2023 Gala

Carri McQuerrey-Funk spoke at our 1st Annual Black Tie Gala on January 20, 2023. She is a BTF parent who lost her daughter Madison in October 2007 due to a furniture tip over accident in her home. Due to the preventable nature of this accident, Carri started “Maddie’s Message” www.maddiesmessage.com where she advocates for furniture safety on Madison’s behalf and has an unwavering commitment to help save the lives of other children. In addition to Carri’s efforts to educate parents on the dangers in their home, she is an active member of Parents Against Tip-Overs, (PAT) originally founded in 2018 by a group of parents from across the nation who had all lost a child to a furniture tip-over accident. PAT focuses on pursuing stronger regulatory oversight of the furniture industry and can be regularly found testifying in front of the CSPC and lobbying on Capitol Hill. In addition to her advocacy work, Carri is a full-time mom, a “Gigi” of two beautiful granddaughters, an executive at Citizens Bank, and a Grief Companion with LifeNet Health, where she walks alongside other parents who are newer into their own grief journeys.