Cherron Rountree
Posted by Love Hope Strength on Apr 4, 2008
Throughout her life, Cherron Rountree has seen cancer wreak havoc on the lives of those she cares about. Born in Flemington, New Jersey, as a child, she would visit her cousin Janet, who suffered from a brain tumor. Through the years, Cherron watched Janet fight a brave battle, which unfortunately she did not win. At the age of 14, Cherron lost her grandfather whom she was close with growing up and who suffered from both prostate and bladder cancer. And too soon after, a close family friend was taken away, within weeks of diagnosis leaving two adolescent sons behind. Recently, Cherron watched the strong and courageous Nitasha, now age 26, triumph in her cancer battle and is proud to call the young woman her friend. Cherron has met many brave cancer survivors, but heard of too many lives taken too soon because of the disease.
While the cancer patients in Cherron’s life had access to specialized medical care in a technologically advanced society, the reality is the disease does not discriminate based on wealth or any other factors. That is why Cherron truly respects the Love Hope Strength Foundation and its mission to provide the underprivileged with opportunities they otherwise may not have.
Inspired by fellow trekker George Devanney, who has been involved with the Love Hope Strength Foundation since its inception, Cherron participated in the Union County Love Hope Strength walkathon last year. She is extremely excited to join this year’s Peru Rocks climb. Though she is an avid traveler, having seen Europe, China and Mexico, the trek will mark her first visit to South America.
Cherron is no stranger to charitable efforts. A main passion in her life is helping others, particularly those who are disadvantaged, and she strongly believes that if we all live as one community we can accomplish great things. Through the many grant-writing programs she has led, Cherron has helped organizations secure millions of dollars in funding and she helps with the political campaigns of candidates who sincerely want to serve the public good. Also she a two-time veteran of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and serves as treasurer of the Union County Improvement Authority.
Now Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Union County, Cherron has channeled her desire to help her community into some impressive career accomplishments. Her National Community Development Week Program won a national award. She oversaw the first phase of a downtown streetscape program from start to finish. Another successful project created a police unit in an urban neighborhood trying to revitalize itself economically. During her five-year tenure as program director of a youth summer day camp, participation in it doubled. Cherron, who earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and psychology from Rutgers University, where she was an Eagleton fellow, is pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration with a management specialization at New York University.
Cherron resides in Springfield, New Jersey. When she’s not busy with her other endeavors, she enjoys spending time with family (including parents Colleen and Rodney, and brother Cameron) and friends. She founded a reading group, and her favorite authors include Tom Perrotta, Dan Brown, Rudyard Kipling and Khaled Hosseini. Another hobby is cooking and trying new foods. She also enjoys learning about new people and cultures, checking out new bands, wine and jogging.
