1. How did you get into healthcare philanthropy?
I worked in radio sales after college and my radio station started doing a Children's Miracle Network Radiothon to benefit the local children's hospital. I was successful selling sponsorships into the event and getting my clients involved, and I just fell in love with it. It was the best thing I worked on each year and ultimately, I decided I should be working for the children's hospital foundation fundraising full time.
2. Why did you choose to make healthcare philanthropy your career?
As I fell in love with that Radiothon event and eventually made the switch to become a Children's Miracle Network fundraiser, I realized how fulfilling it is to be the catalyst for so many individuals and businesses to come together and give what they could to make a big difference one dollar at a time. Even if you can only give a little, it all adds up to something bigger than all of us. That is a special thing to be a part of and it fills me up every day.
3. Tell us about a pivot point or crucial step in your career journey.
I started my fundraising career at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC working in a large and well established foundation for a hospital that was founded during the Civil War. When I moved to Austin and joined Dell Children's Foundation, a much smaller team in a new children's hospital built in 2007, it gave me the chance to make a big impact. Bringing all I learned in DC to an emerging institution like Dell Children's has been an incredibly fulfilling experience and we still have so much ahead. The future is bright, and I feel like I am exactly where I need to be.
4. What was your first job, and what is something it taught you?
My first job was a 100% commission radio sales Account Executive, and it taught me how to hustle. I was fortunate to have wonderful mentors starting out as a young professional, most of them strong female leaders, and they taught me how to deliver results and be a high performing part of a team. My time in radio allowed me to experience the importance of being a part of the fabric of a local community and that has always stuck with me.
5. What are your future aspirations?
It feels like the sky is the limit with all that is happening in Austin, Texas and at Dell Children's right now. Even during the pandemic, our city and our hospital are growing at record speeds. As Austin's population continues to explode, Dell Children's has to meet the growing needs of families and we have leadership and visions shaping up to do just that. I see our Foundation team growing, and I see myself in a leadership role helping to build on our community's support of this important mission.
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