Meet Our Committee Chairs

Hi, I’m Laura, and I’m honored to serve as the Executive Chair of The Brady Effect. In this role, I oversee our dedicated team of officers, ensuring the seamless execution of our mission. I work closely with our Board of Directors, implementing policies and driving initiatives to ensure that every child—regardless of their abilities—has the resources to be safe and confident in the water.

I was born and raised in Hardin County, Ohio, where I chose to stay and raise my family. I’m a proud mom of three wonderful grown children and absolutely love being Gi-Gi! My husband and I currently reside in Findlay, Ohio, along with our beloved Beabull, Izzy.

With 29 years as a Registered Nurse and 16 years as an educator in Health Professions, I have dedicated my career to shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. Currently, I serve as the Senior Health Professions Instructor at Millstream Career Center in Findlay, Ohio. I am passionate about mentoring students and preparing them for rewarding careers in healthcare.

My greatest accomplishment in life has been raising my children and watching them grow into unique, passionate, and compassionate adults. My son, Brady Donnelly, was a shining example of this journey. His infectious spirit, unwavering kindness, and deep connection with children made him a beacon of positivity in the lives of so many.

In September 2024, my world was shattered when Brady lost his life in a drowning accident. The pain of his loss is immeasurable, but from this tragedy, The Brady Effect was born. This is not just a cause—it is Brady’s legacy. It is our way of transforming profound grief into purpose, advocacy, and action to ensure that no family endures the same loss.

Through The Brady Effect, we are committed to spreading awareness, educating families, and creating inclusive water safety programs that empower children of all abilities. We hope to extend Brady’s kindness, passion, and determination far and wide—making the world a safer and more inclusive place, one ripple at a time.

Laura Rettig, Executive Chair

Andy Gandert, Fundraising Chair

My name is Andy and I am the Fundraising Chair for The Brady Effect. My goal is to develop strategies to secure financial support for the organization’s mission by cultivating relationships with potential donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations. I work with our Board of Directors to implement fundraising campaigns, coordinate events, and utilize various fundraising channels such as online giving, grant writing, and corporate partnerships. I also work closely with the leadership team to set fundraising goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with the organization’s overall vision and financial needs.

I grew up in Caledonia, Ohio, where I graduated from high school before going to college to become a teacher. I have been teaching for 10 years at Ridgemont Local Schools, where I met my wife and Brady’s sister Ashley. Ashley and I began dating in 2018 and got married in 2023. We did a destination style wedding, where both of our families spent a week in California, beginning in Yosemite. Although I was certainly not as fit as the rest of the group, Brady and Madison convinced me to go on a “short hike” that ended up being a 10 mile round trip. This trip not only showed just how much fun Brady could be, but how much just how outgoing he truly lived his life.

Having the chance to spend my time both remembering Brady’s love for others and making an impact on the safety of many in need makes me very excited to work with everyone involved with The Brady Effect.

Matilyn Mckinney, Event Chair

Hi, I’m Matilyn, and I proudly serve as the Event Chair for The Brady Effect. In my role, I help plan and coordinate events that bring our community together and keep us focused on our mission to save lives through water safety, awareness, and wellness. Outside of The Brady Effect, I work as a Business Development Manager for a life science company and I enjoy far too many crafts to count.

I met Madison at our workplace in 2021. Over the years, we’ve become great friends. I still remember when Madison proudly walked around the office with Brady on facetime, introducing everyone to her new boyfriend. As Madison and I grew closer, I got to know Brady too. Honestly, I’d never met anyone as sassy and sarcastic as me — so I was caught off guard at first! Like two old ladies, we bonded over Jeopardy and competing to collect the most bird species on our birding app.

I hope that through The Brady Effect, we keep making waves of change that would make Brady proud. 

Hi, I’m Connor. I’m a Recreation Specialist at the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities, where I have the privilege of supporting individuals through meaningful and engaging programs. I live in Bowling Green with my wife and our chocolate lab.

I earned my degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Toledo and have always been passionate about working and finding ways to serve others, specifically individuals with autism. 

Originally from Kenton, I was connected to Brady through mutual friends, and I’m honored to now be part of this foundation. With a background in swimming and a strong commitment to inclusion, I'm truly excited to make a difference with the Brady Effect! 

Connor Galvin, Advocacy Chair (OH)

Lydia Poloni, Advocacy Chair (MI)

Hi, I’m Lydia, and I have the honor of serving as the Advocacy Chair (MI) for The Brady Effect.  In my role, I’m responsible for raising awareness, building relationships within the autism and adaptive swim communities in our service areas, fostering connections with families, instructors, advocates and local organizations, as well as identifying opportunities for collaboration and community engagement.  

I grew up in Brownstown, Mi and still reside Downriver in Allen Park.  I attended Central Michigan University for my undergrad where I double majored in Youth Studies and Psychology.  During this time, I was offered a position to work in the field ABA Therapy as a Behavior Technician, which I accepted because one of my best friends growing up was on the Autism Spectrum.  I officially began my career of working with children on the Autism Spectrum in 2012.  I completed my Master's Degree in Psychology and Applied Behavioral Analysis and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2019.  I have continued to work in the field of ABA Therapy as a Clinical Director.   

I met and had the privilege of working with Brady as his supervisor at ABA Pathways.  Brady was charismatic, compassionate, and was able to create meaningful connections with not only the clients he worked with, but all of his co-workers as well.   Brady was passionate about the work he was doing with our clients and always went above and beyond for them. 

The reason why I decided to join The Brady Effect is to help prevent other families from suffering such a devastating loss.  I hope that through The Brady Effect we can keep making a positive impact and continue to serve the population that meant so much to Brady by spreading awareness and providing education and resources to families. 

Lauryn Pitroff, Communications Chair

Hi, my name is Lauryn Pitroff and I am proud to serve as the communications chair for The Brady Effect. In this role I am responsible for content strategy & planning, social media, branding, and storytelling and impact.

I have dedicated my career to making a difference in the nonprofit sector, and I currently serve as the director of communications and operations for a nonprofit consulting firm. I have also served as the grief camp director for Universal Home Health & Hospice for the past seven years.

I grew up in Kenton, Ohio with Brady and his sisters Kaley and Ashley. Our self-written plays and countless sleepovers are among the fondest memories of my childhood. Today I live in Dublin, Ohio with my husband and our dog, Reginald.

I'm committed to The Brady Effect not only to honor Brady's legacy, but also because drowning is preventable, and every family deserves access to the resources that can prevent these tragedies.