Our Board
Christy Rimrodt
Kirk and Christy are the parents of Vivian Lee, three years old and sister to Willa and twin Graeme. Vivian was diagnosed with CF at just 9 days old, and it has been the passion and drive of both Kirk and Christy to do everything in their power to fight for their daughter. Kirk is an IT Analyst for Eaton Corporation and has a passion for tinkering on his motorcycles and teaching his children how to garden, build things and read in his spare time. Christy has been a family and children’s photographer at Studio Christy since 2005. The birth of Vivian and her CF diagnosis has given Christy a drive to fight for her child and all those with CF for a cure. She is able to use her passions for design, art, and raising awareness for CF through the Vivian Lee Foundation. It is the prayer of both Kirk and Christy that they will see a cure for cystic fibrosis in Vivian’s lifetime.
Laura Graham
Laura is the most recent addition to our board. She comes to us with a personal connection to CF. Laura and her husband, Brian, are carriers of the CF gene. They found this out during routine genetic testing during Laura’s pregnancy with their son, Ladd. While Ladd was born without CF, Laura and Brian are committed to supporting the quest to find a cure for CF. Laura’s professional background includes marketing/public relations and nonprofit fundraising, with more than 10 years experience in the industry. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time outdoors with her family in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
On the Vivian Lee Foundation Laura says, “I feel honored to be involved with Vivian Lee Foundation. I was searching for a CF charity that I could connect with and help in a tangible way. I am thrilled to be supporting local Oregon families dealing with CF and working to support finding a cure for this genetic disease.”
Julie McPherson
I have two little girls Lyla (11) and Mj (7) that were both diagnosed at birth with Cystic Fibrosis. Once we got over our initial shock of the diagnosis with Lyla we jumped head first into fundraising, from there my love for advocacy and helping the CF community grew! I knew I wanted to be able to reach families and meet them right where they were and help them through whatever need they may have.
I volunteer to help others in the CF Community , just because you have CF doesn’t mean it has to have you! There are resources and people who stand behind you and fight the good fight to see adults and children just like mine have a future that is full life and love.
Kristin Arnold
My husband was born with CF and had his first double lung transplant April 10th, 9 years to the day of his second transplant. Jesse was born October 1980 and diagnosed with CF when he was 1 day old. Because Jesse is (obviously) a carrier of the gene, and even though I am not, our 4 yr old twins are both carriers. I volunteer to help find a cure because I don't want my children or any child to have limitations on life!
We currently live in Happy Valley and Jesse is now a stay at home dad taking care of 2 very active twins, 2 old dogs and a crazy cat!
Vanessa Deets
Vanessa has been a volunteer with the Vivian Lee Foundation since 2018 and in 2020, she also became a market vendor with her small business, A Branch & Cord, where she hand-makes macrame decor and fiber rainbows. Vanessa runs her small business from home in the Pacific Northwest while she and her husband, Zach, raise their 3 young children Alden, Ophelia & Payton. Vanessa also has 2 wonderful stepchildren, Bailey and Greysen. It's never a dull moment in their household!
Rachel Konty
Rachel, aka Auntie Rae Rae, has been a part of Vivian's life since she was a newborn (she even photographed her in the hospital!). She has been a supporter and volunteer of Vivian Lee Foundation since its very first market. She joined the board of directors this year.
Rachel is a mother and wife to her son Isley and husband Joseph. They live in West Linn, Oregon with their 2 dogs, kitten and chickens. She is passionate about advocating for her niece Vivian and cystic fibrosis.
Meghann Weil
When life gives you CF, you do whatever you can to fight for a cure. For Meghann and her husband Bryan, CF became their life when their eldest daughter, Claire, was diagnosed at 17 days old. That was in the Spring of 2017 and in the early weeks of adjusting to their new life as both first time parents and caring for an infant with CF, they serendipitously came across a flier for a Vivian Lee Foundation event. Since then, they have made it their mission to support raising funds and awareness for CF. In addition to supporting VLF, Meghann is also a Family Partner in Quality Improvement with the Cystic Fibrosis Care Team at OHSU Doernbecher and fundraises twice annually for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Great Strides Walk as team Claire’s Crew and for their Gala Auction. Meghann and Bryan are fortunate to have made careers out of a passion as they both work in the wine industry. When they’re not hustling to beat CF or walk the vines, they enjoy weekend getaways to the coast and playground hunting with Claire and younger sister Ava.
