Greenville Native Kristi Parker Byers Named Executive Director of Memories In Writing Foundation Accomplished educator and artist to lead nonprofit’s mission of preserving one million stories for future generations. GREENVILLE, SC, UNITED STATES, September 9, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Memories In Writing Foundation is proud to announce Kristi Parker Byers, a Greenville native, retired educator, performer, and multidisciplinary artist with more than 25 years of experience in education, theatre, and community engagement, as its new Executive Director. Byers will lead the Foundation’s mission to encourage and empower people to preserve and share their stories. Founded by Rhondia Turano, whose mother’s early-onset dementia inspired her passion to ensure stories are captured before they are lost, the Foundation is committed to bridging generations through storytelling. Under Byers’ leadership, the organization is expanding its impact with the launch of Stories Matter! – Classrooms, a new initiative designed to bring Do-It-Yourself Memoir Workbooks and resources into schools across South Carolina. Through this program, students will gain: Real-world connections and authentic writing experiences Opportunities to preserve personal histories, refine storytelling skills, and strengthen communication Tools that support academic success through community and classroom partnerships Instruction aligned with South Carolina curriculum standards in narrative writing, handwriting, and oral communication “Kristi’s passion for storytelling and education perfectly reflects the heart of our mission,” said Rhondia Turano, Founder of the Memories In Writing Foundation. “Her leadership ensures that more classrooms, families, and communities will be encouraged and empowered to preserve the legacies that matter most.” A seasoned performer, Byers is known for her versatility and dynamic stage presence, with experience across musical theatre, pop, country, jazz, folk, and rockabilly. She also spent decades in education, nurturing creativity in young people and serving as a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. “I am honored to serve as Executive Director of the Memories In Writing Foundation,” said Kristi Parker Byers. “As a Greenville native, it’s especially meaningful to launch Stories Matter! – Classrooms here at home and across South Carolina—helping students strengthen their writing, build confidence, and connect with their communities.” This work is part of the Foundation’s bold vision to capture and preserve one million stories—ensuring voices from every generation are remembered and celebrated. For more information on supporting the mission, becoming a partner, or bringing Stories Matter! – Classrooms to your school, visit www.memoriesinwriting.org/classrooms About Memories In Writing Foundation Memories In Writing Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving one million personal and family stories for future generations. Founded in 2024 by Rhondia Turano, whose mother’s early-onset dementia inspired her passion for preserving legacies, the Foundation provides Do-It-Yourself Memoir Workbooks and its signature Stories Matter! programs. These initiatives connect generations and communities by empowering seniors, veterans, students, families, and organizations to capture and share their unique stories. In 2025, the Foundation is expanding its reach with Stories Matter! – Classrooms, a program designed to support South Carolina educators and students through real-world storytelling experiences that align with state curriculum standards. Elizabeth LaFleur Memories In Writing +1 864-448-5800

Memories In Writing Foundation Announces Free Do-It-Yourself Memoir Workbooks GREENVIILLE, SC, SC, UNITED STATES, January 8, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Memories In Writing Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to announce an inspiring initiative to distribute free Do-It-Yourself Memoir Workbooks to targeted groups beginning in 2025. These groups include seniors, veterans, caregivers, classrooms, minority communities, and others who can benefit from capturing and preserving their unique life stories. This initiative represents the latest chapter in Memories In Writing’s ongoing mission to preserve stories and legacies for future generations. By empowering individuals and families to document their journeys through these free workbooks, the Foundation seeks to: -Connect generations by sharing personal and familial narratives. -Strengthen community bonds through the celebration of shared history. -Provide a therapeutic outlet for reflection, healing, and self-expression. “Preserving family memories is not just about capturing the past; it’s about providing the future with a sense of identity and understanding the “why” behind it all,” said Rhondia Turano, Founder of Memories In Writing Foundation. “Through this initiative, we’re ensuring those threads aren’t lost but instead cherished and passed down, creating a bridge between the past and the future—one memory at a time.” To be considered for a complimentary DIY Memoir Workbook or to donate in support of this initiative, please visit memoriesinwriting.org. Donations directly help expand the reach of this program, ensuring that as many stories as possible are preserved for future generations. As a token of gratitude, all donors will receive a complimentary copy of the workbook. Join us in making a difference. Together, we’re empowering communities to capture their legacies and fostering connections that will last a lifetime. About Memories In Writing Foundation, Inc. Founded in 2024, Memories In Writing Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to capture and preserve their unique stories and family histories. By providing free resources like the Do-It-Yourself Memoir Workbook, the Foundation seeks to educate, inspire, and build bridges across generations and communities. Rhondia Turano Memories In Writing +1 864-448-5800 mail@memoriesinwriting.org

Cyrita Walls, founder of Memories in Writing, shares information about preserving family histories and personal legacies through storytelling and hardcover memory books. JavarJuarez©2026 Among the vendors present on Thursday was one whose work may carry the longest legacy of all. Cyrita Walls, founder of Memories in Writing, was on the floor gathering stories — which is precisely what her business does across South Carolina. "My inspiration was my grandmother," Walls said. "I gather things that I've learned from her as being younger — learning to cook, and you know those different values and things along the lines, and her root stories from how she may have came from the South, went to the North, migrated back to the South — would have been such an inspiration to be able to hear from her directly." What began as a family effort to hold on has become a statewide service. Memories in Writing works with families across South Carolina to record personal histories, capture photographs, and publish the whole of it as a hardcover book — a physical heirloom. “Our business gives people the opportunity to preserve their stories and capture their memories in a meaningful way, much like the family photo albums that have been passed down through generations,” Walls said. “What makes it unique is that we pair those memories with the stories behind them. We collect and organize that information, then publish it as a professionally bound hardcover book. Years from now, families can pass those books down to future generations, ensuring their history, experiences, and legacy are never lost.” To date, more than 100 families across South Carolina have shared their stories with Memories in Writing. The storytelling service is provided free of charge; only the publishing of the final book carries a cost. The organization's goal is to eventually expand beyond South Carolina. "Everyone has a story to tell," Walls said, "and we're here to get it." When asked about the connection between her mission and the broader work of aging and memory, she offered something close to a credo. "We never lose our story."

​ We invite you to hear from our founder about why this mission is so personal—and how your support helps bring untold stories to life.