Wendy Ambrose

Executive Director
Minnesota Family, Career & Community Leaders of America

Bachelor of Science, Home Economics Education, University of Minnesota 1973
Masters, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, University of Minnesota 1990

Wendy, the executive director of Minnesota Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), will be working to develop the capactiy of her board of directors and the National Family Career and Community Leaders of America Foundation officers, as well as work to develop clear fund development plans for the future. As a member of the National FCCLA Board of Directors of FCCLA, Wendy also has an interest in working toward national grants, national plans and goals for the support of family and consumer sciences programs and youth development.

e-mail Wendy

Julie Aulwes

Owner
Always Designs

Bachelor of Science, Costume Design, University of Minnesota 1981

The philanthropy project Julie is involved in is the Textile Center's Joan Mondale Gallery Endowment. The Textile Center has an opportunity to reach a new group through the Gallery: those that appreciate and collect art. The Center’s current constituency is mainly those who create fiber art, and the Gallery will help to connect the two groups.  As a Buckman Fellow, Julie plans to learn techniques to effectively build relationships with individual donors, foundations, and Textile Center members so they feel personally connected the center.

e-mail Julie

Elizabeth "Libby" Bergman

Executive Director
Center for Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Minnesota 1980
Masters of Social Work, University of Minnesota 1984

As Executive Director of a grass roots non-profit organization, Libby hopes to expand the base of donors, add business donors, and increase the health and stability of her organization, the Center for Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment. In addition, Libby hopes to enhance the commitment of the community towards the goal of child abuse prevention and the well being of children.

e-mail Libby

Gina Ciganik

Senior Project Manager
Central Community Housing Trust

Bachelor of Science, Housing, University of Minnesota 1994

Learning the fundamentals and philosophies of fundraising will be the foundation that will help her be successful in her philanthropic efforts. Gina hopes the skills she will gain through the Buckman Fellowship will support her desire to lead philanthropic projects that make positive, long-lasting impacts on human lives and our community. Gina will apply her new skills to an important Minneapolis community revitalization project, taking the lead in a fundraising campaign to help this historic preservation and affordable housing development.

e-mail Gina

Jane Driggs

President and CEO
Better Business Bureau of Minnesota & North Dakota

Bachelor of Science, Home Economics with an emphasis in business, University of Minnesota 1987

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is known for alerting businesses and consumers to scams. Under Jane’s leadership, the Bureau is proposing a "Scam Jams” event, as they are called in the BBB system. The events in other BBB locations have traditionally had attendance of 500 to 800 consumers, with speakers, booths, and panels of experts on scams. With the skills developed through the Buckman Fellowship, Jane is excited at the prospect of generating the philanthropic support necessary to sponsor such an event in her region.

e-mail Jane

Patricia Harmon

President and CEO
Sunstone Cancer Support Foundation

Bachelor of Art, University of Minnesota 1977
Master of Social Work, University of Minnesota 1985

The Sunstone Cancer Support Foundation is a new organization and has the developmental opportunities and challenges reflecting its stage of development.  Patricia is looking forward to expanding the vision for the design and implementation of a fund development program at Sunstone.

e-mail Patricia

Kim Kindler

Medical Social Worker
Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Bachelor of Art, Japan Studies, Macalester College 1993
Master of Social Work, University of Minnesota 1997

Kim is working as a volunteer Co- Chair of the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota's Signature Fundraising event.  She hopes to apply the knowledge and skills she gains through the Buckman Fellowship experience to increase the organization's ability to reach people and raise money. Kim will work with the foundation to plan and implement all the details of the event as well as lay out a strategy to engage both individual and corporate sponsors. Kim is looking forward to helping provide for an agency that was such a big part of her decision to pursue an education in social work.

e-mail Kim

Cathy McCarty

Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Personalized Medicine Research Center
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation

Bachelor of Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Minnesota 1986
Master of Public Health, Public Health Nutrition, University of Minnesota 1990
PhD, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh 1993

As Catherine advances in her career and become more involved with community organizations, she finds that she needs to develop skills in philanthropy. She is often called upon to speak with potential donors and would like to have a more active role in philanthropy. Later this year, the Marshfield Clinic will embark on a major campaign to raise funds for a new research building. The center for which she serves as director is one of the major needs for the new building. Catherine’s goal for her Buckman Fellowship is to acquire the skills and knowledge to help resource development with this new building campaign.