FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Donor Conceived Council Elects 2024 Leadership Team and Announces Expansion
January 9, 2024 — U.S. Donor Conceived Council (USDCC) announces the election of its 2024 executive board and its expansion through a new department. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit is an all-volunteer group devoted to education and advocacy regarding the rights and best interests of people conceived through donated sperm, eggs, and embryos.
The organization will still be led by president and CEO Tiffany Gardner, who will also continue to oversee communications. Melissa Bornico will remain vice president of development. Tyler Levy Sniff will take over as vice president of government affairs while remaining vice president of legal affairs and organization treasurer. Founding USDCC member Bethany Kennedy returns to her prior position of secretary after a one-year absence.
Jillian Phillips will transition to vice president of educational initiatives, a new department in 2024. The educational initiatives department will develop materials to educate donors, recipient parents, the fertility industry, and others about best practices in donor conception and about the lived experiences of those impacted by gamete donation.
Joni Mantell joins the USDCC executive board as vice president of mental health initiatives. Joni is a licensed psychotherapist and previously served as a mental health expert on the USDCC advisory committee. She had 30 years’ experience with counseling in the donor conception and adoption realm when she learned that she was conceived through gamete donation. Lindsay Harris stepped down as vice president of mental health initiatives at the end of 2023 but will remain a member of USDCC’s board of directors and serve as a mental health expert on USDCC’s advisory committee.
Other new members of USDCC’s team for 2024 include Rachel Schiff, marketing director; Jana Rupnow, director of industry and medical provider resources and content; Stephanie Wicker, director of recipient parent resources and content; Mary Kate Bagley, co-director of LGBTQ+ families resources and content; Courtney Kersey, data analysis specialist; Rachel Britain, communications; and Doriya Bolton, co-director of LGBTQ+ families resources and content.
USDCC will continue its expansion and recruitment efforts in 2024 and will host a community town hall event on Tuesday, January 23, at 8:30 p.m. EST.
To learn more about USDCC, visit www.usdcc.org.
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