The Jackson L. Graves Foundation announced today that Mitzi Traxson has left the position of Managing Director of the Foundation to pursue other opportunities. The Foundation has hired Audre Darling to manage the day-to-day affairs of the organization and will carry the title of Executive Director. Traxson served as Managing Director from 2007 to 2013.
“Mitzi has not only been a fantastic managing director but she is our close personal friend,” said Angie Graves, “She is responsible for building the Foundation into a dynamic and sustainable charity that continues to innovate in the area of neonatal care.” Since 2007, the Foundation has raised over $200,000 for charitable purposes. “We will never be able to thank Mitzi enough for all the hard work she put into our Foundation the last six years,” said James Graves, “We truly appreciate her.”
During the tenure of Traxson, the Foundation has added partnerships with Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Northwest Arkansas and Lahav Lab at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. These partnerships are in addition to the long term connection to Arkansas Children’s Hospital which began in 2005. “We have grown substantially since 2007 and Mitzi has been a huge part of that growth,” said Angie Graves, “She’s been fantastic.”
The Foundation has hired Audre Darling for the new position of Executive Director. Darling has a degree in Communications from the University of Arkansas. She has worked closely with charitable organizations such as Feed Fayetteville, currently is the show host of the radio program, Community Matters, and works as Community Affairs Coordinator for Cumulus Broadcasting. Her focus will be on growing the mission of the Jackson L. Graves Foundation and working with a Board of Directors that will be formed later this Fall.
The Jackson L. Graves Foundation, established by James and Angie Graves in memory of their son, Jackson Lee Graves, is a charitable organization dedicated to improving care for infants who are the very sickest babies in need of complex medical attention. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life for neonatal and pediatric patients and families involved in critical care situations. It exists to provide family-centered care in the NICU environment to make trying times as comfortable, complete, hopeful and peaceful as possible.
For more information, please contact Audre Darling at audre@jacksongraves.org or 479.799.9592.