SAVING LIVES. FUNDING FUTURES.
Our dedicated team has more than 75 years of collective experience in philanthropy/fundraising. We’re passionate about supporting Regional One Health’s mission to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing compassionate care and exceptional healthcare services. We’re diligent in our work to ensure every dollar raised takes us one step closer to realizing our vision of a modern academic medical center committed to delivering world-class patient care, right here in Memphis.
Rachel is an experienced fundraiser with a background in major giving.
Rachel began her career in development by fundraising for the College of Arts in Science at the University of Missouri. During her four years on the team, she managed a portfolio of over 100 prospects and played a pivotal role in the university’s capital campaign. In addition to her fundraising responsibilities, Rachel was instrumental in building Mizzou’s donor pipeline in St. Louis and Houston, Texas.
In her current role, Rachel is responsible for growing Regional One Health Foundation’s major gifts program (individual donations of $5,000 or more). By connecting passionate donors to transformative campaigns and system priorities, she allows the foundation to make a greater impact on Regional One Health.
Rachel lives in Memphis with her husband, Zach. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Mary Catherine joined Regional One Health Foundation in October 2014, bringing with her almost 10 years of experience in event management and public relations.
In Mary Catherine’s previous corporate meeting and events position, she worked on such notable events as the grand opening of the new Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital; National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards, which has such distinguished honorees as the Dalai Lama, Al Gore and B.B. King.
Mary Catherine’s vast experience in corporate meeting and event management is instrumental in her role as Director of Events. Mary Catherine oversees and implements all the current and potential Foundation events, including the Foundation’s largest, most exciting fundraiser of the year, the annual gala.
Mary Catherine is a native Memphian. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, practicing yoga and is an avid runner.
Nikki is a dedicated nonprofit professional with a passion for community service.
Nikki has a rich background in events, hospitality and tourism with a focus on creating experiences that bring communities together. Her experience includes work with New Memphis, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, and the Convention Center in Downtown Memphis. In her current role, Nikki is responsible for expanding event operations that support fundraising campaigns and system programming for Regional One Health.
She earned her BA in Communications from UT Knoxville, and her MA in Arts Administration from Goucher College.
Hilliary has worked as a Proposal Writer and Funding Researcher for nonprofit organizations in the Mid-South and beyond for more than 15 years. In Memphis, she has worked for the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence, the Shelby County Health Department, Southern College of Optometry, the University of Tennessee, and West Cancer Center. The majority of her work has focused on securing grants to support health care for underserved populations.
Hilliary began her association with the Foundation in 2018 and officially joined the team in 2023. At the Foundation, Hilliary works with program leaders to understand their goals and funding needs, prepare and submit grant proposals, and assist in the management of awarded funds.
Hilliary is a member of the Grant Professionals Association and an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna. She has a BA in Music from Bennington College. She has a MA in Linguistics and Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing from the University of Memphis. Hilliary is excited to be part of the Foundation team and proud to support the work done at Regional One Health.
Sarah joined the Regional One Health Foundation team as the Director, Prospect Management & Research in September 2023. She received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa and master of arts degree from the University of Iowa. Sarah has 15 years of experience in non-profit and higher-ed fundraising, having worked at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ; Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines, IA; Iowa State University Foundation in Ames, Iowa; and most recently at Kutztown University Foundation in Kutztown, PA. She has experience in membership, annual fund, major gifts, database management, comprehensive and capital fundraising campaigns, prospect research, and portfolio optimization. Most recently she was the Director of Advancement Services at Kutztown University Foundation where she oversaw database operations, stewardship, and prospect research and analytics during KUF’s first comprehensive campaign. She currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI with her engineer husband, Aaron, along with one great dane, Fezzik; and two cats, Buttercup and Humperdinck.
Jonathan Blake came to Regional One Health in 2022 with a long tenure at the non-profit Transplant Foundation. While at Transplant, Blake was responsible for creating and fulfilling strategies to increase donation rates through nurturing partnerships and educating hospital staff. His professional experience also includes creating print and electronic media, as well as sales proposals and presentations. He gained his bachelor’s in Advertising and his master’s in Journalism from the University of Memphis.
Blake strives to communicate messages, publish stories, and to persuade audiences to make a difference. He invests his talents at the Foundation in the areas of email marketing and design, fundraising, and project management.
He is married to Rossana and has three children, Emily, Elizabeth, and Ethan – and they all enjoy walking their dogs and keeping fit out in Mississippi.
Tammie, CRFE, has served as the leader of the Regional One Health Foundation since 2004. Prior to that she served as Development Director for Girls Incorporated of Memphis. She is a native Memphian, having graduated from Ridgeway High School and Rhodes College.
Tammie did her graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Tammie is a Certified Fund Raising Executive, an internationally-recognized designation for philanthropic fundraising executives. She is a member of the Health Management Academy, the Association of Health Care Philanthropy, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
She is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Memphis Downtown Rotary Club, and a former President for Women of Achievement.