worthy² Team
Leadership
Kathryn Guthrie
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Founder
Victim/Survivor Advocate
Kathryn Guthrie has always had a heart for the “underdog”. As early as elementary school she can recall defending the kid everyone picked on- to the point of spending time in the principal’s office for her “intervention” efforts.
In 2008, Kathryn spent two months in Vietnam finalizing the adoption of her daughter. While there, she saw firsthand the devastation of commercial sexual exploitation, or sex trafficking. Once home, she began researching the issue. Kathryn quickly discovered that human trafficking, specifically sex trafficking, was also a sad reality in the U.S., including in her home state of Alabama. This form of modern-day slavery spoke to her heart and a lit a fire of outrage in her spirit.
Kathryn began volunteering with Redeem, an anti sex trafficking organization based in Columbus, GA. There was a need for this type of organization in Alabama and the decision was made to launch Redeem Alabama in January 2017 where Kathryn served as Director until December 2020. In March of 2021 Kathryn founded worthy2 (worthy squared), a ministry dedicated to advocating for adult and minor females who have been exploited through commercial sex or sex trafficking. God’s purpose was clear- walk alongside survivors on their journey to true freedom and advocate to break the chains of modern-day slavery…become an ABOLITIONIST.
email Kathryn
Sara Riesing
Sara Riesing is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Worthy2, where she directs the organization’s strategy and operations to prevent sex trafficking through education, community engagement, and strategic advocacy. In her role, Sara is responsible for organizational growth, program execution, cross-sector partnerships, and the expansion of Worthy2’s Prevention and Awareness initiatives. She ensures that resources, systems, and teams are aligned for maximum mission impact.
Sara brings a deep commitment to victim advocacy in addition to a proven track record in nonprofit leadership and large-scale community initiatives. Before joining Worthy2, she served as Outreach Coordinator for Georgia’s statewide victim service agency supporting child victims of sex trafficking, where she strengthened statewide networks, expanded service access, and led awareness campaigns. She has also worked directly with partner organizations serving adult survivors in Atlanta, further solidifying her passion for this work and deepening her operational insight into survivor-centered programs.
Earlier in her career, Sara built expertise in public engagement, event management, and media relations. As Events Coordinator for the City of Kennesaw, GA, she produced community events—including the museum’s most successful event in its 44-year history. She also served with Atlanta’s leading Christian radio station, The Fish, helping deliver Celebrate Freedom, the largest one-day, free, outdoor Christian music festival in the nation.
At Worthy2, Sara combines her operational acumen with her passion for prevention to drive measurable change. She is committed to building scalable systems, fostering strategic partnerships, and mobilizing communities toward the shared goal of eradicating sex trafficking from our state.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
email Sara
Development
Gwen Stanton
Development Coordinator
email Gwen
Gwen Stanton is the Development Coordinator at Worthy2, where she develops strategies to finance the operation through grants, outreach, partnerships, and individual donors. She is dedicated to ensuring that Worthy² has the resources needed to serve survivors of sex trafficking with dignity and compassion.
Gwen is deeply committed to the mission of Worthy², advocating for both adult and minor females who have been exploited through commercial sex or trafficking, helping them reclaim their dignity and self-worth.
Before joining Worthy², Gwen served as a Case Manager for an organization in Florida, where she supported young girls transitioning out of trafficking and into lives of freedom and hope. Earlier in her career, she was an Ambassador for Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. In that role, she educated hospital personnel and local high schools on the rise of human trafficking, using creative expression to help teens communicate the issue to their peers through short films. Several student projects were nationally recognized, and some showcased in New York City’s Times Square. Gwen’s work underscored the power of peer-to-peer education and innovative messaging in prevention efforts.
At Worthy2, Gwen is committed to seeing Worthy2 grow into a viral asset to the citizens of Lee County, Alabama and beyond.
Karon Fowler
Volunteer Coordinator
email Karon
Karon Fowler has over 40 years of experience in ministry, passionately dedicated to serving the broken and hurting by radiating God's love through her diverse gifts. She continually strives to be a faithful steward of God's work.
Previously, she served as a board member and Human Resources Director for Women With Wings Outreach, where she managed the organization’s administrative functions with exceptional skill and effectiveness. Karon is a devoted staff member who consistently supports the organization, especially in uplifting women who are victims of domestic violence, those facing sexual exploitation, and families in need of transitional housing. She empowers them
with the support and tools necessary to grow, thrive, and heal as whole individuals, inspiring
them to live with purpose and strength.
Karon, a former board member of Daughters of Virtue Ministries, dedicated herself to empowering women to recognize and fulfill their God-given potential, inspiring them to embrace the boundless love of God. Guided by the teachings of Christ, she focused on ministering to the total person, helping individuals break free from the constraints of their circumstances. Additionally, serving on the board of the Heartburn Foundation reflects her dedication to helping individuals struggling with low self-esteem and self-doubt by affirming their beauty and worth in God's eyes.
As a gifted woman of faith, Karon operates in prophetic ministry and healing. Serving God allows her to pursue her passion for showing women His love and helping them understand their identity in Him. Her theme verse is 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Morgan Applegate
Social Work Intern
Morgan Appelgate is a recent graduate from Houghton University with a Clinical Counseling Degree with a minor in Communications. She became passionate about supporting survivors after attending a conference in the summer of 2024 and through personal experience. She enjoys coffee shops, crocheting, a pretty sky, and being around friends!
A.C. Wagner
Public Relations &
Communications Intern
Anna Carson Wagner is a graduating senior at Auburn University majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Nonprofit & Philanthropy studies. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hanging out with friends, and listening to new music!
Ashley Johnston
General Coordinator
Ashley serves as a general coordinator. She assists with various projects that the ministry is working on. She has been involved in human trafficking outreach in some form since 2015. She prefers to be behind the scenes and will typically be found with a book and a chai in hand.