The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer has named Samantha Maragnano, a University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduate, to the position of regional resource development coordinator.
Ms. Maragnano, a native of Plympton, Ma, graduated from UT-Chattanooga earlier this month after majoring in women’s studies and psychology. She previously studied at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire and at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Ms. Maragnano will start at the foundation on June 1 and will report to Austin Hatcher Foundation President Amy Jo Osborn and foundation Director of Operations Kim Etheredge.
Ms.
Maragnano has extensive experience doing volunteer work in the Chattanooga area for the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the Youth Cancer Awareness Program, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Prior to joining the foundation, she worked for Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults in Chattanooga as an intern. "All of these roles will benefit her in the foundation job which will include implementation, coordination, and management of regional cost-effective fundraising activities – along with building and training a volunteer base to assist with fundraising," officials said.
“Samantha will be tasked with maintaining current relationships and building new ones in our area, to help us reach our goals,” Ms. Osborn said. “In that regard, she is way ahead of the game due to her grassroots involvement both with our organization and others in our community. Her addition to our staff comes at a perfect time as we continue to expand awareness for the foundation, while always focusing first and foremost on our strong, local base of support.”
Shortly after coming to UT-Chattanooga, Ms. Maragnano said, she became interested in the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s mission to erase the effects of pediatric cancer, along with the variety of services provided to both young patients and their family members.
“I’d never seen an organization like this that does so much in so many ways for people,” Ms. Maragnano said. “The foundation … they are such good people and I can’t wait to work with them in a more involved way.”