2024 40 Under 40 Winners

Bri is a dynamic leader at UnityPoint Health–Meriter Foundation, where her passion for mental healthcare for youth and other life-changing programs has led to remarkable achievements. As Senior Director of Philanthropy, she has driven major fundraising efforts, including a $2.9 million campaign for workforce development and a $1 million transformational gift for youth mental health services, the largest in the foundation's history. Her innovative leadership during the pandemic ensured the successful navigation of new challenges and expanded the foundation's reach. Bri's dedication and effectiveness have not only strengthened the Meriter Foundation but have also significantly improved community health services.

My lifelong love of philanthropy began at the age of seven, when I watched my mother plan a grassroots community run to raise money in honor of her best friend’s son, who was born with cerebral palsy. I understood the impact of philanthropy early on seeing her organize these fundraising events with grit, compassion, and dedication. It is what led me to an events internship at the Children’s Wisconsin Foundation where I first witnessed the powerful way healthcare philanthropy can change and save lives. Keeping kids healthy is at the center of my lifelong love of philanthropy and inspired me to pursue fundraising as a career.

Healthcare touches each of our lives in profound and unexpected ways. It brings me joy to listen and understand why people are passionate about creating a healthy community. It is fulfilling to build a lasting connection with our donors: moments made up of talking together, showing a genuine interest in their life, opinions, and experiences, and remembering those intricate details in thoughtful ways. People often say that I have a warm and authentic approach to building relationships at work especially with donors. I love working with people to make their philanthropic giving a meaningful, memorable, and joyful experience. It brings me joy to combine measurable results, with a powerful patient story, to bring the impact of their gift to life. People are at the heart of everything we do at Meriter. Our patients, team members, donors, and our community members always come first. After all, philanthropy is the love of humankind.

A crucial step, and one of the proudest moments of my career, is connected to fundraising for kids’ mental and emotional wellness through Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) at UnityPoint Health-Meriter. The CAP program fills a critical need for children aged six to 18 in our region who require treatment for their mental health challenges. My efforts to inspire a $1 million gift to expand mental health treatment for children cared for at CAP came during a time of unprecedented demand for youth mental health services in South Central Wisconsin. Wisconsin consistently has higher youth suicide rates than the national average. The gift supported providers as they cared for children returning to the classroom after the upheaval caused by COVID-19 in schools. The gift expanded the CAP program to include a family support group, the creation of a four-hour day treatment plan, emergency family resources, patient activity scholarships, and funding for two years of ongoing holistic therapy programs. It was an honor to collaborate with a donor passionate about keeping children healthy through life-changing mind–body therapies.

This gift is the largest that the Meriter Foundation has ever received for CAP. It was part of the highest-ever revenue year on record at Meriter Foundation, achieving 275% of the fundraising goal and a 204% year-over-year increase.

I am a passionate mental health advocate for kids and teens. When my teenage sister's depression reached a critical point, she needed the compassionate care of Meriter's Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) team. Because of my involvement in fundraising for CAP, I knew my family should bring her to the Meriter emergency room for immediate help. In their most desperate moment, my sister found a safe place to heal at CAP. I will never forget when she told me it saved her life.

While these past few years have been difficult for everyone, it has been particularly true for kids. Approximately one in five young people in the U.S. have a diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral health disorder. Young people need our help. That’s why I’m proud to be a partner of the care teams at CAP.

It's powerful to collaborate with fierce youth mental health champions like Katie Schmitt, MD, medical director at CAP. She believes mental health treatment does not have to be scary; it can be holistic and creative. Together, we've inspired donors to give critical funding for yoga and movement-based therapy, music therapy, and art therapy for CAP patients. CAP is a hopeful, healing, and holistic place for kids on their journey to wellness.

An impactful piece of advice that serves me daily is that a leader should always be the calmest person in the room. While I do not remember exactly where this originated, likely a business book or podcast, it has deeply impacted the way I lead my team. I am authentic, brave, and vulnerable as a leader, and yet, I wear my heart on my sleeve. My facial expressions immediately give away my emotions. This may not be the typical picture of calm for some, but my ability to share real emotions and still remain in control and instill confidence is exactly what makes me approachable to my team. It is my mantra during the ups and downs of work.