02/11/2026
Meet our new Executive Director, Morgan Malikowski! We are thrilled to have Morgan at the helm! She has a huge heart for children in-need & has been part of the Proehlific Park family already for years. Read how special she is:
I’m excited to share that I’ve stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Ricky Proehl P.O.W.E.R. of Play Foundation — and stepping into this position feels like stepping into the very heartbeat of what shaped me growing up.
Before I ever understood what “nonprofit” meant, I watched my mom pour her whole soul into her work with DSS and foster child services for decades. Some of my earliest memories are of standing beside her in the pantry, helping families pick out food, organizing holiday events for kids in care, and delivering gifts that brought joy to children who desperately needed it.
But it wasn’t just the big events — it was the small, personal moments that stayed with me most.
We would visit the kids, sit with them, talk with them, and sometimes bring puzzles or small activities to keep them engaged and give them something fun to focus on when their world felt anything but steady. Watching their faces light up over something so simple taught me that giving doesn’t have to be grand to be life-changing.
What started as “helping Mom” became something that changed me in ways I never expected. I saw the power of compassion up close — and it called me into this work long before I ever knew I’d make it a career.
And that’s why this role at the Ricky Proehl P.O.W.E.R. of Play Foundation feels so deeply personal.
Founded in 1995 by Ricky and Kelly Proehl, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) serving at‑risk youth across the Triad and throughout North Carolina through:
- Scholarships
- Athletic & academic programming
- After‑school and summer care
- Holiday initiatives
- Partnerships with children’s charities
- Safe, supportive environments where kids can grow and feel like they belong
Every day, we meet families just like the ones my mom supported. Every day, we meet kids who deserve the same hope and joy I grew up helping deliver.
And now — I get to carry that mission forward. What an absolute honor.
If you ever feel moved to support our work and the kids who need it most:
➡️ Donate Here: https://lnkd.in/epmR3f8a
(All donations are tax‑deductible)
Your generosity becomes:
- A safe afternoon
- A mentor
- A sports program
- A holiday gift
- A warm meal
- A chance to belong
…for a child who might not have had one otherwise.
Thank you for cheering me on in this new chapter, and all the sponsors who have made the past 31 years special for so many kids. Thank you for believing in these kids. And thank you, Mom — for showing me what a life of service truly looks like. 💙