We are excited to announce that Mary Tressel has been promoted to Director of Development at Monument Crisis Center. Following the legacy of Alexa Gambero, Mary will manage all aspects of fundraising, event planning, community outreach, and in-kind donation drives. Her experience over the last 1.5 years working in Donor Relations with multiple foundations, corporate teams, community and faith-based groups, and individual contributors has prepared her for this role.
“We are excited to bring Mary into this role. Her experience, attitude, and relationship building skills will be key in Monument Crisis Center’s ability to provide safety net resources and programs to those in need in Contra Costa County,” says Danny Scherer.
Mary began her communications and philanthropy career in the Bay Area after graduating from Saint Mary’s College of California. One of her first jobs at the Marin Humane Society taught her the value of sustaining donors who are strong believers in an organization’s mission. After a handful of years working for nonprofits, she then transitioned into the corporate sector and owned her own consulting business for seven years.
Mary completed her corporate career as Chief Communications and Purpose Officer for Armanino, an international accounting and business consulting firm. There, she co-created the Armanino Foundation, a multi-faceted grantor that provides grants, community service, and financial literacy through a crowdsourced model. A Concord resident who raised her family here with her husband Mike, Mary is excited to bring her skillset and professional experience to her new role.
Mary felt a great sense of fulfillment by working with multiple Monument Crisis Center team members to win an accessibility grant from the East Bay Regional Park District this year. This donation allowed us to take more than thirty clients on our first-ever Senior Moments Summer Field Trip to Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline. We’re not sure who had bigger smiles that day – our elderly clients who enjoyed a guided scenic walk, lunch, and dancing in the park, or Mary, who was so happy to witness this dream trip come true.
“I see the joy and purpose people experience when they contribute to Monument Crisis Center,” says Mary. “These donors with generous hearts believe in a world of abundance, where they support their community by sharing their gifts. That gift may be monetary, or it may be an extra jar of peanut butter from their pantry. Each holds a significance for the donor and provides for a brighter day for our clients.”
Lydia [Left] and Mary Tressel [Right] preparing for the game with the seniors during their trip.