VIRGINIA’S FINEST | SPECIAL RICHMOND’S FINEST | SPECIAL ADSECTION SECTION
RVA’S FINEST GIVE BACK TO THE CITY.
Michael Henley
Client Solutions Manager, Hourigan Construction
Henley and his wife are expecting their first child this summer. The future father says it’s “one of the reasons I want to help the CFF. I hope our son is healthy, but I know not every child has that luxury.” The lifetime local is impressed with the foundation’s “grassroots approach” and likes that it focuses on awareness and education. “As someone who is new to the CFF, I hope to learn so much more.”
Billie Leonard
Hunter Wells
Since becoming involved with the Alzheimer’s Association in 2008 in honor of her grandmother, Leonard has earned the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Champion’s Club Award for her fundraising efforts. She will translate that success into her CFF work, citing her “strong network” as an asset to her involvement.“I’m learning something new every day about CF,” she says. As for something new about Leonard: “When I was 17, I sang with my dad’s band on Broadway in Nashville!”
A lifelong Richmonder, Wells, who provides bankruptcy services to individuals, says guiding someone to financial confidence is rewarding. It’s that same guiding spirit that brought him to the CFF. “If you stand behind a cause, it empowers them to achieve their goals.” Wells is an avid outdoorsman with “an appreciation for this ecosystem that thrives decades after Colonial settlement.”
Operations Specialist, Vaco
Associate Attorney, Canfield, Baer & Heller
The Virginia Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation honors 20 young philanthropists.
By Megan Parry Photos by Jay Paul
VIrginia_Finest_0516.indd 89
4/18/16 1:59 PM
RICHMOND’S FINEST | SPECIAL AD SECTION
Jennifer Brown Founder, Stone & Laurel
“Everything I’ve done is driven by my passion to help,” Brown says, “even in high school I was directing fundraisers.” Today, Brown is a “creativeprenuer” who helps nonprofits like the James House, John Randolph Foundation and Women Doing Well share stories about the work they’re doing. Speaking of doing work, Brown is excited to use her time, relationships and energy to empower those working to find a cure for CF.
VIrginia_Finest_0516.indd 90
Alex Wotring
Broker at Thalhimer, co-founder of Belle Isle Craft Spirits
“If I can help the movement that cures cystic fibrosis, it would be a great honor,” Wotring says about Richmond’s Finest. Wotring is a part of another national movement — craft spirits. This entrepreneur decided to embrace his Virginia roots when he co-founded Belle Isle Craft Spirits in 2013. “Richmond really supports local,” Wotring says, “and that motivates me to give 100 percent.”
Lindsay Clark
Mason McLean
As a huge fan of Richmond’s numerous festivals, Clark counts the Easter Parade as one of her favorite events of the year and volunteers with the Dominion Christmas Parade. When she’s not studying for her CFA exam, Clark loves playing tennis, traveling and, of course, volunteering. The native Richmonder left the River City to attend Radford, but “there’s a reason they say you always make it back to Richmond — the relationships you build are as strong as our city’s history.”
As a financial advisor, McLean helps governments and nonprofits plan capital budgets. This desire to help others succeed has been ingrained in McLean since he was a “military kid,” volunteering with his church. McLean, 26, says he feels “lucky to live in Richmond now” and appreciates the city’s “laid-back vibe,” though his volunteer hours logged with City Church of Richmond suggest anything but laying back.
IFS Associate, Wells Fargo
Associate Vice President, Davenport & Company
Meghan Hummer
Practice Administrator, HCA Physician Services Group
With a cousin near her age who has CF, Hummer has made raising awareness about the disease a personal passion. She walks in the annual Fredericksburg CF walk in addition to her time spent with the Richmond CFF. “I’m honored to show my support for the cure with the CFF,” she says. And when the DIY lover isn’t planning her wedding, working or volunteering, you can find her at Acacia or Shyndigz. “I’m obsessed.”
4/18/16 1:53 PM
Joe Sparatta
Co-owner and Chef, Heritage
“The Richmond community is amazing,” Sparatta says. And he should know since he and his restaurant, Heritage, are such an integral part. With Heritage recently highlighted in a number of national publications, the chef shows no signs of slowing down. He plans to use his experience raising money for the SPCA, Richmond Ballet, WRIR and SCAN to help bring awareness to CF.
VIrginia_Finest_0516.indd 91
Amanda Carter
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Richmond Eye Associates
Carter became invested in finding a cure in 2011 when she learned her co-worker’s daughter, Addy, had CF. Since then, the native Richmonder has walked every year in the CFF Great Strides Walk and volunteers at the yearly golf tournament to raise money. Relationship building is what Carter thrives on, and it’s what she loves about working with patients at her full-time job.
Evan Weiner CIO, Saxon Shoes
When Weiner, 32, and his wife found out they were expecting on the evening of last year’s CFF Brewer’s Ball, he says “the timing hit home” that he was meant to be a part of the CFF in a bigger way, realizing that it could affect his now 5-month-old daughter, Lillian. This thirdgeneration businessman is also “impressed with the sustainable model the CFF uses to invest in companies who research medications for CF.”
Sara Sloman
Clint Nichols
While her career may have brought her to Richmond, it’s the people who have made her stay. Whether it’s a good friend who introduced her to the Brewer’s Ball or volunteering her time with Kids Run RVA, Sloman is committed to helping others. The finance professional puts her volunteerism philosophy in industry terms: “I’m as invested in seeing my community thrive as I am seeing myself grow as a person.”
Moving to Richmond to attend law school at the University of Richmond in 2010, Nichols confidently says that “Richmond is better” because the city “makes it so easy to feel like you’re a real part of it.” Spending time with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Massey Cancer Center and Comfort Zone Camp, Nichols, 33, is “a transplant who decided to make Richmond home.”
Internal Auditor, Markel Corporation
Lawyer, Christian & Barton
4/18/16 1:53 PM
RICHMOND’S FINEST | SPECIAL AD SECTION
Blaire Greenwood
Investment Advisor, Greenwood Financial Group
After hearing a friend on the local CFF board talking about the impact that the foundation has, “I knew immediately I wanted to be involved,” Greenwood says. Volunteering is nothing new for the small business owner; she’s also active with First Tee, an organization that teaches underprivileged kids the principles of golf as it relates to real life. That group’s latest accomplishment? “We recently sent a First Tee grad to UR on a golf scholarship!”
Bradley Barr Founder, Scribekick
Barr loves Richmond so much that he rode his bike from San Francisco in 2012 to get back here. Barr then founded Scribekick, a service that provides doctors with patient documentation — borne out of dinner table conversation with his family. After living in NYC, Atlanta and San Francisco, Barr appreciates the “entrepreneurial spirit” that Richmond has.
Caitlin Kilcoin
Senior Manager of Sponsorship Development, ChamberRVA
RVA’s small business scene thrives, in part, to Kilcoin. Her job is to “connect and engage business leaders to develop individual, business and community success for a vibrant RVA.” She sees the CFF as a “huge, honorable learning opportunity” where she can give back, celebrate Richmond and educate others. This marathon runner serves on the Q-Camp Advisory Board for the University of Richmond and recently climbed Machu Picchu.
Patrick Murtaugh
Co-founder, Hardywood Brewery
Murtaugh found his calling in 2001 when he was backpacking through Australia and met a farmerturned-home brewer at his sheep station, Hardywood Park. Ten years later, Murtaugh opened Hardywood Brewery. Murtaugh also has led fundraising efforts for the James River Association, FeedMore and the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. He plans to use his position to “bring awareness to help find a cure for CF.”
Hair: Lara Bridger, LGB Hair Designs Makeup: Aaron Ellerbrock, BRIDEface Special thanks to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond
VIrginia_Finest_0516.indd 92
4/18/16 2:00 PM
THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION VIRGINIA CHAPTER PRESENTS /////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////
THE THIRD
BREWER’S BALL
A CELEBRATION of RICHMOND’S FINEST BEERS, RESTAURANTS, MUSIC & YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
JUNE 16, 2016 FROM 6:00-10:00PM // VIRGINIA WAR MEMORIAL ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
$75
TICKET INCLUDES ALL FOOD, DRINK AND PARKING ($60 TAX DEDUCTIBLE)
COLORFUL COCKTAIL ATTIRE A 21 AND OLDER EVENT
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
FEATURING RICHMOND’S FINEST CRAFT BREWERIES AND RESTAURANTS ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
WWW.BREWERSBALLRVA.COM
#BREWERSBALLRVA
SPONSORED BY:
The Ultimate Shoe Experience
BON SECOURS RICHMOND HEALTH SYSTEM
A note: the health and well-being of people with cystic fibrosis is our top priority. Medical evidence shows that certain bacteria can be passed between individuals who have CF and can lead to worse symptoms and speed decline in lung function. To limit the serious risk of cross-infection between people with CF, at any outdoor event, people with CF should maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other.
CysticFibrosisFoundation.fp.0516.indd 1
4/18/16 2:29 PM
RICHMOND’S FINEST | SPECIAL AD SECTION
BY THE NUMBERS Lindsey Hood
Nurse Coordinator, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at VCU Health
Hood’s passion for helping CF patients started while she was a nurse on the acute care floor at VCU. Since then, she has been an integral part of building the first adult CF center in Richmond. Her dedication continues; recently, Hood spoke at the National CF Conference. She also serves in the CFF mentoring program and is organizing the 2016 Cystic Fibrosis Family Education Day through VCUHS.
Matthew Myers
Pharmacy Supervisor, CVS Health
Myers was diagnosed with CF at age 11 — within a week of his brother and sister’s diagnoses. “When I was diagnosed, the average life expectancy was 19 — it’s now 39. With groundbreaking therapies developing, I know we’re close to finding a cure.” His favorite thing about Richmond? He loves the mix of history of the city with the youthful energy.
McKenzie Hurst
Retail Account Specialist, Southern Wine & Spirits
Hurst lost a childhood friend to CF in 2010; she plans to use her time with the CFF “to fight the battle Chantel lost and help save others.” Hurst has lived in the city for 23 years and is proud of Richmond’s ability to “thrive on local businesses who truly support each other.” As for supporting local business, Hurst counts The Daily Kitchen & Bar, Havana ‘59 and The Boathouse as local favorites.
30,000 The number of Americans living with cystic fibrosis. A rare disease relative to other diseases, it is often overlooked by grant-seeking research and development organizations.
1989 The year that Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-supported scientists discovered the defective gene that causes cystic fibrosis — a monumental breakthrough on the road to a cure.
5
The median age of survival for a person with cystic fibrosis in 1955, the year the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was started.
115
The number of care centers the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation supports nationwide, where people with CF can receive expert care and resources.
1
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation funds more CF research than any other organization. Nearly every cystic fibrosis drug available was made possible by the CFF.
VIrginia_Finest_0516.indd 94
4/18/16 2:03 PM