Board Members
Who We Are
Donald G. Brungard
President, Founder, Executive Director
Founded & Establishes Overall Direction for Foundation Activities
Provides Initial and Ongoing Foundation Funding
Interprets ByLaws - Legal Structure & Operating Procedures
Don has a BS from Michigan State University and a MBA from the University of Chicago. After graduation he spent 40 years in the field of technology with five multi billion dollar Corporations earning himself VP and Chief Information Officer (CIO) positions in his field. During his career he has also invested in four residential complexes with over 140 Rental Units and developed two Condominium complexes. After his business career he consulted with a recently deregulated telecommunication corporation who employed him to merge the technology functions of four $200,000 million companies. At his last stop he joined a multi billion dollar aerospace company, that was moving their headquarters to Charlotte, NC and as CIO he was responsible for merging their IT groups with those of a 1.5 billion dollar industrial products company.
Along the way he invested in a successful bio-tech startup company that allowed him to found the D. G. Brungard Foundation. Over 25 years the Foundation has grown to a net worth of over $7,000,000 and has made significant grants of nearly $875,000 to more than 50 worthy charities serving foundation objectives. Recently the Foundation has been restructured as the Brungard Family Foundation and has added 5 new Directors who will broaden the future scope of BFF efforts.
Kathleen L. Brungard
Vice President & Treasurer
Prepares Grant Checks, Pays Bills, Monitors Investment Accounts
Provides Info for Tax preparation & Annual Financial Report
Prepares & Submits State Charitable Reports
One of Kathleen’s primary interests within the Brungard Family Foundation stems from her personal experiences as a music educator and professional musician. She is a violinist and nationally recognized conductor, clinician, and author of music curriculum. After earning a Bachelor of Music Education from Wesleyan College (Macon, GA) and a Master of Music from Northwestern University (Evanston, IL), for 31 years she taught strings and orchestral instruments in public schools across the United States. Her assignments ranged from the highest to the lowest of economic teaching environments. Within those varying posts, Kathleen experienced first-hand how involvement in music classes especially elevated the self-discipline, academic achievement and self-confidence of her students. Her dedication to the hundreds of underserved children whose lives she touched is now reflected in the interest she demonstrates for various entities which provide musical opportunities for this segment of our youth.
Another of Kathleen’s interests is children with disabilities and/or special needs. Her older brother, Rick, was such a person, cared for at home until his death at age 31. Rick’s disabilities had profound effects on the family life of Kathy and her two younger sisters, in both positive and negative ways. Rick was a loving son and brother. Unfortunately, at that time, there was no local assistance for a special needs person and no available programs of any kind to engage Rick outside the home. Many years later, Kathleen’s mother built a home for men of special needs in memory of her son. She was the role model for Kathleen in her current endeavors to support, engage, and create possible avenues for those with special needs/disabilities and their families.
Heda D. Palmer
Secretary
Coordinates Annual & Zoom Meetings - Prepares Minutes
Administers Grant Proposal Procedure - Assigns #’s & Distributes
Handles correspondence as Registrar for Foundation
Heda has held an Illinois Real Estate Brokers License since 1989, when she started her real estate career at Windsor Real Estate and then moved on to Coldwell Banker Fireside Realtors where she was employed until 1993. In 1993, Heda took a position with private investor Donald G. Brungard, whom had substantial real estate holdings and became his Property Manager. Her duties included the management of Spring Hill Apartments a 90 unit complex in Sleepy Hollow, IL, Coventry Court Apartments a 30 unit complex in West Dundee, IL, Coventry Woods Condominiums in Painesville, Ohio and several other variable properties totaling over $13 million in assets. Responsibilities included the daily functions of all units, including rentals, screening all potential tenants, collections, evictions, tenant notices, paying of all utility, insurance and maintenance invoices. Tenant services including maintenance related issues, scheduling, landscaping, snow removal and working with village personnel to maintain code related requirements and fire inspections. Heda retired in December 2021 after assisting Mr. Brungard in the successful sales of his property holdings.
Natalie H. Szabo, D.M.
Web Master
Maintains foundation Web Site Content
Makes Web Site Improvements as Directed by the Board
Dr. Natalie Szabo joined the music faculty at Chicago State University in August 2020. Her primary teaching duties include teaching courses for music majors and acting as the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee Chair. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Roosevelt University and received her masters and doctorate degrees at The Florida State University College of Music. Natalie is a talented chamber musician, solo clarinetist, and orchestra member. She has performed with a long list of professional orchestras and musicians from around the U.S. and abroad.
Natalie was also a certified public-school teacher, and prior to receiving her doctorate taught orchestra and band in the Chicago Public School system. She has also had the opportunity to teach at multiple higher education institutions including Coastal Carolina University, Elgin Community College, Sweet Briar College, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has previously written articles, interviews, and classical music reviews for Fanfare Magazine: The Magazine for Serious Record Collectors and the International Clarinet Association’s The Clarinet
Jennifer L. Contiliano
Events Coordinator
Arranges Annual Meeting Venue & all other related functions
Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in Business Education and a master’s degree in Special Education. She worked in public school districts prior to working in early intervention for special needs. She also worked with the State of NJ in various counties empowering children to be safe, strong, and free while evaluating children in potential crisis. Through her career and personal experiences, Jennifer is passionate in assisting the special needs population. Jennifer is proud and honored to be making a difference as a director of the Brungard Family Foundation.
Judith W. Dabrowski
Director, At Large
Judy earned degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology and was a certified Teacher of the Handicapped. Now retired, she was a Special Education Teacher for 27 years. She initially worked in a program for high school students with behavior problems and then spent 25 years teaching high school students with learning disabilities (perceptual impairments, or behavior and emotional problems). Through her teaching career and personal experience, she has become aware of the extensive needs of people of all ages who suffer from mental health issues (such as depression, mood swings, bipolar, schizophrenia, and psychosis). They often need a lot of support such as counseling, socialization, employment, medical attention and alternative housing. Outside of the classroom, Judy also enjoyed coaching the girls and boys high school tennis teams.
Prior to her teaching career, Judy lived overseas. She was a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years working with teachers in the Philippines to implement a New Math Curriculum in their elementary school. She also wrote a guide with strategies and materials to help other teachers in their District. While there she also had fun as a high school Assistant Girls Softball coach. Her team earned a spot in a national level competition. She later spent four years living in Saudi Arabia where she observed various needs of residents in a developing country.
Judy believes in helping others and making a difference. She is proud to be a member of the BF Foundation
S. Adair Clayton
Director, At Large
Adair has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Studio Art from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. After graduating from UVa she served as a Teach for America Corps Member in New Orleans where she taught elementary reading and art. She then joined a local education nonprofit, New Schools for New Orleans, as a member of the school support team that invested and partnered with local schools to improve the quality of school options for students across the city. After earning her MBA, Adair joined EY-Parthenon as a management consultant. There she supported private equity, corporate and non-profit clients within the education and technology sectors on growth strategy projects. Most recently, she spearheaded internal talent initiatives focused on attracting and retaining top talent. Adair is excited to join the Brungard Family Foundation and continue to impact communities through arts and education
Linda W. Towers
Director, At Large
Linda has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts History from Sweet Briar College and a Master of Human Resources from Rollins University. Linda currently works as a Vice President of Human Resources for an Acute Care Hospital in Oviedo, Florida. Linda serves as a an advisory board member in the Human Resources function for her church, Northland Church, in Longwood, Florida. Linda is also currently serving on the advisory board for Seminole High School’s Health Administration program, focused on preparing high school students for careers in health care. In 2018 Linda earned a certificate in Executive Coaching from the University of Texas Dallas. Linda currently uses these skills to focus on leadership development to help grow the careers of leaders in healthcare.