The Vasculitis Foundation is pleased to introduce Beth Westbrook, who brings a career in nonprofit development leadership to the organization. Beth’s experiences—both personally and professionally—make her uniquely qualified to help the VF to grow stronger in the coming years.
Dear Friends,
As the newest addition to the team at the Vasculitis Foundation, I am eager to roll up my sleeves and make a difference for the people we serve. My only concern when I started was my lack of knowledge about vasculitis.
You see my journey began in another area – pediatric cancer. When my daughter, Katie, was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 12, I began to tirelessly work towards better outcomes for cancer patients.
For the next 18 years, I advocated, fundraised, and educated people about why they should join in and help. I built a career in development working with nonprofits ranging in missions centered on cancer to disabilities.
Now I want to use these skills to help people living with vasculitis and the people who support them.
Most recently I worked on another team; a Major League baseball team.
While I watched the young ballplayers develop their skills, my mind often wandered to the similarities between baseball and my work for nonprofit organizations.
Every day, I go out and try to “hit a home run.” If I’m lucky, it will be a grand slam, walk off home run! That doesn’t happen very often. However, being prepared, staying focused on what needs to be done, and knowing there are other players to help you score a run is essential to a winning team.
On the wall near the entrance to the clubhouse, there is a quote by Roberto Clemente: “Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on earth.”
You can help me build a more sustainable organization for the future.
Share your stories, educate me on your journey living with vasculitis. Share your skills and experience to keep moving the Vasculitis Foundation’s mission forward.
Share your resources – make a gift towards finding a long-term solution. Knocking on doors and asking for support doesn’t deter me (although at times I admit to being nervous).
Your stories and your investment will inspire us to work effectively as a team to achieve earlier diagnoses, better treatments, and longer lives.
Let’s start a conversation about how we can make a difference together.
Sincerely, Beth Westbrook [email protected]
