Our Leadership
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
We are a family of women who supported Gilbert in his fight against prostate cancer and seek to empower other women supporting the men in their lives. We are committed to winning the fight against prostate cancer, and empowering others as women, men, and families together as one.
Blue Flowers was co-founded by caregivers Valerie Crawford-Schiele and Shavonn Richardson, the daughter and granddaughter of Gilbert Eugene Crawford, Sr. Our leadership is comprised of our founders, Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board and staff. We are tasked to lead the way in continuing the legacy of Gilbert Eugene Crawford, Sr. and to be of service to families affected by prostate cancer.
Blue Flowers was founded in honor of Valerie's father Gilbert Eugene Crawford, Sr. who passed after a 12-year courageous battle against prostate cancer. As her father’s primary caregiver, she personally navigated all levels of the healthcare system, advocating on his behalf for the best available care and service delivery.
As an educator for over 17 years, Valerie leads our awareness initiatives and is responsible for marketing and donor engagement. She is the former Education and Scholarship Chair for Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD), Prince George’s County, MD Chapter. She was selected as a Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Fellow at Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom. Prior to her career as an educator, Valerie worked in the fashion industry.
Valerie is currently a United States History and African-American History teacher in the Prince George's County Public Schools system in Maryland. She earned her BS degree in Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. She holds a Masters of Education degree (M.Ed.) from Cambridge College, Cambridge, MA.
She is married to Dr. Jerome Schiele, a university professor and administrator.
Email: valerie.crawford-schiele@blueflowers.org
Phone: 1-855-BLUE-222 EXT 700
Valerie Crawford-Schiele, M.Ed.
Shavonn Richardson, MBA, Certified Grant Writer ®
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer
Shavonn Richardson is the granddaughter of Gilbert Eugene Crawford, Sr. and Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer at Blue Flowers Org. She is also a Certified Grant Writer® and founder of Think and Ink Grant Consulting™ which provides grant writing services to nonprofit organizations.
In 2015, Shavonn's work was recognized by former President Barack H. Obama as she received the President's Volunteer Service Award. She is also a member of The Junior League of Atlanta and serves on the Community Needs Assessment Committee.
Shavonn is a member of and abides by the professional standards set forth by the Grant Professionals Association. She regularly contributes to the advancement of grant professionals and speaks at conferences. She is a 2017 Association of Fundraising Professionals Diversity Fellow.
Shavonn earned a BBA from Howard University and MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She resides in Milton, GA with her husband and two children.
Email: shavonn.richardson@blueflowers.org
Phone: 1-855-BLUE-222 EXT 701