Speaker - Doug Suggitt, Executive Director
Topic - Periwinkle Foundation
Doug Suggitt has over twenty years of experience in the non-profit sector. He joined The Periwinkle Foundation in December 2010, as Executive Director serving 4,000 children, teens and families living with cancer and other and other life-threatening illnesses who are treated at Texas Children’s Hospital. Today, Periwinkle serves over 14,000 children, teens and families annually and is a nation-wide leader in pediatric programs at four Texas Children’s Hospital locations including the Houston Main Campus, The Woodlands, Katy West Campus and the Vannie Cook Clinic in McAllen, TX.
From 1998 until 2010, he served in various roles at the National MS Society, a nonprofit organization that aims to support individuals and families living with and affected by MS. In 1998, Doug began working as the Client Services Manager. This position included counseling and education for clients and medical staff, providing resources to improve the quality of life for those with MS.
In 2004, Doug became the Vice President of Development for the National MS Society overseeing the largest Bike MS event the country, Walk MS and other fundraising initiatives. In 2007, Doug joined the Home Office as Associate Vice President of Chapter Fund Development and then Director, Organizational Development Interim Management, providing leadership and direction during times of staff transition within the Society.
Prior to his work for The National MS Society, Doug worked for HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital from 1996-1998 as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. During his time at HEALTHSOUTH, Doug implemented a revenue producing out-patient Day Treatment Program, a Community Arthritis Aquatic Program and collaborative Recreational Therapy Program with Wadley Hospital.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy from The University of North Texas in 1996.
He has received the Certificate with Distinction in in nonprofit leadership from Rice University in 2012.
