LIFT Annual Report 2014: What Matters Most | Page 46

46

REAL STORIES

Real Value:
Marianna B.
Marianna Bruton is a Management Consultant, LIFT-New
York regional board member, and serves as an Advocate
each week.

“You’re not the center of the universe.
It’s comforting, somehow, to be aware of
that.”
When Cindy Menz-Erb, LIFT-New York’s Executive Director,
asked her to spearhead a strategic plan, Marianna’s response
was swift and positive. “I come at problems with a bias
toward results,” says Bruton, who draws on a long career
as a consultant with Deloitte (as well as recent experience
navigating the college admissions process with her three
children), “but there’s also real value that isn’t always as
measurable.”
Bruton initially discovered LIFT on the website of one of its
funders, the Robin Hood Foundation, and was gratified to
be challenged by the demands of volunteerism. “It was a
meaningful experience,” she says. “It wasn’t stuffing envelopes.”
Recalling the preparation and focus necessary for a successful
Member meeting, Bruton says, “I value LIFT’s approach
to partnering with individuals. After a full day of Member
meetings, I felt exhausted and exhilarated.”
Much of her time as an Advocate was spent assisting Members
in their job search, working on job applications and preparing
for interviews, which gave her plenty of opportunity to get