how we started...
Executive Director, Shemaine Pickens
The Queen's Charity Lunch was started by Fertile Ground Foundation Executive Director, Shemaine Pickens as an opportunity to give women and families another voice and another way to engage and come together around infertility. Her goal is to advocate for women and families and to bring them in contact with the resources and support partners they need that can help educate them on infertility and how to prevent and manage it.
"The Queens Charity Lunch is meant to encourage and uplift women and to allow them to come together with other women and couples that are sharing the same journey's; it's meant to be a celebration of women and families and to honor the pathway to motherhood."
-- Shemaine Pickens
Fertile Ground Foundation board
Co-Founder, Herbert Pickens III
Co-Director, Courtney Dial-Thurman
Co-Director, Courtney Dial-Thurman
Herbert Pickens III is Co-Founder of the Fertile Ground Foundation and CEO of Alliance Logistics, Inc., in Charlotte, NC. He founded Fertile Ground with wife and Executive Director, Shemaine Pickens in 2021.
Co-Director, Courtney Dial-Thurman
Co-Director, Courtney Dial-Thurman
Co-Director, Courtney Dial-Thurman
Courtney Dial-Thurman is Co-Director of the Fertile Ground Foundation and Chair of the Volunteer Committee for the Foundation.
Co-Director, Milan Kelly
Co-Director, Courtney Dial-Thurman
Co-Director, Milan Kelly
Milan Kelly is Co-Director of the Fertile Ground Foundation and Chair of the Events Committee for the Foundation.
QCL 2025 Committee
Corporate Sponsorship Director, QCL Co-Chair, Keyara Burton
Corporate Sponsorship Director, QCL Co-Chair, Keyara Burton
Corporate Sponsorship Director, QCL Co-Chair, Keyara Burton
Fertile Ground Welcomes our newest board member, Corporate Sponsorship Director, Keyara Burton! She is also Co-Chair of Queen’s Charity Lunch 2025! The rest of the FG Board also serves on the committee over Volunteer and Vendor Partnership.
QCL Committee Chair, Shemaine Pickens
Corporate Sponsorship Director, QCL Co-Chair, Keyara Burton
Corporate Sponsorship Director, QCL Co-Chair, Keyara Burton
Founder & Executive Director Shemaine Pickens serves as QCL’s Committee President/Chair. She hopes to bring the vision of QCL to Charlotte and make it one of the most well known infertility awareness events in the city!
This year’s vision and theme!
Corporate Sponsorship Director, QCL Co-Chair, Keyara Burton
This year’s vision and theme!
This years theme is “Enchanted Garden” and the event will focus on celebrating and honoring the work the foundation has done in the last year, as well as the work that certain advocates are doing in the infertility space! Our honorees will be announced soon!
GOAL OF THE QCL...
Educate. Support. Restore.
The QCL is an extension of the Fertile Ground Foundation and is meant to bring women and couples together so that they can gain a better understanding about infertility and how they can minimize the impact it has on their lives. The QCL is a celebration of life and the hope that motherhood brings with it!
The Fertile Ground Foundation
The Fertile Ground Foundation is a Charlotte based nonprofit organization that advocates for women and families battling the impacts of infertility. The foundation works to provide financial, educational, and healing resources and support to these families while also increasing awareness and visibility around infertility.
Our Partners
Join us at the QCL 2025!
Tickets go on sale 8/1 for the Queens Charity Lunch April 20, 2025!