Alumna Mackenzie Reichert earned her degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the John L. Grove College of Business in 2020. She’s applied her marketing background to nonprofit work and philanthropy, working as a Marketing & Event Coordinator at Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation. The organization supports families of fallen and critically injured first responders. They also focus on strengthening relationships between police officers and the communities they serve through its Police Youth Alliance program and provide mental health and well-being resources to first responders and their families.
“My time at Ship gave me a strong foundation for the work I do today, especially when it comes to communication, marketing, relationship-building and being willing to take on new challenges,” Reichert said.
The Foundation’s signature fundraising event, the Ben to the Shore Bike Tour, is one of Reichert’s main projects. The annual event brings together cyclists, volunteers, first responders, sponsors, community partners and supporters to honor fallen heroes and raise funds for the foundation’s programming.
This year, more than 2,200 cyclists participated in the tour, which offers 65-, 30- and 10-mile routes that end in a finish-line celebration in Atlantic City.
“The most rewarding part is seeing everything come together on event day,” Reichert said. “You spend months planning, promoting, communicating with participants, reaching out to sponsors and community partners, coordinating volunteers, organizing supplies and working through countless details behind the scenes. Then you finally get to see thousands of people come together for the same purpose.”
In order for the event to be made possible, Reichert and her team spend many months preparing ahead of time. For her, all of the hard work that goes into the event pays off once riders reach the finish line and view the “Wall of Heroes” display, featuring photos and names of fallen first responders.
“Standing in front of that wall and looking at the faces of those heroes is a powerful reminder of why the work of the Foundation is so important and why we put so much into this event,” she said.
Reichert felt personally inspired to join the Foundation because her husband is a career firefighter; this has given her a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by first responders and their families.
“When someone chooses a career in public safety, their family becomes part of the commitment as well,” Reichert said.
She also shared how the career path often includes missed holidays, long shifts, interrupted plans and the reality that a loved one may be responding to someone else’s worst day.
“The Ben to the Shore Bike Tour is about more than cycling”, Reichert said. “ It honors fallen heroes, supports their families, celebrates first responders and helps ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.”
Reichert emphasized that the Foundation tries to create partnerships, rather than strictly transactional relationships. She works closely with the community by connecting with riders, sponsors, volunteers, businesses and local organizations, who all do their part to support the Foundation’s mission.
For Ship students interested in marketing, event planning and/or nonprofit work, Reichert encourages them to seek hands-on experience, volunteer at events, complete internships and take on new opportunities.
“Be open to opportunities that may look different from what you originally pictured, because sometimes those unexpected opportunities are the ones that help you discover what you really enjoy and where you can make the biggest impact,” said Reichert.
Reichert added, “I’m very proud to be a Shippensburg alumna working in the nonprofit space and helping to make a difference.” Reichert exemplifies how Ship programs, such as Business Administration, can be applied across a wide range of industries from the private sector to public and nonprofit organizations.
