Leadership & Staff
Leadership & Staff
Our experienced leadership team is dedicated to the continued evolution and growth of The Children’s Foundation. We are taking the lead on developing opportunities to effect change.
The team at The Children’s Foundation is a diverse blend of inspired and exceptional people who are driven by our vision for improving the well-being of children. Compassionate and caring, we use our diverse perspectives and strengths to continue to evolve our brand and partnerships to serve our mission. Together, we continue to use an entrepreneurial spirit to develop and carry out innovative programs and services as a strong and committed community partner.
Leadership
Lawrence J. Burns
President & Chief Executive Officer
Lawrence J. Burns
President & Chief Executive Officer
A Detroit native, Lawrence J. Burns returned to Detroit in January 2017 to lead The Children’s Foundation in their efforts to make a lasting, positive impact on Michigan’s children. The Foundation is now a statewide foundation for children and families with over 160 partners, providing grants to community-based organizations.
The Children’s Foundation has surpassed the $80 million level of community support since 2011.
Mr. Burns has guided the Foundation’s development with a new brand platform that includes the first-ever Six Focus Areas of Support. These areas of support are now dedicated to the social determinants of health, concentrating on supporting programs designed to keep children, young adults, and families on the path to healthy and rewarding lives.
Mr. Burns hosts the popular WJR radio program known as "Caring for Kids" and recently began a new radio series "Pathways to Wellness" on WWJ. The Foundation continues to have multiple partnerships with the likes of Crain’s Detroit Business, the Detroit Tigers, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, and the Grand Rapids Gold. All partnerships are designed to spread the word about the programs and organizations the Foundation supports to assist children, young adults, and their families.
The Foundation is continuing to develop its affiliate relationships with organizations, including the First Tee - Greater Detroit, the Paul W. Smith Charities, Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts, and the Jamie Daniels Foundation.
Mr. Burns serves as Chairman of the Michigan Advocates for Youth Behavioral Health. This advocacy collaboration holds a child and adolescent behavioral health summit each year.
Mr. Burns is a member of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Regional Chamber, Advisory Council member of the Root Cause Coalition, The Jamie Daniels Foundation Board of Trustees, Michigan ACE Initiative Steering Committee, Board member at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Chairman of the Board for First Tee - Greater Detroit, and sits on the Executive Committee and Board of Sparky Anderson’s nonprofit organization CATCH.
Mr. Burns is a graduate of Central Michigan University and previously served as Vice President for Advancement at the University of Akron following more than two decades of healthcare and higher education leadership at the University of Toledo and the Medical College of Ohio.
Doug Ferrick
Chief Development Officer
Doug Ferrick
Chief Development Officer
Doug brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic fund development, team building, and management to the Foundation. He most recently served as the Vice President of Donor Relations with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Prior to his work for the United way, Ferrick served as the Chief Development Officer and Capital Campaign Director for the Children’s Center of Wayne County. He also has worked for Matrix Human Services / Barat Child and Family Services in Detroit. He is now serving as the Chief Development Officer for The Children’s Foundation. Contact Doug at (313) 261-9888 or DFerrick@yourchildrensfoundation.org
Todd Krieger
Chief Officer of Strategic Partnerships and Community Affairs
Todd Krieger
Chief Officer of Strategic Partnerships and Community Affairs
As the Chief Officer of Strategic Partnerships and Community Affairs, Todd is responsible for enhancing The Children's Foundation’s community relations efforts and developing strategic partnerships that lead to greater impact in The Foundation’s health need priority areas. Most recently, Todd served as Senior Director of Planning at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit where he led the organization’s planning initiatives, agency relations efforts and special projects. Core to his work was assisting Federation’s 17 constituent agencies reach and positively impact thousands of community members in need while also identifying areas of agency collaboration. Before joining Federation, Todd worked in a variety of marketing, communications, and public relations roles supporting Rocket Mortgage, Microsoft and others. Todd holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan, and a J.D. and B.S. in Mass Communications from Boston University. Contact Todd at (313) 261-9859 or tkrieger@YourChildrensFoundation.org.
David J. Lochner
Chief Financial Officer
David J. Lochner
Chief Financial Officer
David recently joined the Children’s Foundation leadership team as its Chief Financial Officer. In this capacity, he is responsible for financial stewardship and works with the executive leadership team on the development and execution of strategic partnerships. He was most recently President of Huntington National Bank’s East Michigan Region. There he was responsible for revenue growth within the Bank’s consumer, commercial, and private client customer segments operating within a region encompassing the eastern half of the state of Michigan, as well as the execution of the bank’s various community engagement and brand development strategies. Previously, he was President of FirstMerit Bank (Michigan) and was specifically responsible for the bank’s Commercial, Industrial, Commercial Real Estate, and Not-For-Profit lines of business throughout the state. Prior to joining FirstMerit, he served as the Director of Commercial Banking for RBS Citizens’ Commercial Banking Group in Michigan and was a Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Division Head for LaSalle Bank Midwest. His banking career began at National Bank of Detroit, where he held various positions in Commercial Banking. Prior to beginning his commercial banking career, he was Director of Bands at Northwest Junior High School, Jackson, Michigan. There, he led several award-winning ensembles in both Symphonic and Jazz music genres. David holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education from Eastern Michigan University. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Samaritas and is its Secretary, is a member of the Huntington National Bank Advisory Boards in the Great Lakes Bay and Flint regions, and is on the Finance and Audit Committee of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. He formerly served as a Director on the Boards of FirstMerit Bank, N.A., the Samaritas Foundation, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, the Midnight Golf Program, and the British American Chamber of Commerce. A life-long Michigander, David currently lives in West Bloomfield Township with Marilyn, his wife of 41 years. Together, they have raised three children and have been blessed with five grandchildren.
Jodi Wong
Vice President of Operations and Grants
Jodi Wong
Vice President of Operations and Grants
Jodi has more than 23 years of experience in healthcare philanthropy. She is serving Vice President of Operations for The Children’s Foundation. In addition to several years with the Foundation, her previous experience includes many years with the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, St. John Hospital & Medical Center and St. John Health Foundation. Jodi is a graduate of the University of Michigan, a lifelong Detroiter and a graduate of Leadership Detroit XXII. Wong is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and has served on numerous boards. Contact Jodi at (313) 745-5855 or JWong@yourchildrensfoundation.org
Our Staff
Gayle Berner
Program Officer
Gayle Berner
Program Officer
(313) 745-8890
Sean Camburn
Gift Processing and Donor Stewardship Associate
Sean Camburn
Gift Processing and Donor Stewardship Associate
(313) 964-6994
Katie Couture
Special Events Associate Manager
Katie Couture
Special Events Associate Manager
Emily Fleury
Marketing Coordinator
Emily Fleury
Marketing Coordinator
EFleury@YourChildrensFoundation.org
Oresha Greenidge Foster
Director of Operations & Human Resource Relations
Oresha Greenidge
Director of Operations & Human Resource Relations
(313) 993-8122
Elle Handyside
Development Assistant
Elle Handyside
Development Assistant
(810) 853-7733
Kate Kesner
Donor Engagement Manager
Kate Kesner
Donor Engagement Manager
(313) 745-8814
Steven Mann
PGA Fellow
Steven Mann
PGA Fellow
SMann@YourChildrensFoundation.org
Tracy Miller
Board Liaison, Assistant Secretary to the Board and Chief Liaison to the President
Tracy Miller
Board Liaison, Assistant Secretary to the Board and Chief Liaison to the President
(313) 745-1933
DeLaura Moeller
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
DeLaura Moeller
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
(313) 745-5422
Jill Nelson
Director of Marketing & Communications
Jill Nelson
Director of Marketing & Communications
(313) 966-2022
Abbey Olszewski
Social Media Specialist
Abbey Olszewski
Social Media Specialist
Kristine Ostrosky
Operations & Program Assistant
Kristine Ostrosky
Operations & Program Assistant
AJ Quackenbush
Executive Director of Development, Hospital-Based Charitable Strategies
AJ Quackenbush
Executive Director of Development, Hospital-Based Charitable Strategies
(313) 993-7099
Therese Quattrociocchi-Longe
Director – Corporate & Foundation Relations and Senior Program Officer
Therese Quattrociocchi-Longe
Director – Corporate & Foundation Relations and Senior Program Officer
(313) 745-0138
Kari Radjewski
Associate Director, Marketing & Communications
Kari Radjewski
Associate Director, Marketing & Communications
Bridget Resmer
Gift Processing and Donor Stewardship Associate
Bridget Resmer
Gift Processing and Donor Stewardship Associate
George Westerman
Director, Donor Relations & Gift Planning
George Westerman
Director, Donor Relations & Gift Planning
(313) 745-9344
Dianne Wilson
Manager, Constituent Information and Donor Stewardship
Dianne Wilson
Manager, Constituent Information and Donor Stewardship
(313) 993-8815