Last July, Mission of Mercy welcomed a new CEO, Kris Anderson, who now oversees all three MOM programs – Arizona, Texas and Maryland/Pennsylvania. He will be visiting Arizona and attending our upcoming “Evening in the Garden” fall fundraising event on Nov. 20 at the Desert Botanical Garden. We recently took the opportunity to learn a little more about him.
Our event theme of “Sowing the Seeds of Dignity, Compassion and Love” resonates deeply with Kris. His journey with MOM started with “seed planting” while he was a general manager at a golf course in Maryland, a location where MOM hosted one of its main annual fundraisers. A seed was planted in him, and he knew he wanted to learn more about the organization and help support the cause.
His relationship with MOM grew over years of helping to host the fundraiser and eventually led to him taking a position on the board of directors, where he served for 10 years and learned all about the operations of each region. When the board approached him about taking on the role of CEO, he felt like it was another seed being planted.
“I’d already been in love with the organization and believe in the mission. This new leadership role gives me an opportunity to let God work through me to accomplish some extremely worthy work,” he says. “At the end of the day, what we’re really trying to do is make people healthier and make their lives better, and do that with great compassion, dignity and love.”
Kris wants to grow MOM so the organization can serve as many patients as possible while always remembering that every patient matters. He appreciates how each of the regions diligently works to add services without adding expenses. Most of that work is done by “planting seeds” and cultivating relationships. For example, in Arizona, patients are blessed with additional services provided by eye care specialists, a podiatrist and a dermatologist – all who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to help those in need.
“We continue to look at ways to expand our services with programs like nutrition education, dental services, mental healthcare and more,” Kris says. “The healthcare professionals who come and volunteer their time are incredible people who thoroughly understand what we are doing. God opens doors and brings people to MOM so we can continue to further our amazing work in the community.”
Without MOM, Kris believes the patients MOM serves would simply go without care. The volunteers provide services that they, without question, need to live longer and healthier lives.
When he is not working to support MOM’s mission, Kris enjoys spending time with his wife, 24-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter. He also enjoys traveling when he can, so he is especially looking forward to his visit to Arizona later this fall.
“Sowing seeds is what we do, and I can’t wait to see the progress we’re making in Arizona,” Kris says. “Our goal is to sow those seeds and let them grow in people – whether it be our patients, our volunteers, our staff or our donor network.”
