Donate Life Northwest Staff

Mary Jane Hunt - Executive Director

Mary Jane has 32 years of nonprofit experience with 23 at Donate Life Northwest. Her responsibilities include administration, board development, legislative affairs, media relations, fund development and planning. 

As a native Oregonian, Mary Jane lives in Wilsonville with her husband and has two sons, ages 28 and 25. She enjoys gardening and has a passion for golf.

Valerie Egan- Program Coordinator: Education Outreach

Valerie is delighted to oversee Donate Life Northwest's high school, college and Hispanic outreach and education programs.  She has worked in non-profit and public education since 2001, as both a classroom teacher and a program administrator.  A native Oregonian, Valerie first earned an M.A. in Teaching from Oregon State University, before attending the University of Oregon for her M.A. in Non-profit Arts Administration.  

Valerie adores travel, languages, literature, cooking, hiking, and various art projects.     

Debra Freedman - Program Coordinator: Volunteers

Debra provides the orientation training and scheduling for Donate Life Northwest volunteers.  She has worked more than 10 years with youth oriented non-profit agencies providing program and volunteer coordination and is very excited to be sharing her talents with such incredible staff and volunteers here.  

Debra grew up in Michigan and is a University of Michigan alumna (Go Blue!) but calls Portland her home.   She enjoys being with her family spending time outdoors, traveling and meeting new people.  

 

Susan Chrzanowski - Development Coordinator

Susan's responsibilities include grant prospecting and writing and planning and management of fundraising events. She grew up in the Chicagoland area and earned a B.B.A. in Marketing and a minor in Dance from the University of Iowa.

Susan worked at a direct mail fundraising firm and performed writing, copy editing and graphic design services for non-profit clients.  She also worked as a pastry chef for one year after graduating from Western Culinary Institute’s Patisserie and Baking program in 2007. Susan enjoys baking, music, ballet, books and film. Her aunt received a liver transplant in 1999.

Sara Lewis - Finance & Operations Manager

Sara started at Donate Life Northwest as Coordinator of Volunteers in August of 2007.  She returned to her hometown of Portland in June of ’07 after three years in Panama with the Peace Corps where she worked as a Sustainable Agriculture volunteer as well as a Regional Volunteer Coordinator. 

After a year as Coordinator of Volunteers, Sara moved into the position of “Finance and Special Programs Coordinator” and is utilizing her small business bookkeeping skills.  She is excited to expand her scope of financial knowledge to encompass the nonprofit sector.  She also works on our Hispanic Outreach Program as well as our Website and Newsletters.

 

Sara Patinkin - Development Director

As Development Director, Sara is responsible for contributor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, event planning, and public relations.  Prior to Donate Life Northwest, Sara earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Portland State University.  Sara has over five years of non-profit development experience and is a board member of the Willamette Valley Development Officers.  She enjoys playing with her son and husband, hiking, wine tasting and reading.

 

Judith Trujillo - Program Director

Program Director Judith Trujillo is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of all Donate Life Northwest educational programs and the donor registry in Oregon and SW Washington.

Judith has 10 years experience in non-profit volunteer management, fundraising and development and degrees in secondary education, medical technology, and business administration.  She has three college-age daughters, lives in Gresham, and enjoys music, theater, reading, and travel.

Anna Pappert - Administrative Assistant

Anna has worked in an administrative position in the education field for a number of years and she is very excited to now be educating the public about organ, eye, and tissue donation. In addition to administrative duties, Anna will be taking on the role of social media coordinator, helping to reach out to the online community with Donate Life Northwest's life saving message.

Anna studied Philosophy at the University of Florida and Colorado State University. She enjoys cooking, bike riding, road trips, and exploring the Portland area.