GI Research Foundation announces new team

CHICAGO, IL (APRIL 2020) - In a time when medical research has never been more important or expansive, the GI Research Foundation (GIRF), a non-profit dedicated to raising funds to support physician-scientists at the University of Chicago Medicine Digestive Diseases Center, is proud to announce a newly-appointed team of leaders including Highland Park resident, Jennie T. Weinstock, Development Manager. The team also includes Director of Major Gifts, Deborah Barnard and Fundraising Officer, Brittany Zelwin. Yekaterina (“Katie”) Chudnovsky, the newly-elected, first female Board President of GIRF, will oversee this new team.

The team will work collectively to broaden awareness of the organization’s events and programs and increase financial support through corporations, foundations, and individuals in order to advance the goals and mission of the Foundation.

Deborah Barnard, Director of Major Gifts, joins GIRF with 23 years of non-profit industry experience, 19 of which have been concentrated at national non-profit health organizations. Her experience includes successfully building long-term donor relationships through major gifts and individual giving and recruitment of corporate, retail, and medical industry funding partners and sponsors. Most recently, Deborah worked for the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine. She also worked for the National Psoriasis Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Jennie T. Weinstock, Development Manager, brings a wealth of experience in marketing, communications, sales, and fundraising, both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining GIRF, she spent over 13 years working in marketing and fundraising in a variety of roles for The NPD Group, The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, The American Dental Association, The Jewish Community Center of Chicago and, most recently, JourneyCare, where she led the Marketing and Communications team in the coordination and implementation of all integrated marketing campaigns.

Brittany Zelwin, Fundraising Officer, has more than 15 years of development experience. Most recently, she worked for Family Service of Lake County as a Development Associate, where she helped plan and execute fundraising strategies, managed donor events, and cultivated donor relationships. Prior to that, she worked for Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) and Weber Shandwick Worldwide.

“This team is poised for success to expand GIRF’s reach and connect with people across the world who are committed to funding research for digestive diseases,” says Chudnovsky. “Our vision together is to bring a greater public awareness to all GI issues that affect 1 out of 5 people, while sharing news with the public of the scientific developments that GIRF funds.”

For more information about GIRF’s mission, grants, and events, please visit https://giresearchfoundation.org/