Five new members have been appointed to the board of directors at a cancer-fighting, mutual fund industry charity. Meanwhile, the charity's team is also gearing up for a spring fundraiser that could be their biggest yet.

Amy Ellen Fisher Touchstone Investments Managing Director, Strategic Relationships

Frank Heavey, executive director of the Boston-based Expect Miracles Foundation, tells MFWire, "A combination of leadership, generosity, and passion from these new directors is really going to help us increase the impact that the foundation has on people facing cancer."

The newest board members are: Amy Fisher, managing director of strategic relationships at Touchstone Investments; Clint Harris, head of wealth management platforms at Invesco US; Jane Mancini, global head of business development in the asset servicing wing at BNY Mellon; Andy McFetridge, head of strategic relationships and investment specialists at John Hancock Investment Management; and Sherry Murdock Moreland, president and chief operating officer at Mediant.

As for the board's nomination process, Heavey says, "Each director can serve two three-year terms. Each year, we have a slate of directors that retire. Throughout the year, the board is always looking for potential candidates and putting those potential candidates through a vetting process."

"Sometimes it can take years to develop a relationship [with a candidate], sometimes it's someone that is known not only to myself and the organization, but also to the members of the board. The length of time can vary."

Candidates, Heavey says, are typically recommended for evaluation by existing or former directors of the board.

For the newest slate of directors, their biggest immediate project is getting their networks and organizations involved in this year's social distance challenge.

The social distance challenge, which will take place from May 16 to 22, will be led by Maggie Dombroski, director of development at Expect Miracles.

Dombroski tells MFWire that this year's goal is to raise one million dollars through the challenge. "This will be the first time that our organization has an event that raises a million dollars. It's pretty lofty, and that's what we're most looking forward to be able to increase our impact."

The social distance challenge began in 2020 with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when businesses worldwide worked to pivot away from in-person events. The event this spring will be the third annual iteration of the challenge.

"It's a seven-day virtual race where people can log miles for biking, walking, running, or [otherwise] doing something that gets them moving. It's a race against each other in support of the cancer community," Dombroski adds.

This year, the Expect Miracles team is aiming for 1,800 participants in the social distance challenge.

Heavey says, "It's going to be all hands on deck ... It's going to be a fun and exciting challenge to meet, and I think we can do it because we have such a wonderful, committed, loyal, and generous group of supporters."

"It's been wonderful to see the industry get behind this common cause," he adds. "I think that the distance challenge will be a huge success and we've seen evidence of that already with the success of the Peloton Corporate Showdown that we had at the end of January."

The Expect Miracles team expects to do the Peloton Corporate Showdown again next year, as this year's event was a smashing success. "We view it as the kick-off to the distance challenge campaign, and it was incredibly well-received by the industry."

"People were incredibly generous and had a lot of fun doing it," Heavey adds.

The Peloton Corporate Showdown goal was to raise $75,000, and the Expect Miracles team ended with $75,467. "Maggie did a phenomenal job organizing it," lauds Heavey, adding that Allison Saloy of Neuberger Berman and Scott Brady of Columbia Threadneedle were also "indispensable."

In the upcoming months, those looking to participate in more events with Expect Miracles should anticipate the Expect Miracles in Manhattan gala, which will take place in-person at Ziegfeld Ballroom on March 22.

"We're expecting tremendous support for the event," says Heavey. The Columbia Threadneedle team will also be recognized for their longtime support and an increase in sponsorship at the gala. 

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