the Fannin County Emergency Response Team and a 3009 graduate of Leadership Fannin. Ginnie is looking forward to welcoming children of Blue Ridge to the Open Arms Emergency Child Advocacy Center. Ginnie and her Trip have three grown children and two beautiful grand-daughters.

Member - Robbie W. Muschamp

Robbie relocated to Blue Ridge from Savannah, Georgia in 2001. Since moving to Blue Ridge, Robbie has become very involved in the community. Here are a few organizations she is currently involved with in addition to Open Arms of Blue Ridge:

Fannin County Fire Station #13 - Building Committee Secretary
Humane Society of Blue Ridge
Sunny D Children's Theater - Committee Secretary and Summer Camp Coordinator

Robbie and her husband David have two children, Molly and Mathew. Robbie and David are affiliated with the St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Jamie Abercrombie Nicholson

Bio coming soon!

Personnel

Interim Director - Brenda Crawford: Brenda has lived in Fannin County for 34 years. Breda retired from the Department of Family and Children Services after 34 years where she served as caseworker, supervisor and County Director. Brenda earned a BS Degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. Brenda is married and has one son.