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Inspiring Hope and Happiness for Those with Cystic Fibrosis

Inspiring Hope and Happiness for Those with Cystic Fibrosis

Our Team

Matt McCloskey

Founder & Executive Director

As Executive Director, Matt surrounds himself with a very dedicated and mission driven team. He founded Take A Breather to offer families living with cystic fibrosis, a temporary escape, a breather, from the everyday struggles and emotional burdens of this disease. One of Matt’s most memorable “breathers” was when he heard about a young woman living with CF, who was asked to leave a movie theater because she was coughing to much. “We immediately contacted the competing theater in her town of Corpus Christi. Take A Breather rented the entire theater, arranged a limo to drive her to the theater, where she met her family and friends. Together they enjoyed a private screening of the movie and ate and drank all the popcorn and soda they could…..and she was able to cough all she wanted”.

Molly McBryan

Director of Giving

As Director of Wish Giving since 2014, Molly is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all wish nominations including working directly with the social workers, the wish committee, and the wish families. She also assists with wish presentations, presents to potential partnering clinics about the Take A Breather Foundation, and is the liaison between partnering clinics and Take A Breather. One of the most rewarding benefits to Molly’s job is to see a wish through from start to finish, and to hear from the wish recipients, after receiving their wish, the incredible impact the wish had on their lives.

Laura Zowney

Marketing & Social Media Manager

 

Liz McDonald

Event Coordinator

Jen Bleecher

Community Outreach Volunteer

Jen is an adult living with Cystic Fibrosis. She is married, has a 25 year old daughter and worked as a nurse for over 20 years. Jen has dedicated many years to fundraising and involvement with the CF Foundation prior to joining us. Now, after receiving a double lung transplant, she has pivoted to volunteering some of her time helping with our Community Outreach initiatives, such as building relationships within the CF and broader communities, assisting in planning of fundraising events, and overseeing Take A Breather’s School Club program. Jen tells us that she wants to be able to help improve the lives of others in honor of her lung donor, who gave Jen the ultimate gift, the gift of more time.

Board of Directors

Our board is comprised of volunteers who generously give their time and energy in support of our mission. We are able to draw from our professions in accounting, law, marketing, management, sales, healthcare, and insurance to further our exposure in the community.

  • Christine Emmert – Chair

  • Paul Bevlock – Treasurer

  • Jen Bleecher – Secretary

  • Dr. Denis Hadjiliadis – Director

  • Matt McCloskey – Director

  • Harry Ferguson – Director

  • Mike Fitzpatrick – Director

  • Brian Kraus – Director

  • James McDonald – Director

  • Eric Milby – Director

  • John McCloskey – Director

  • Shannon Locher – Director