09/01/2026
Dear Savvy Giving by Design Community,
Twelve years ago, Kasey became our very first room recipient. What began with one child, one room, and a simple desire to bring comfort through design grew into something I could never have imagined.
Because of this extraordinary community, Savvy Giving by Design became a national organization with chapters across the country. Together, we have created healing spaces for children facing medical crises, supported their families, and shown what can happen when designers, donors, vendors, volunteers, and communities rally around a shared mission.
Over the past nine months, I intentionally paused our room makeovers locally while working behind the scenes on our Go to Your Room Box initiative, the legal and organizational requirements of the nonprofit, and this important leadership transition.
After 12 years, it is time for me to step down from running the national organization.
Founder’s syndrome is real. When you build something from the ground up and pour so much of your heart into it, stepping away is not easy. But our chapters across the country deserve consistent direction, support, and leadership. I also know that for Savvy Giving by Design to continue growing, I need to make room for someone new to lead it forward.
I am thrilled that Kylie Ponton of Ponton Interiors will be coordinating our chapter leaders and helping guide the national organization into its next chapter. Kylie understands our mission, cares deeply about the families we serve, and will continue supporting our chapters as they create rooms across the country.
I am not leaving the mission I love. I will be focusing solely on the San Diego chapter, continuing our work on the Go to Your Room Box initiative, and beginning the search for new local room recipients. I am truly looking forward to resuming our San Diego room makeovers this fall and returning to the hands-on work that started it all.
This community took one room for Kasey and turned it into a national movement of kindness, creativity, and hope. I will never be able to adequately express what your support has meant to me or to the children and families we have served.
The mission continues. The rooms continue. And now, it is time to pass the torch and allow new leadership to help Savvy Giving by Design become everything it is capable of being.
With tremendous gratitude,
Susan Wintersteen
Founder, Savvy Giving by Design
