Michelle Silvester, Board Member

Michelle Silvester is a dynamic leader and successful Insurance agent. She runs two highly successful insurance agencies, leveraging her extensive experience in the industry to provide comprehensive support to her clients.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Michelle initially made her mark as a successful pharmaceutical representative with Searle, where she honed her skills in communication and relationship-building.

Her journey in philanthropy is driven by a deep sense of empathy and a passion for making a difference, especially within the community.

Chasin a Dream Foundations’ focus on local families is very important to her- ”Locals helping Locals”. When community members take initiative to help one another, it empowers individuals and fosters a sense of urgency .

Michelle believes in the importance of not just financial aid but also emotional support for the families of the Chasin’ a Dream foundation, recognizing the critical role mental well-being plays in their journey. The Mindful Haven program that Chasin a Dream offers is key to maintaining the family unit in a positive state of mind.” This is a unique program to Chasin a Dream that I find to be very necessary .”

In her fundraising efforts, Michelle’s confidence, ambition, and resilience shine through. Her strong work ethic and adaptability allow her to navigate challenges effectively, while her ability to connect with donors on a personal level fosters lasting relationships.

By sharing heartfelt stories from the families she serves, she engages donors and inspires them to contribute to the foundation's mission.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Michelle is a devoted mother to three daughters, balancing her career and philanthropic endeavors with family life.

Her commitment to nurturing both her daughters and the families she supports reflects her belief in the power of community, hope, and resilience, solidifying her role as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of many.

Jake Griffith, Board Member

Jake has been an active Board Member of Chasin A Dream Foundation since its inception in April 2017 and his primary role is community outreach and fundraising. Jake is employed as First Mate aboard Motor Yacht, Top Dog, out of Naples, Florida in addition to holding his 100 ton Captains License.

Through his interactions within the marine industry Jake has advocated for local boat owners and businesses to get involved with the children and provide financial donations, in addition to providing on the water experiences for families.

Jake’s strengths lie in his ability to connect with the children and parents, being someone who has suffered a life threatening medical crisis and spent years overcoming its subsequent challenges. His heart and soul is poured into every encounter and into building Chasin A Dream for generations to come.

The Hospital Backpack Program was the brainchild of Jake Griffith, after having spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital. Simple comforts like a soft blanket and pillow, toiletries and a stress ball to squeeze while enduring painful needle sticks were just some of the items he wanted to include in the backpack. Additionally, boredom and distraction are primary while spending days, weeks and months confined to a hospital room so adding an iPad allowed the time to pass much quicker. He has been instrumental in promoting this program.

Lori Griffith, Executive Director

Nothing quite prepares you for the diagnosis of a life threatening illness affecting your child. My work history had been twenty years in the healthcare industry and extensive volunteering with children battling cancer and other life threatening illnesses. I managed the largest neonatal physician group in Palm Beach County, with oversight for five local hospitals, working directly in a Level III, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Through my employment and direct patient/family involvement, I saw firsthand the financial and emotional trauma families suffered and I knew something could be done to relieve some of this burden. I left a corporate position and all of the financial security to chase my dream of helping others and making a lasting impact on families with children battling cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and other life threatening illnesses.

While it is one thing to assist families, it is something entirely different when this happens to your own child. My son suffered a traumatic accident where he almost lost his life. Thankfully he was saved in the OR, but subsequently will suffer health complications for the rest of his life. The cost of medical care (even with insurance) debilitated our finances. Any parent will gladly go bankrupt in an effort to save their child and sadly so many do. I don’t believe this has to be the case, but until new healthcare is available in this country, this is a grim reality.

I have always believed in the power of community and the concept of locals helping locals. When people can directly see where their donations are going to, I believe they tend to become more involved in assisting those within their community. I created Chasin A Dream Foundation so that donors know exactly where their money is going and they can follow the journey of the children we are assisting on our website and social media pages.

Alex Cotleur, Secretary

Alexandra ‘Alex’ Cotleur is a Jupiter/Tequesta local who has lived in the area since 1986. Alex previously worked as a real estate paralegal and contract administrator. Having worked in both the public and private sector, she brings efficiency and attention to detail, together with a strong and diverse local network to get things accomplished.

Alex is fluent in Spanish, earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University and is a certified Stand Up Paddle Board Special Olympics Coach.

When she isn’t volunteering, Alex can be found paddling the local waterways or leading guided paddle tours.

Terra Brown, Board Member

 Terra Brown is an Executive Director who leads the Private Business Advisory and Life Science practices for the Palm Beach office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she has dedicated 20 years to serving clients. She collaborates closely with clients and their families to gain a deep understanding of their immediate and long-term financial goals. Terra partners with local and global specialists within J.P. Morgan to deliver comprehensive wealth management strategies, encompassing investment management, brokerage, wealth and estate planning, banking, credit, and fiduciary services. Terra began her career at the Private Bank in 2006 as a Portfolio Manager, where she was responsible for implementing investment strategies and executing portfolio construction. She managed a team of Portfolio Managers, supporting the discretionary business across the U.S. and spearheading coverage for the Florida market. Terra holds a bachelor's degree in Family Financial Management from The Ohio State University and an M.B.A. with a specialization in entrepreneurship from Ashland University. She is licensed with Series 6, 7, 63, 65, and 2-15 Health & Life (including Annuities and Variable Contracts). Terra resides in Jupiter, Florida with her husband and their two sons.

Norma Huempfner, Program Director/

Board Member

I have been passionately involved with charity work helping children with life threatening illnesses since 1996. I was involved with the Jackson Memorial Guardian Angels program and started the Faith Memorial Foundation in 2007 in honor of my daughter Faith.  It was because of my own personal experience that I became involved with Chasin A Dream Foundation in 2017.

My daughter Faith was born on November 23, 2007 with a rare chromosome deletion disorder and spent several months at St. Mary’s NICU. Our daughter received the most compassionate care a child could receive and for that we are forever grateful. In April 2008, our family's heart was broken when Faith passed away. In an effort to honor her memory I decided to devote my life to helping families who face these difficult situations in life.

As a committed supporter and active Board Member of Chasin A Dream Foundation, I look forward to helping as many families facing these life threatening illnesses. I’m currently a Realtor with Riverside Realty of Florida in charge of marketing and strategic planning for the state of Florida.

 Dr. Robert Mathias, Board Member

Dr. Robert Mathias, MD is a Pediatric Nephrology Specialist and has over 44 years of experience in this medical field. He graduated from RUSH UNIVERSITY in 1983. He completed his pediatric training at the University of California San Diego Medical Center in 1987. He completed a 3-year specialty fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology at the Children’s Hospital Boston in 1990. He worked in the department of Pediatric Nephrology at the University of San Francisco California from 1990 – 2006. He was Chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Nemours Children’s Hospital/Healthy System in Orlando from 2006 – 2022. In 2022, he retired from full time practice but continues to provide medical coverage to Pediatric nephrology practices across the country. After practicing medicine for many years and seeing the financial and mental challenges that families are presented with when they have a child with a chronic medical disease, he joined the board of Chasin A Dream in 2024. My goal is to help the organization increase their fund-raising capabilities so that we can reach more children and their families in the local communities.