Meet Lauren Short!

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Meet (and friend!) Lauren Short, an everydayhero, Raiser's Edge, RENXT, Online Express, and Blackbaud Merchant Services user, with Riverside Healthcare Foundation.


Meet Lauren Short! This week's Community Corner spotlight shines on everydayhero, Online Express, Raiser's Edge, RENXT, and Blackbaud Merchant Services user, Lauren Short, with Riverside Healthcare Foundation. Lauren Short's Community Profile>
Tell us about your family (fur babies count!) "My husband and I are just the two of us for now, but my youngest siblings are nearby for college, so we often feel like we have the "kids" home for birthdays and holidays." Where do you live? "Chicagoland!" What do you like to do for fun? "We are an outdoorsy couple who love biking, hiking, and visiting national parks around the U.S. I also enjoy crafting- usually homemade cards. All my Christmas cards this year were handcrafted!"
	What’s a life achievement you are particularly proud of? "I am currently balancing work with a MBA program with an A average!" What’s one memory that always makes you smile? "My grandpa surprising me with a big gift to help me finish my undergraduate degree! He is so quietly generous!" What is one interesting fact about yourself most people don't know? "My husband is a twin and his twin brother married one of my best friends from college."
Tell us about your organization: "Riverside Healthcare Foundation operates around the belief that generosity heals. Whether gifts are given for scholarship, new technology, or compassionate programs, that generosity is often a way for a patient to heal by paying it forward. In turn, their generosity heals and inspires others!" What’s a typical day like for you? "I spend 2/3 of my day relationally with people whether those are external donor meetings or internal project meetings. THe other 1/3 of my day is spent on the management of our annual giving direct mail and communication management. I am also the DBA for RE- we are a small office!" What’s the best part of your job? "When I can connect the donor and recipient. Though not always possible in healthcare, I love my annual event that connect scholarship donors to the nurses they sponsored!!"
	What advice would you give someone starting out in the non-profit field? "Your love for the organizations needs to trump your fear about asking." What do you love about the Blackbaud Community? "People inspire me to do more. I love that the best fundraisers model giving in the way they live their lives."

Finally.. if you were a sandwich, what kind of sandwich would you be? "If I was a sandwich, I would be grilled cheese- I want people to have that immediate comfort with me. Grilled cheese makes you feel at home!"