About Fostering Connections
Our Story
We started out in 2016 as a grassroots effort of foster and adoptive families in North Alabama caring for one another through what was initially known as the “clothing closet” and a foster/adoptive support group.
As word got out, folks outside the foster/adopt community got involved and we embraced kinship families. Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives.
After a few years, we expanded our efforts to meet the holistic needs of children as well as the needs of their caregivers. We began to seek out creative ways to help kids just be kids. This expanded mission was housed under our new organization, Fostering Connections.
We registered Fostering Connections as a 501(c)(3) in 2018. The North Alabama Foster Closet is now an initiative under Fostering Connections.
Our Mission
Kimberly DuVall
Founder & Executive Director
Kimberly DuVall is the Visionary, Founder, and Executive Director of Fostering Connections. Born from her own experience as a foster/adoptive mom, she knows how challenging and lonely the journey of a caregiver can be. It is vital to know you are not on the journey alone and it is a blessing when others support you with tangible goods, emotional support, prayer, and trauma-informed resources. She believes that when caregivers feel loved and supported, the ripple effect goes straight to the kids.
Recognizing the urgent need and the reality that caregivers are the ones who have the greatest possibility of providing hope and healing to the kids in their care, she began a support group in 2015 focusing on TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention). Connections were formed and caregivers began to share clothing and other resources. In the fall of 2016 the endeavor grew and what was initially known as the “Clothing Closet” was born.
Kimberly received her Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Hampshire College and a Master of Education in Multicultural Education from Eastern University.
Ginny Wagner
Board of Directors
Ginny Wagner joined the Board of Directors of Fostering Connections in 2022 having supported the organization for several years. Her family was involved in foster care in Madison County from 2017 to 2019 and were direct recipients of the support and encouragement provided by the organization.
Ginny serves as the Chief of Staff at Avion Solutions and brings more than 25 years of experience in contracting, budgeting, policy, strategy, and business process improvement. Prior to joining Avion Solutions, Ginny served as Executive Director for a multinational nonprofit focused on orphan care and community health.
Ginny also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Economic Development Council Foundation and the Madison City Chapter of the National Charity League. She is an Ambassador for the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville and a member of the Community Impact Committee.
Ginny received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin. She and her husband, Paul, live in Madison City with their three children and two dogs.
Tiffany Taylor, CPA, CGMA
Board of Directors
Tiffany Taylor is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) with experience in public accounting and industry financial management and business administration. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration and her Master of Accountancy, specializing in Audit, from the University of Alabama. She serves as the Finance Director for Hexagon Safety, Infrastructure, & Geospatial. Tiffany’s expertise has been instrumental in creating a robust financial foundation for the ongoing success of Fostering Connections.
Tiffany began volunteering with Fostering Connections in 2020 and joined the Board of Directors in 2023. In her professional and home life, she is passionate about pursuing excellence and efficiency. She believes it is something that lets a Christian’s “light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16) and points people to Jesus. The first time she volunteered for a service project at the North Alabama Foster Closet, she was so impressed by the leadership and organizational capabilities of the team, that she was drawn to continue to serve the organization in other ways.
Tiffany has a heart for kids and family, and says, “I believe this is a tough world for children, and I know the devil wants to steal their joy, their hope, and their future. My heart goes out to these precious children who are facing difficult circumstances.” She believes the family unit is critical to a child’s potential future and is humbled and amazed by the foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers who step in to fill a hole for a child, knowing that it will come with pain, sorrow, and even loss. “The level of self-sacrifice is awe-inspiring to me, so if I can play even a small role in supporting those children and the adults who are trying to give them a brighter future, count me in.
Matthew McGinnis
Board of Directors
Matthew McGinnis joined the Fostering Connections Board of Directors in 2025 after being introduced to the organization through Leadership Greater Huntsville. He holds a B.B.A. from the University of North Alabama and an M.Div. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he currently works as a Customer Success Manager in the tech sector. Matthew is honored to support the mission of Fostering Connections and brings a heart for strengthening foster, adoptive, and kinship families across North Alabama. He values the organization’s hands-on, people-first approach and considers it a privilege to contribute his time, experience, and leadership toward ensuring families in our community receive the care, support, and dignity they deserve.
Jason Fickett
Board of Directors
Jason was first introduced to Fostering Connections in the spring of 2024 through Leadership Huntsville, where he was inspired by the organization’s mission to strengthen and empower foster families across North Alabama. Having personally witnessed the life-changing impact adoption can have—two of his four children were adopted—Jason is passionate about helping ensure that every child and foster family has the resources, support, and sense of community they need to thrive.
For Jason and his wife, family is the foundation of everything they do. They prioritize time together, often traveling to explore new places in the U.S. and abroad, and believe deeply in giving back to the community that has given so much to theirs.
Professionally, Jason is a Director in Booz Allen’s National Security Sector, where he leads the development and delivery of advanced cyber solutions supporting key federal agencies. Prior to his current role, he served over 20 years as an FBI Special Agent, culminating as Chief of Operations for the Cyber Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He is also a retired U.S. Navy Commander, having completed 22 years of service as an Intelligence Officer.
Jason holds a bachelor’s degree from Mankato State University and an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. He also serves on the board of Cyber Huntsville, helping advance North Alabama’s leadership in cybersecurity innovation and workforce development.
Foster Hope with Your Generosity
You don’t have to be a foster parent to make a difference. Consider getting involved by volunteering, donating needed items, or giving monetary donations.