MEET OUR TEAM

Susie Warta | Matt Warta

President and Treasurer

Susie, and her husband Matt, are parents of a daughter with Dominant Dystrophic EB who have dedicated +20 years to the EB community through fundraising efforts and as event coordinators for the EB Family Assistance Fund, The Butterfly Children Fund, The Courage Classic and Camp Spirit Colorado. Currently, Susie is a Realtor with AK Riley Real Estate/Coldwell Banker and Matt is the Managing Director at Bow River Capital, Software Growth Equity team.

Katie Wafer

President - Elect

Katie is an enthusiastic supporter of children with EB and joined the board of The Butterfly Children Fund in 2018. She was first introduced to EB, and the need for fundraising efforts, by a friend with an EB Non-Profit in Australia. Katie is a Denver native, a former Denver Broncos Cheerleader and presently the Founder and CEO of Hydrate IV Bar, a nutritional therapy and hydration spa with locations throughout Colorado, Arizona and Dallas.

Jonathan Leines

Vice President

Jon was a rep for one of the companies that assisted families with navigating the insurance maze to get the supplies they need for their children with EB. He is very familiar with the hardships many of the families incur. Jon works in the medical device industry, formerly for Osiris Therapeutics, a company that develops wound care materials and currently with Smith+Nephew, a medical technology company. Jon’s enthusiasm and energy has been directed at fundraising efforts for The Butterfly Children Fund, and he was instrumental in including Golf Tournaments in the fundraising efforts. He is also a volunteer at Camp Spirit Colorado.

Kaycie Artus

Founder and Past President

Kaycie is a retired Physical Therapist who has worked with children with Epidermolysis Bullosa since the 1980s. She has a special place in her heart for their indomitable spirits. In 2008 she started Camp Spirit Colorado to give them the opportunity to experience winter activities with children who also have EB, and confidence to advocate for their own health needs. She was director of Camp Spirit for 15 years and in 2016 she created The Butterfly Children Fund, joining forces with Susie and Matt Warta to advance fundraising efforts to provide further support to families impacted by EB and research which has reached exciting levels as they work toward possible cures.

Ellen Murray Liu

Director, Camp Spirit Colorado

Ellen joined The Butterfly Children Fund Board in 2022, after assuming the Director role for Camp Spirit Colorado. She has a 16-year-old niece with Recessive Dystrophic EB whose bravery, courage and independence has increased each year as a result of her participation at Camp Spirit Colorado. Ellen, along with her extended family, has been actively supporting EB organizations for the past several years through various fundraising efforts. Having held senior roles in marketing and advertising for major brands in her professional career, Ellen will now bring her leadership, creativity and project management skills to the Camp Spirit team in order to carry on the legacy that retired Camp Director & Founder, Kaycie Artus, and her dedicated team have tirelessly built.

Catherine Doernbrack

EB Clinic Liaison & Medical Director, Camp Spirit Colorado

Catherine Doernbrack joined The Butterfly Children Fund Board in 2021, bringing +20 years of dedication, experience and knowledge of the challenges faced by EB patients and their families. Catherine is a passionate and widely recognized pediatric nurse practitioner who works in the Special Care Clinic and the EB Multi-disciplinary Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In addition, she serves as the EB Nurse Educator for Debra of America. Catherine’s commitment to the EB community extends beyond her professional duties, as she also serves as the medical director for Camp Spirit Colorado, a winter adventure camp dedicated to children with REB.

Henry DeAngelis

Social Director, Camp Spirit Colorado

Henry joined The Butterfly Children Fund Board in 2022. He is a passionate EB advocate, public speaker, role model and mentor within the EB community. As a recent graduate of the University of Denver with a History and Communications & Law major, he now works as an Employment Specialist for Easter Seals. Once a former camper at Camp Spirit Colorado, Henry also serves in a camp leadership role as the Social Director, using his unique experiences and talents to continue supporting other children living with EB.

Anne Grote

Secretary

Anne joined the Butterfly Children Fund Board at the end of 2023 and will provide administrative support, participate in event planning, as well as provide assistance to the Treasurer. As a close friend of The Warta Family, Anne first learned about EB and attended her first fundraiser 20 years ago following the birth of their daughter. She is excited for this more formal role on the BCF Board where she can join the rest of the members in their dedication to helping EB patients and their families. Anne has a professional background in finance and sales and currently is the head coach for the freshmen field hockey team at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, CO.