Foundation Staff
Our staff is happy to help you with any questions or donations you may have. Feel free to call or stop by any time.
Lydia Brown
President
(319) 369-4768
lydbrown@mercycare.org
Lydia leads philanthropic activities in support of the hospital as President of the Mercy Medical Center Foundation. Lydia brings her years of community leadership and business acumen to the forefront in her role. She is team-oriented with extensive professional and volunteer experience in building relationships that make people and communities better. She is a creative problem solver and loves working with different people for the greater good. Professionally, Lydia has started and owned her own companies, founded a non-profit to create financial impact for women-owned businesses and worked in commercial real estate and investment to enhance the economic health of the region. Her passion for positive change has led her to serve on a number of not-for-profit boards, including as Board Chair of Theatre Cedar Rapids, Board Chair of Cedar Rapids Economic Metro Alliance, Board Chair of ICR Iowa, Board Chair of Four Oaks and a 15-year member of the Mercy Board of Trustees. When the opportunity to serve as the President of the Mercy Foundation became available, it was the perfect fit for her.
Lydia is a graduate of the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University. She is a native of Evansville, Indiana. She and her husband, Mike, have been in Cedar Rapids for over 30 years. They have three adult children they enjoy going to see and traveling with. Lydia is a tennis player, a constant reader, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and is always up for travel and adventure.
Mindy Kayser
Vice President of Donor Engagement
(319) 398-6278
mkayser@mercycare.org
Mindy brings more than 20 years of local nonprofit administration, marketing, communications and fundraising experience to her position with the Mercy Foundation. Her work history includes leadership roles with The Salvation Army as Director of Development and Communications and, most recently, Goodwill, as Vice President of Marketing. Mindy holds an undergraduate degree in journalism and mass communications from Drake University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Northern Iowa.
Mindy’s first memorable service experience was traveling to South Carolina with a church youth group to assist relief efforts after Hurricane Hugo hit the area in 1989. It was after this experience that she knew her calling was service to others. Mindy was moved to join Mercy because of its influential legacy, its enduring ministry of care and for the positive impact it has on the health and wellbeing of so many. She enjoys working with donors on their charitable goals and takes great pride in promoting the Mercy mission through philanthropic support.
Mindy's favorite pastime is supporting her three boys in their interests and activities and creating family memories through experiences big and small.
Patti Kunz
Senior Director of Philanthropy
(319) 369-4748
pkunz@mercycare.org
Patti joins the Mercy Foundation as a leader with a passion to serve. She is dedicated to helping people change the world through philanthropy. While serving as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua, she realized service is where God calls her to be. Working with others to share in their philanthropic goals gives her great energy. Patti is a proud Rotarian and serves on many community boards. Before coming to Mercy, she served as the director of development at Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity.
Patti graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in business administration and a minor in Spanish. Patti is married to her husband, Kyle, and they have two daughters. Their family enjoys going to their cabin in Wisconsin, boating on the Mississippi River, biking and being outdoors.
Laura Booth, CFRE
Senior Director of Philanthropy
(319) 398-6626
lbooth@mercycare.org
Prior to joining Mercy, Laura spent 11 years with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation working with donors and overseeing family philanthropy and planned giving programs. Before that she spent a decade working in the retirement and investment services division at Principal Financial Group. Laura is active in the Eastern Iowa Planned Giving Council, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Eastern Iowa Chapter and the Cedar Rapids Area Estate Planning Council. She earned her Certified Fundraising Executive accreditation in 2019.
In her role with Mercy, Laura serves as the primary planned giving resource for the Foundation and provides leadership to Grateful Patient Giving. She has a passion for helping donors develop customized charitable strategies and would love the opportunity to hear your Mercy story, learn about your giving interests and assist you in designing your unique philanthropic legacy.
Laura and her husband Joe have faced numerous health challenges and have experienced The Mercy Touch® firsthand. This personal experience has given her a special understanding of how meaningful it can be for patients and families to express their gratitude through giving. Laura is a Cedar Rapids native and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Communication at the University of Northern Iowa.
Outside of work Laura spends her time watching her two children participate in their numerous activities and loves to travel, bake and read. She also enjoys volunteering, including service with the Jefferson Band Parents Association.
Jennifer Perkins
Senior Accountant
Jennifer brings more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience to her position with the Mercy Foundation and has spent most of career in the non-profit sector.
Jennifer is a Cedar Rapids native and graduate of Mount Mercy University with a B.A. in Accounting. She is passionate about giving and serving others, which made the Mercy Foundation the perfect fit for her.
She enjoys crafting and spending her free time with husband, Dustin, and their twins, Delaney and Cooper. She especially loves spectating the many activities that keep her children busy.
Julie Potter
Project Coordinator
(319) 398-6206
jpotter@mercycare.org
Julie has been with Mercy Foundation since 2008. Prior to Mercy, Julie was employed with McLeodUSA for 18 years as a senior administrative services manager.
Julie and her husband enjoy vacationing near the boundary waters of Minnesota, spending time with their two grown sons and rooting for Northern Illinois football.
An ardent supporter of Waypoint, her favorite quote motivates her daily: “Not to decide, is to decide.” – Harvey Cox
Christine Stevenson
Donor Services Specialist
(319) 398-6196
castevenson@mercycare.org
Chris processes incoming gifts, manages the donor/prospect database and produces gift and fund reports for the staff.
Prior to Mercy, Chris worked for 15 years in a family-owned business providing payroll and accounting services. Chris is a native of Cedar Rapids whose ties to Mercy run deep as she was born at Mercy and had both her children here at Mercy. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Business and enjoys spending time with her two grown children and husband, cheering on the Hawkeyes, traveling to concerts and boating on Coralville Lake.
Potique ‘Tiki’ Johnson
Philanthropy Services Specialist
(319) 398-6196
pjohnson@mercycare.org
Tiki works alongside Chris processing incoming gifts and managing the donor/prospect database. Both Tiki and Chris play important roles in supporting donor stewardship.
Tiki has more than 20 years of experience in business management and administration in the hospitality and entertainment industry. While Tiki was born in Maryland and has lived in other states, she has spent most of her life in the Cedar Rapids area and considers it home. Her daughter, Lindsey, was born at Mercy and Tiki believes strongly in the healing faith of the Mercy community. Tiki graduated from Kirkwood with an associate's and paralegal degree and has completed many additional certification courses, a reflection of her commitment to lifelong learning and her passion for mastering new things. She and her husband, Jim, travel north to Minnesota each year for vacation, where they enjoy cabin life and fishing at the lake.
Gretchen Paricka
Event and Auxiliary Assistant
(319) 398-6286
gparicka@mercycare.org
Gretchen is a proven relationship builder and brings experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to her role with the Mercy Foundation. Gretchen’s position supports the Mercy Auxiliary and Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, working with volunteers and organizing special events to raise funds for patient care needs. Gretchen is a longtime volunteer herself, serving the Cedar Rapids community, including the special needs population, seniors and children.
With a focus on authentic communication and understanding, Gretchen strives to foster trust and collaboration between individuals, organizations and volunteers through meaningful engagement and collaborative efforts. She is a graduate of Mount Mercy University and holds a degree in Public Relations. Gretchen resides in Cedar Rapids with her husband Joe and their two school-aged children. She most recently worked as Executive Director of the Iowa Parent Teacher Association, where she helped to build an engaged membership and advocated for the children of Iowa at the local, state and federal levels.
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