When Ramona Farris joined the Board of the Tri-County Foundation in 2021, she quickly proved herself to be a “doer”. She got involved in putting together our first “Tee Off Fore Tri-County” event, helping to make it into the well-respected, important and fun event that it still is (click here for more info on this year’s event and see sponsorship opportunities here). Her energy and positivity led to her being elected as Secretary of the Board last year, and she is now the President-Elect of the organization.

Professionally, Ramona serves as an Employer Partnership Lead for Moderna, and she is also a Partner in Madison West Consulting. Madison West is a bilingual and bicultural group of consultants who help government and companies work effectively with diverse communities.

Ramona was born in Kansas City and has lived in the Kansas City/St. Joseph area most of her life. She earned her undergraduate degree and an Executive MBA from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. 

Community involvement has always been a part of Ramona’s life. She remembers the floods that struck Missouri in 1993 as a time when “there was so much need, and people struggled to get the resources they needed. Making the connection between the resources available and the people who needed them was absolutely crucial.”

Making sure that people get the help they need is one of the reasons that Ramona joined the Tri-County Foundation Board. “It means a great deal to me that people dealing with anxiety or depression get the help they need. Tri-County provides wonderful resources to people, and the pandemic has exacerbated the need for help. It has a bright side, and I am a ‘glass is half full’ perspective most of the time. The stigma against mental health issues is crumbling, and I’m glad to see it go.”

Tri-County is not Ramona’s only community involvement. She is active with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and JUNTOS for Advancing Latino Health. She is also a proud adoptive dog mom to two Pomeranian mixes. “Dogs make our lives whole,” she says, and “adopt, don’t shop!”

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