Scottsdale-based notMYkid, a nationally focused non-profit organization focused on empowering and educating youth, families and communities with knowledge and courage to identify and prevent negative youth behavior, announced Aimee J. Runyon as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Runyon has 22 years of experience in nonprofit management, most recently serving as the 1st Executive Director for Assistance League of Phoenix.
“I’m very excited to lead the notMYkid team and expand its well-earned national reputation for effective programing with proven results that inspire kids to make positive choices in difficult situations,” said Aimee Runyon, CEO of notMYkid. “With prevention at the forefront of all programming rather than intervention, we’ll continue to grow our efforts to reach young people who fight internal battles about what is “right” and “wrong” and to provide them with the knowledge and resources that empower them to make positive choices in difficult situations.”
“Aimee’s leadership skills and non-profit management expertise will help propel notMYkid to even greater success as we continue to expand our mission across the country,” said Debbie Moak, Founder and Board Member of notMYkid. “With Aimee at the helm, we’re confident that notMYkid will inspire even more kids across the country to make good life decisions and that our efforts will help parents to take a positive, proactive role in helping their kids arrive at those positive choices.”
notMYkid prepares kids to face everyday challenges with courage and confidence, through its unique education models of peer-to-peer education where the organization address the life-changing issues such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse, bullying, unhealthy relationships, body image, depression/self injury, and internet safety.
The challenges kids and families face today are complex and have the potential to devastate lives and derail futures. The average age a kid will first try drugs is 13. Studies indicate that people who reach 21 without engaging in destructive behaviors are likely to never do so, which is why notMYkid passionately educates about current trends, warning signs, and the long-term impact of destructive behaviors. notMYkid believes that proactive prevention on the part of kids, families, and communities is the answer to long-term success.
Born and raised in Phoenix, Runyon most recently she was the 1st Executive Director of Assistance League of Phoenix, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been improving the lives of children throughout Phoenix for more than 50 years. She also served as Vice President at The Community College Foundation in Los Angeles, California before serving as the 1st Executive Director for Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, located in Chandler, Arizona.
Runyon currently sits on the boards of ONE and Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank and is on the steering committee of AZ Gives Day. She is a past President of the Chandler Non Profit Coalition.
Runyon earned her BA degree in Communications from Arizona State University and a Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. She is also the proud mother of her six-year-old son, Amare.
