Meet the Team
For more than 11 years, Mighty Moms has served the residents of Livingston Parish. Mighty Moms began with a vision to see all children graduate with full minds and full tummies.
Board Members
Meet our amazing team of talented people who are passionate about ending childhood hunger in Livingston Parish.
Dawn Birdsong
Executive Director
Dawn handles the day-to-day operations of Mighty Moms.
Dawn is graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and Southern Medical School of Ultrasound. She is married to Ben, and they have four children and 3 grand babies .
Dawn is passionate about family bonding over meals together. She believes in the importance of fueling our brains and body with the nutrition necessary for healthy growth and development. In her opinion, it is the absolute way to demonstrate LOVE.
Dawn received Livingston Parish’s Women’s Leadership Award in 2018.
Beth McCormick
Chief Operations Officer
Beth has worked closely with children in Livingston Parish Public Schools and as Director of Children’s Services at a local Church.
She has always felt drawn to pouring into the lives of children, especially those with special needs. She is mother to 6 wonderful kids and currently has 4 grandchildren.
Beth’s children have experienced food intolerance and allergies, which helped open her eyes to the importance of nutrition and healthy living for all children.
Her passion and joy come from loving on her grandchildren and giving back to the children of Livingston Parish.
Beth was awarded the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Angel Award in 2013. She feels that life is best lived walking in the truth and authenticity that God created you for.
Patrick Bedwell
President
Patrick Bedwell is a lifelong resident of Livingston Parish. He currently resides in Walker and has three children.
Bedwell has worked for the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Department for over 20 years. He is a graduate of LSU Basic Police Academy. A former DARE instructor, Bedwell started the LPSO Explorer Program in 2007 and graduated from the Texas DPS Polygraph Examiner School in 2018.
He is community-minded and enjoys his leadership responsibilities.
Jan Benton
Vice-President
Jan Benton is a retired educator of LPPSS where she was a teacher, principal, and central office administrator for 36 years.
Benton is a lifelong resident of Denham Springs and a member of the 1973 graduating class at Denham Springs High School. She is married to James ‘Jim’ Benton and has two children, Hillary and Brian. They have four grandchildren.
Benton serves as a member of the Livingston
Parish School Board representing District 3. She is also a conference coordinator for the Louisiana Association of School Executives, a
member of the Alpha Delta Kappa teacher sorority and an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Jeanette Clark
Board Member
Jeanette Clark is a graduate of Denham Springs High School. She worked for the City of Denham Springs for 13 years. She was involved with long-term recovery efforts after the 2016 flooding event inundated 80% of the structures in Denham Springs. She currently works for Coactint, LLC as their business development manager.
Clark has 2 children, Gaige and Raelee. She attends Live Oak Church where she is involved in Women’s Ministry coordination and serves on the Board of Trustees. She loves to give back to the community and help others get involved.
Ian Burks
Board Member
A native of Denham Springs
A husband and father to three young children.
I work as a financial adviser for Edward Jones to the community.
I am an avid outdoorsman, enjoy friendly competition, and watching college football.
Graduate of Denham Spring High School
Graduate of the University of Louisiana – Lafayette “Go Cajuns!”
Member of Grace Covenant Church
Jessica Hood
Board Member
Jessica Hood is a graduate of Live Oak High School and a lifelong resident of Livingston Parish. She has a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies, which has led her to serve as the Preschool & Daycare Director at Amite Christian Academy since 2015.
Jessica and her husband, Brennan, have three children. She has a passion for the Lord, children, families, and her community.