Who We Are

As President and CEO of the Brandywine Health Foundation, Ms. Briggs is responsible for guiding the overall organizational vision, strategic direction, operating and fiscal policies to ensure successful fulfillment of foundation’s mission with governance from the Board, and input from the staff.  She is committed to  strengthening the Brandywine Health Foundation’s well established reputation through increased visibility and by further building, maintaining and nurturing our network of donors, grantees, and community partners so critical to the mission of the foundation and our work in the greater Coatesville area.

Vanessa Briggs is an experienced leader in the field of public health with roots in the Philadelphia area.  She has devoted her entire career to advancing health equity and empowering vulnerable families and youth to live healthier lives. Ms. Briggs is highly skilled in working with communities to solve complex problems through multi-sectoral strategic partnerships, community engagement, health promotion and education, and disease management interventions.  She comes to the foundation with significant expertise in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations and in building multi-sector partnerships between health providers, policymakers and community members.

Prior to joining Brandywine Health Foundation, Vanessa served as Vice President, Community Health, at Holy Cross Health in Silver Springs, Maryland.  Before joining Holy Cross Health, Vanessa held the position of Executive Director for the Health Promotion Council, an affiliate of Public Health Management Corporation.  In her fifteen years at the Health Promotion Council, she grew the organization’s budget three-fold during her tenure while developing and leading several large-scale regional and national childhood obesity, nutrition and health equity initiatives. Vanessa began her career in senior dining and clinical nutrition services to improve the quality of life for older adults for Marriott Sodexho Health.

Ms. Briggs is a Registered Dietitian and holds a Master’s in Business Administration, with a concentration in Health Administration, from Eastern University in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dietetics from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey.

Dana M. Heiman is the Chief Impact Officer at the Brandywine Health Foundation, and she is responsible for special programs and grantmaking projects. She has been with the foundation since 2003, beginning as the Vice President for Development & Communications. Prior to joining the staff at the foundation, Dana served as the Director of Development at Planned Parenthood of Chester County for more than eight years. Under her direction there, the fundraising program increased significantly, doubling the number of donors and dollars raised. In addition to providing leadership for the agency’s $3.15 million capital and endowment drive, she implemented the organization’s gift-planning program in 2001.

A graduate of Villanova University, with a B.A. in English and Communications, Dana achieved professional certification as a Certified Fund Raising Executive in 2003 and has been recertified four times. In addition, she has been a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for over twenty-five years. She served on the board of directors of the AFP for six years and the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce, and served on the United Way of Chester County’s Investment Council as a co-chair of one of its Community Investment Teams from 2008-2016.  She currently serves on the Downingtown Area School District STEM Academy’s Advisory Board and the board of directors of The Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. She is a graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) at Bryn Mawr College and a Fellow of the Grantmakers in Health Terrance Keenan Institute.  She has lived in Chester County for over twenty five years, and currently resides in Downingtown with her husband, two sons, and dogs Cooper and Dakota.

Connect with Dana on LinkedIn.

Jill Whitcomb is the Managing Director, Philanthropy at the Brandywine Health Foundation. Jill began working with the foundation in 2006 as a consultant to organize the Strawberry Festival, the foundation’s largest fundraising event. In 2010 she joined the staff full-time, took on more fundraising responsibilities, and was eventually promoted into her current role.

Prior to her work at the foundation, Jill worked with the March of Dimes for 10 years, both as a consultant and full time development staff.  She got her start in fundraising and special event planning working for Dutko & Associates, a government affairs firm on Capitol Hill, before turning to the field of non-profits and philanthropy.

Jill currently serves on the boards of directors of the Coatesville Youth Initiative and the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

Jill received her B.A. in Political Science at American University.  She returned to Chester County from Washington, DC in 1989 and raised three wonderful children in Tredyffrin Township where she still resides with her husband.

Kimberly Daye Hardy, M.Ed. joined the Brandywine Health Foundation Team in December 2018 as the Strategy Officer, a newly created position. Kimberly is responsible for the daily management of programs and initiatives and integration with grantee/partner investments.

Prior to joining BHF, Kimberly served as Director of Operations with KIPP Philadelphia Schools; Adjunct Faculty at Temple University College of Public Health; and Director at To Our Children’s Future with Health where she led year-round health based programs and initiatives for youth and families in West and North Philadelphia, launched a training division empowering community partners and organizations, and served as part of the development team securing federal, state, and municipal grant funding.

Kimberly and her family reside in East Fallowfield.

Peggy is the Administrative Assistant at the Brandywine Health Foundation. Prior to joining the Brandywine Health Foundation, she provided support for two Chester County non-profit organizations, Canine Partners for Life and The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc.

Peggy has been a member of the Kennett Square Lions Club since 1996 and has served as Treasurer and Secretary. Peggy has twice received the Lion of the Year award presented by the sitting President and has served as co-chair of White Cane Day in addition to having served on the board of Kennett Run Charities. Peggy continues to volunteer for Canine Partners for Life in addition to her service as a Lion. In addition to receiving the Exceptional Parent Award from the Chester County Disabilities Services, Peggy and her husband received the Jack Graham, Jr. Courage Award from the Kelly Ann Dolan Memorial Fund.

Peggy received her B.A. in Religion from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. She is a native of Chester County and lives in Kennett Square with her husband and visiting service dogs in training.

Luis Borrero joined the Brandywine Health Foundation Staff in October 2018 as the part-time Communications and Engagement Associate. Luis is responsible for developing and executing the marketing, and communications strategy of the Foundation to generate broader community awareness and engagement with a strong focus on social media. He is tasked with ensuring consistent brand and message experience that aligns with the Brandywine Health Foundation’s mission and the standards of excellence.

Karol Collins joined the Staff of the Brandywine Health Foundation in October of 2019 to take on the role of Strawberry Festival Event Coordinator. Karol is responsible for the day-to-day organization and management of the 2019 Strawberry Festival which will be held Thursday, May 30- Sunday, June 2, 2019 on the grounds of Brandywine Hospital She is charged with overseeing and ensuring the successful coordination of the four-day Festival including but not limited to sponsorship, logistics, volunteers, vendors, booths and contracted entertainment. Prior to joining the staff of the Brandywine Health Foundation Karol served as the volunteer co-chair of the Strawberry Festival for four years.

The Strawberry Festival is an annual four-day festival attracting over 28,000 visitors, that benefits the greater Coatesville community. It is a family-friendly event with something for everyone! There are carnival rides, live music, delicious food, strawberry shortcake, pony rides, shopping, fireworks, and much more! The event is free to attend and each activity is pay-as-you-go. The 2019 Strawberry Festival is presented by KeyBank and hosted by Brandywine Hospital.