CEO
Kimberly Felshaw is President of Operation Showers of Appreciation, a non-profit organization that throws baby showers for military expectant families. As CEO she is responsible for running all facets of the organization. She consults regularly with companies and other non-profits looking to support our military expectant families. Prior to her current position, she entered the United States Marine Corp and served aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.
In 2001, Kimberly joined the silent ranks of a military spouse. She endured 2 deployments within the 1st year of her marriage with many more to follow. While Kimberly’s husband was serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom Kimberly stayed busy volunteering with the command.
Kimberly was awarded the San Diego Channel 10 News Leadership Award, has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year, and was featured in People Magazine on August 16, 2010 for her work with Operation Showers of Appreciation.
Raised in Norwalk, Ohio, Kimberly currently resides in Kingman, AZ with her children. Her oldest daughter Allysa Victoria Felshaw along with Kimberly’s unwavering compassion to help others is the driving force behind Operation Showers of Appreciation.
Expecting Mom Coordinator
Karmen Hernandez was born in Santa Monica, CA and grew up in Sunny California. Presently she lives in Bridgeport, CA with her husband. They have beautiful children and two angels in heaven watching over us. She works in the Academics Department and is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Criminal Forensic Science. She has been married to one of the few, the proud, the Marines for 13 years.
Karmen is the Expecting Mother Coordinator for OSOA. As your EMC, she is the first point of contact when applying for one of our events. Karmen is responsible for the annual baby shower held for our families aboard MWTC and Fallon Naval Air Station. Her mission is the same as OSOA “pay it forward”.
As a Marine wife, mother, and friend she knows all too well the trials and tribulations we face day to day. She endured many storms in her life as a military wife and one of those scary moments brought Kimberly and OSOA into Karmen’s life.
Karmen was pregnant for the first time, not with one child, not with twins, but with TRIPLETS! The pregnancy had its trials and tribulations. Karmen’s husband was deployed for the fifth time and she suffered the loss of the twins midway through the pregnancy. The doctors were unsure if the third child would make it and her family was thousands of miles away.
She was alone, pregnant and her world was turning upside down all around her. Through that storm Karmen was able to see a friendly smiling face. Kimberly was there to save the day. Kimberly went to the hospital and was by her side for as long as she needed her. After the birth of her son, she lived in the hospital for fifteen days. Her son was placed in ICU and she can remember sitting in the hospital room alone crying her eyes out.
Then out of nowhere Karmen would hear the phone ring. Kimberly was on the other line asking how she was doing, if she had eaten. Karmen and Kimberly would chat for quite a while. Kimberly had a knack for making Karmen feel better, for making her not feel so alone, and being there.
Karmen knew that a former Marine and a fellow Marine wife could be called at 3am, and that Marine wife would answer. She knew that Marine, Kimberly, would be there to lend a hand. With the support of Kimberly and OSOA she was able to weather the storm. She holds Kimberly and OSOA very near and dear to her heart. By volunteering it is a way for Karmen to “Pay it Forward” and she lives by that mission today.
Donations Coordinator
Courtney Hilborn was born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA, where she grew up playing sports and doing volunteer work. She has worked as a civilian contractor to the United States Marine Corps as a Family Readiness Officer. She enjoys spending time with family, playing sports, playing with her dogs and helping out non-profit organizations.
Courtney came on board to OSOA as our Donations Coordinator and Grants/Sponsorship Coordinator.
Courtney is a military spouse and her and her husband are expecting their first child in May 2012.
