Staff and Interns

Patti Gustafson has a BA in Accounting from Indiana University and served as a CPA for Laventhol & Horwath. She changed careers earning a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and became a first grade teacher. While raising her three children she served on the boards of the Ounce of Prevention Fund and the Gustafson Family Foundation. Since Michael’s death her full-time professional efforts have been devoted to the mission of the Swifty Foundation. Patti has been married to Al for 31 years and wishes her two adult children would move closer to home!

Ginny’s expertise in fundraising, social marketing and non-profit communications is helping take our message to the next level. She is leading our efforts to streamline and strategically focus our efforts. You will see Ginny representing Swifty at events, conferences and collaborating with our partner foundations and hospital teams. Ginny serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer Board of Directors, representing Swifty Foundation.

Mica is Michael’s cousin and served as a member of the Junior Board from 2013-2020. She will be working with Swifty as an intern before attending law school at the University of Chicago in the fall. Her favorite memory with Michael was walking down the aisle arm-in-arm as the ring bearer and flower girl at her parents’ wedding, and she is eager to continue to push forward his legacy and mission of ending pediatric cancer forever.

Nikki is a neuroscience and molecular biology student at Columbia University in NYC. She works in research for cancer genetics, patient advocacy, student health, and disability justice. She previously interned with the Children’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium and as research assistant at Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital. Nikki currently serves in these leadership positions at Columbia University: Communications Chair |American Medical Women’s Association | Columbia University Premedical Chapter, Disability Policy Representative| General Studies Student Council Vice President | Psychiatry, Neurology, & Neuropsychiatry Club.

Cajsa is sophomore studying Marketing Managment at the University of St. Thomas’s Opus College of Business in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a part of the Women in Business club, and hopes to go into work with nonprofit organizations following her graduation. Cajsa is originally from Naperville, Illinois and became friends with Bridget and Michael in sixth grade at Kennedy Junior High. She has been a supporter of Swifty since it’s start and came on as a Social Media Ambassador in November of 2017. This year Cajsa is thrilled to be on board as a Social Media Marketing Intern for Swifty and she looks forward to aiding the foundation in any way she can.

Meredith comes to Swifty as a great friend of Bridget and Michael’s, having gone to school with them since kindergarten. Meredith will be studying PR as a sophomore at Syracuse University this fall and is super excited to be helping Swifty with social media and event planning for the summer. She is a member of Syracuse’s club water polo team and is a member of the Student Affairs Advisory Board. In her spare time she enjoys arguing with people from New York about how much better Chicago is than New York City and how much better deep dish pizza is!

Rohit is studying Finance, Entrepreneurship and Business Analytics at the Kelley School of Business. In his free time he likes to play golf, basketball, hang with friends and bake. Back in high school, Michael was his friend. Being a part of the Swifty Foundation, Rohit has helped promote Michael’s dream that no kid should have to go through the pain he did. He is honored to receive the opportunity of being an intern to help Michael’s family and all families that are affected by pediatric cancer.

Jeremy is a student at Indiana University majoring in Finance, Economic Consulting and History. He graduated from Hinsdale Central High School and enjoys playing baseball and reading about all things Roman in his spare time. Being a part of the Swifty Foundation has been an amazing opportunity for him to help young kids and their families who are struggling. Jeremy is also honored to be able to work with such a group of outstanding people who have huge hearts and are willing to give their time to such an amazing cause.