Michelle Pius
CARLSBAD–Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a Carlsbad nonprofit, has named Michelle Pius chief development officer.
Pius will oversee the strategic direction, expansion and operation of Fresh Start’s development department, which provides funding directly to the organization’s medical program. The Fresh Start Medical Program provides free plastic surgery for children with physical deformities, ranging from cosmetic to reconstructive caused by accidents, disease, abuse and birth defects.
“We’re thrilled Michelle will be re-joining our team,” said Fresh Start CEO Shari Brasher. “She shares our organization’s vision and our focus on increasing the value of surgical gifts we provide the community year over year.”
Prior to joining Fresh Start, Pius worked at Palomar Health, where she secured the second largest gift in the history of the hospital system to expand the emergency department as Director of Major Giving. Previous to her role at Palomar Health, she was Senior Director of Major Gifts and Business Development at Fresh Start, and earlier in her career served as volunteer Chairwoman at the Rancho Santa Fe Auxiliary Unit of Rady Children’s Hospital.
“It’s so gratifying to spend my day at an organization that is as efficient and effective as Fresh Start,” said Chief Development Officer Michelle Pius. “In my newly created position, I will be able to report to donors at any given time and share exactly how their donation will be used, the results of their donation and present them with viable options to engage further, which is a rarity.”
Fresh Start has provided over $39 million worth of free medical services since 1991; Fresh Start is unique in that 100 percent of donor contributions to directly benefit the medical program. As chief development officer, Pius’ goal is to focus on relationships with external stakeholders, who may benefit from the medical program, and expand donor visibility in markets beyond San Diego County.
For more information on Fresh Start, visit www.freshstart.org, or call 760-944-7774.
