The inspiration
A single conversation...
After hearing about the lack of personal protection equipment (PPE) in the local medical community, two friends, Kari and JoAnne, decided to start a FaceBook sewing group. The social media group quickly grew, as did the information about how facilities are able to obtain help. Within a week 501(c)3 paperwork was filed and goals were made.
While some large facilities in the areas were quick to receive help, there were many other organizations struggling to provide their staff with PPE. Small, independent healthcare offices, EMS, and nonprofit facilities struggled to keep up and afford newly mandated safety protocols. Masks for Heroes was quickly formed and as hand sewn masks poured in we immediately started donating them across the Gallatin Valley to those in need.
About Us
Kari Sillitti
JoAnne Nordhagen
JoAnne Nordhagen
Kari is a Montana transplant of 9 yrs. A Chicago-land native, she worked as an emergency and critical care veterinary technician and then hospital manager. The mother of two young girls has always had a passion for volunteer work and has helped several large nonprofit causes. She participated with Rush University Medical Center’s RU
Kari is a Montana transplant of 9 yrs. A Chicago-land native, she worked as an emergency and critical care veterinary technician and then hospital manager. The mother of two young girls has always had a passion for volunteer work and has helped several large nonprofit causes. She participated with Rush University Medical Center’s RU caring health clinics, PAWS for Chicago clinics, and 5 yrs on Edward Hospital's Animal Assisted Therapy Team. In 2011, Kari and her husband relocated to Bozeman to start a new career and a family. Creating Masks for Heroes has been a wonderful journey back to volunteer work.
JoAnne Nordhagen
JoAnne Nordhagen
JoAnne Nordhagen
JoAnne is a Montana native with a passion for making the world a better place. She is a Biostatistician and Data Scientist with a passion for all things data, numbers and mathematics. As a graduate of Montana Tech and Northwestern University, JoAnne has a well-rounded education and experience in designing numerical models and data anal
JoAnne is a Montana native with a passion for making the world a better place. She is a Biostatistician and Data Scientist with a passion for all things data, numbers and mathematics. As a graduate of Montana Tech and Northwestern University, JoAnne has a well-rounded education and experience in designing numerical models and data analysis. Co-founding a non-profit to help the medical community and beyond was the right thing to do. JoAnne has volunteered with several nonprofits and served on the board of SDITC and the YMCA.
Carolyn Murray
JoAnne Nordhagen
Carolyn Murray
Carolyn has been enjoying all that Montana has to offer for the past twenty years. A long time finance and accounting professional, Carolyn spent years in the corporate world. More recently she moved into the nonprofit sector where she serves as the Director of Finance for a local economic development organization. When Kari reached ou
Carolyn has been enjoying all that Montana has to offer for the past twenty years. A long time finance and accounting professional, Carolyn spent years in the corporate world. More recently she moved into the nonprofit sector where she serves as the Director of Finance for a local economic development organization. When Kari reached out asking if Carolyn knew anyone who could help with operations, the answer was naturally, Yes! Carolyn considers the opportunity to volunteer time to Masks for Heroes an honor as the organization works to provide PPE to those on the front line.