Molly is committed to building a more accessible and inclusive world for kids and youth with disabilities. She infuses her work with creativity, compassion, mentorship, and empathy that inspires and uplifts her teammates. In her five years at Holland Bloorview, Molly has made a lasting impact that will help transform the lives of kids and youth with disabilities and their families. She co-lead our record year for Capes for Kids, an annual fundraiser to help kids with disabilities move, speak, play, and heal, where we raised $1 million for the first time in the foundation's history. Last year, Molly secured our highest-ever sponsorship amounts for the campaign. Additionally, Molly set year-over-year records for corporate giving and expanded her portfolio to include events. With unwavering drive and dedication, Molly has displayed admirable leadership with joy, passion, and empathy.
I began volunteering for Children's Miracle Network while I was in university and came to really love being an advocate for a cause that I cared deeply about. Five years later, things came full circle when I joined the Children's Miracle Network team as an employee and started my career in philanthropy.
I chose to make healthcare philanthropy my career because I truly feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to have a job that is essentially an extension of who I am as a person. I get to authentically be myself while championing a cause that I wholeheartedly believe in, surrounded by some of the most extraordinary individuals. It is the biggest honour to have a career that brings such joy and meaning to my life.
When I first graduated from university, I began my career on the research side of healthcare. Through this experience, I realized that my real energy for healthcare came from working with others to advocate and collaborate around a shared goal for meaningful change. I began to seek out future opportunities centered around this fundamental principle which ultimately led to my first job in fundraising. Prioritizing the core values that were important to me was an essential part of beginning a career path that would be both sustainable and impactful for me in the long run.
Throughout my career, there has been no greater passion for me than witnessing the transformative journey of a donor, as they go from being a stranger to an unwavering advocate for the clients we serve. Being able to be a part of building our organization's growing community of champions has been one of my greatest joys.
You don't need to fit yourself into the "typical fundraiser" mold to be successful. While it's crucial to push yourself out of your comfort zone, never underestimate the power of your unique strengths. When thinking of success in a career, “empathy” is not always the strength that would come to mind first. However, I have found that it has been the most beneficial in my career. Leaning into my strong sense of empathy has not only made me a better leader, but has also allowed me to build authentic connections with our donors to create custom experiences that are both impactful and meaningful to them.
I was on the volunteer management team for a dog rescue for a few years few years and cared for over 20 different dogs in my home during that time. Our current dog, Eddie Spaghetti, was a "foster fail" from that group.