The Heart Behind the Foundation

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Our Foundation is led by a committed board of advocates with diverse expertise. Together, they honor Michael’s legacy through compassionate leadership and service.

Meet Our Team

Man in suit smiling outdoors with trees.

Casey Cotton Board President

With 25+ years in senior leadership roles at global companies, Casey brings team-building expertise and a deep commitment to service. A former NCAA athlete, he now serves as High School Faith Formation Director at Emmaus Catholic Parish and is active in youth ministry, FFA/4-H, and coaching.

He’s a devoted husband and father who enjoys woodworking, caring for family horses, and restoring classic cars.

Beth Cotton Board Treasurer

Beth has 35+ years in clinical research and has led multi-million-dollar projects globally as a Global Project Director. She helped launch the high school youth program at Emmaus Catholic Parish and actively supported her children’s school and extracurriculars.

Originally from Upstate New York, Beth enjoys gardening, time with her horse Blizzard, and relaxing with family pets.

Valerie Cary Board Secretary

Valerie has over 35 years in office administration, including executive support at a leading multinational tech company. She served as Dell’s liaison to JDRF for 10+ years and is active in nonprofit and faith-based ministries, currently serving as a prayer chaplain.

She’s trained in conflict management and passionate about helping others grow. Valerie loves gardening, being outdoors, and time with her husband and pets.

Huff Benedict Board Member

Huff is an outgoing adventurer who brings passion and commitment to all his endeavours. He joins the board with over three years of sobriety and has spent time both living and working at sober living programs. He currently serves as First Mate on a private yacht in South Florida.

He spends his free time with his family and dog and is also an avid SCUBA diver holding an Instructor level certification."

Don S. Crook Board Member

Don is the managing partner at Combined Benefits Group, Inc., serving public schools in Texas. He helped launch the Life Teen ministry at Emmaus Catholic Church and mentors young adults in faith and recovery.

He also supports incarcerated men through God of Hope Ministries and serves on the board of Partners in Hope.

Emily Cotton JD - Board Member

Emily is a recent law school graduate from South Texas College of Law and a former collegiate athlete in tennis and trap & skeet. She has volunteered with the homeless, mentored children, and interned in the Texas State Senate.

She also earned top honors in livestock shows and mentors students in FFA and 4-H.

Deacon Terry Gilbert MS - Board Member

Deacon Terry is a retired Army Medical Service Corps officer and pharmacist with 45 years in healthcare leadership. He founded the Allergen Extract Pharmacy at Walter Reed and later served as director of pharmacy at St. David’s Medical Center.

Now a deacon at Emmaus Catholic Church, he and his wife, Linda, are active in church and senior care ministries.

Ryan Petrillo Board Member

Ryan brings innovative fundraising to empower faith-driven leaders and organizations

As Vice President of Development at The Apostles Fund, Ryan is passionately committed to the Great Commission, inspiring generous families to partner in raising up the next generation of disciples. He has spearheaded major gift campaigns that have raised millions for evangelization efforts worldwide and coached hundreds of missionary teams in building sustainable support strategies. Through clear communication and bold visioning, Ryan invites others to join this apostolic work, fostering sacrificial giving that advances God’s kingdom for Christ’s greater glory.
Ryan recently launched his own fundraising software, an AI-powered fundraising solutions through a concept called TomTab, with a vision to help parishes, dioceses, and missionaries scale mission funding with speed and sustainability.

Connect With Our Leadership

Have questions or want to get involved? Contact us to learn more about how you can support the foundation’s mission and connect with our board.