You can email us or contact one of the board members below directly

Ellen (President and Founder) and Steve Tomczyk (Director and Founder) e-mail ellen

Steve and Ellen Tomczyk were looking for a way to get through the day on the first anniversary of their sons death. They thought if they had a get together and asked people to bring a new toy to take to the hospital that might somehow make the day not so awful.People say when your low do something for others and it won't be as bad. That's all we were trying to do. At the end of the gathering some 400 toys later, we knew something special was in our future. 12,000 toys and 5 hospitals later we feel some comfort in knowing our son continues to touch so many on a daily basis. Though Cole is not in our loving arms or running around the house, we feel blessed to be surrounded by his memory every day through Cole's Closet and are forever grateful for all those people who have helped make Cole's Closet possible and a huge success. It's not the hand that's dealt to you, it's what you do with the cards.

Rose Bennett – Vice-President and Treasurer e-mail rose

Rose Bennett has been friends with the Tomczyk’s for almost ten years. She has been with Cole’s Closet since the beginning. She has always been interested in working with children. Growing up, she had dreams of being a pediatrician, always wanting to help sick children. But eventually she found her calling working with Emotionally Disabled students. She is currently a Counseling Resource Teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. Through Cole’s Closet, Rose has been able to fulfill her childhood dream of helping sick children. She is extremely proud to be a part of Cole’s Closet and all the good it brings to so many children and their families. She and her husband, Bob, have a 2 year old son and 3 year old daughter. They are also proud godparents of Ellen and Steve’s son, Drew Tomczyk.

Megan Ruffino - Secretary email Megan

Le-Ha Andersone-mail Le-Ha became involved with Cole's Closet in 2000 when she, along with fellow employees at Dominion Virginia Power began a toy drive to collect new toys for children who are hospitalized. Three years later, her involvement with the organization became very personal. Her second daughter was born with several medical conditions requiring hospitalization. The Tomczyk family became a great source of support for her and her family and Cole's Closet brought comfort to both her children. She joined the board of directors in 2004. Le-Ha is the manager for Media and Community Relations for Dominion Resources Services. She is active in the community with organizations such as the Fairfax Partnership for Youth, Emerging Leaders Institute of Leadership Fairfax, the Vienna Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, Celebrate Fairfax, and the Arts Council of Fairfax County. Le-Ha is married to Steve and has two daughters.

Brenda Davis e-mail Brenda and Ellen have been friends since kindergarten. Witnessing first hand the great sense of connection and comfort to children and families facing uncertain futures that Ellen and Steve developed through Cole's Closet created a strong impetus to rally with help. Brenda is able to utilize her retail connections and marketing strategies as the Director of Retail Marketing for Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty to contribute to Cole's Closet events and fundraisers.

Chip Gilliland e-mail Chip I first met Steve and Ellen on the softball field where we played Co-Ed softball for St John's Lutheran Church . Several years later Steve became a lineman at Dominion Virginia Power where I am employed. After the tragedy of Cole's passing, Ellen asked me to coordinate a toy drive at Dominion. The outpouring of support from Dominion was amazing. We collected hundreds of toys in our first toy drive. Ellen asked me to join the Board in 2002. Through my work at Cole's Closet, I was selected Volunteer of the Year at Dominion in 2004. I was also nominated in 2004 for the Fairfax County Volunteer of the Year. My wife, Barb and two daughters Paige and Abby are also very active in Cole's Closet. It is truly an honor and privilege to work with Cole's Closet and the Tomzcyk family as we strive to make a difference in children's lives.

Medical Advisory Board:

Mike Fernandez

Beatrice Runkle