Board of Directors
Pictured – left to right: David Fleming, President Donate Life America, Bruce Blessing, Dr. Matthew Cooper, President of the Board for Donate Life America.
About Us
Bruce Blessing is the President/Founder of the Meredith Haga Foundation. Bruce brings the passion and advocates for organ donation. Responsible for overseeing all facets of the organization, Bruce drives the mission, operations and engagement with the Board of Directors. Bruce is also a living organ donor and knows first hand the process and true need for the education and community outreach supporting organ transplantation.
Bruce is the CEO of Pipe Line Utility Contractors for the past 32 years in Blountville, Tennessee. He also owns Stone Ridge Farms which raises beef cattle in Bristol, Virginia.
In 2024, Bruce Blessing was recognized by Donate Life America with the Joseph S. Wolf award, which acknowledges people that make an impact on organ donation nationwide.
Our Team
The Meredith Haga Foundation is 100% volunteer organization. The foundation has no staff, therefore our overhead is extremely limited, meaning that at least 98% of donations received go directly to our programs – especially helping living organ donors.
The daily functions are handled by our Board of Directors whom have a wide range of experience. Seven of our board members have a very strong bond with organ donation…2 living organ donors, 2 organ recipients, 3 transplant professionals.
Adam Mc Curry
Vice President
Adam is Senior Director of Development for Fulenwider Enterprises, Inc., which operates 149 restaurants, including Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell, across six states. Adam lives in Morgontown, NC with his wife.
John Caso
Secretary - Heart Transplant Recipient
John has over 35 years of business experience, with 20 years as a business owner and additional 10 years of managing and operating non-profits. John is married has two children and four grandchildren. John is forever grateful for the second chance of life he received through transplant.
Caitlin Gase
Treasurer
Caitlin is a certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Her professional experience includes working with nonprofits in North Carolina and Iowa. Caitlin is married to Xfinity Race car driver and team owner Joey Gase and has twin boys.
William Maxiner
MHA, FACHE
Will is the Senior National Director for Transplant for DaVita Kidney Care. Will brings 15 years experience in healthcare and transplantation. Will lives in Richmond, VA with his wife and two children.
Ellie Patterson
Sweet Briar 2016
Ellie is the sales manager at Taradel LLC, a marketing agency in the Richmond, VA area. Ellie and Meredith became close friends at Sweet Briar College. Ellie is married, has a son Woody and two corgis, Lucy and Teddy.
Hallsey Van Dongen
Sweet Briar 2016
Hallsey is the manager for reporting at Envestnet Tamarac, a comprehensive technology company specializing in solutions for the Registered Investment Advisor industry. Hallsey became friends with Meredith at Sweet Briar College. Hallsey is married and has a son, Charlie.
Sherri Settles
Sherri has 10 years of experience working in the field of organ transplantation. She is Physician Relationship Manager for the Kidney Transplant and Urology operation at Ascension St. Thomas in Nashville Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee.
Lydia Fleck-Dixon
Sweet Briar 2016
Lydia is a Construction Supervisor for the Proplusion Plant spaces on the new aircraft carrier, U.S.S. John F. Kennedy, at Newport News Shipbuilding. Lydia and Meredith were roommates during their senior year at Sweet Briar. Lydia is married and lives in Newport News, VA.
Billy Jarvis
3x Kidney Transplant Recipient
Senior Education Coordinator at Tennessee Donor Services, where he has made a lasting impact for over two decades. Billy’s journey as a three-time kidney recipient, starting in 1991, has not only fueled his commitment to organ donation, passion for life and helping others. Billy is married and has two sons and a grandaughter.
Jan Nelms
Jan has played an active role in over three decades of experience in the organ donation arena. As an office manager, for Tennessee Donor Services, she has played a vital role in supporting team members in the recovery of organs and tissue, maintaining meticulous records, and providing compassionate outreach to donor families. Jan is married and shares her house with her dogs Dixie, Gibbs, Daisy Colby and Sissi.
Steven Jamison
Living Kidney Donor
Rebecca Jarvis
BSN, RN, CCTC
Rebecca Jarvis is the Outreach Coordinator and Senior Clinical Coordinator at UT Medical Center Knoxville. Rebecca has 27 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, she has specialized in renal nursing and includes six years as a dialysis nurse, eight years as a dialysis access coordinator, and 13 years as a transplant coordinator. Rebecca is married and has two sons and a granddaughter.
Dr, Tom Olmsted
retired
Dr. Olmsted was the Head of Psychiatry at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, VA and maintained a solo practitioner office in Bristol, VA. He is now happily retired after thirty years of practice.