PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Grantee Spotlight: Victoria Ott, Executive Director of Fernside
At bi3, we are committed to advancing health equity by investing in people and ideas that have the power to transform health. We are fortunate to collaborate with visionary partners who work every day to improve our community’s health. Their passion, creativity, and leadership bring to life bi3’s belief that when we invest in people closest to the problem, we unlock the most powerful solutions.
For more than two decades, Victoria Ott has led Fernside guided by a deep belief in its mission and an unwavering commitment to children and families navigating grief. Her journey to leadership and the impact witnessed along the way reflect the power of community, compassion, and purpose-driven innovation.
What led you to your current role?
Like many people, my path wasn’t a straight line. I studied psychology in college, but as graduation approached, I knew I needed a job. I pivoted to business and spent my early career in corporate roles. That chapter taught me a lot, but it wasn’t where my heart ultimately lived.
Everything changed when I moved to Cincinnati to be closer to my mother. Around that time, I read an article about Fernside’s founder, Rachel Burrell, and felt compelled to volunteer. I was one of Fernside’s first volunteers in the mid-1980s. From the moment I started, I knew I had found my community.
After having my three children, even though I took a step back from work, I stayed connected to Fernside as a volunteer. Eventually, that pull led me back to graduate school for community counseling. I began working at Fernside part-time, then full-time, and about 20 years ago, I was named Executive Director. It’s a role I never could have mapped out, but one that feels exactly right.
What continues to drive your passion?
I believe in Fernside’s mission of providing support and advocacy to grieving children and families; it’s that simple. But I also love our small, nimble team and the freedom we have to innovate and grow. We’re constantly creating new programs and extending our reach in ways I couldn’t have imagined years ago.
What really energizes me is working with new partners and trying new approaches. For example, we launched a new partnership last summer with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission in three or four locations, extending services into new communities and places where families need support. Because of its success, this summer we’re doubling that footprint, expanding into even more CRC locations. Seeing ideas move from possibility to reality and knowing they’re meeting real needs keeps me inspired.
What impact have you seen through your work at Fernside?
I truly believe Fernside helps children avoid the long-term effects of unresolved grief. Everyone will face loss at some point in life, but some experience it far too early. By supporting children who have experienced loss at a young age, we help them build resilience that lasts. Participants learn how to express their emotions, learning new coping skills, feel less alone in their grief, build a community of support, and deepen their connections with family members.
One of the most powerful indicators of our impact is our volunteers. About 25–30% of our 175 volunteers are alumni of Fernside’s programs. These are individuals who were once grieving children themselves and who return as adults because Fernside meant that much to them. That desire to give back speaks volumes. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of an organization that not only supports children in the moment but continues to shape who they become. That’s the kind of impact that stays with you and why this work continues to matter so deeply to me.
Our Partnership
At bi3, we believe our community can be a place where everyone has the support and resources they need to be resilient and mentally healthy.
To fuel our priority of promoting mental health & wellbeing, we awarded the Fernside Center for Grieving Children a $1.3 million, three-year grant in 2023. The funding supported the expansion of bereavement services, such as support groups and crisis programs, to more schools and families while also seeding an endowment to support the organization long-term.
Since then, Fernside has seen tremendous impact:
- 1,383 individuals served in grief support groups
- 88% of children learned a new coping skill
- 90% increased ability to express feelings
- 91% reported feeling less alone in their grief
- Additionally, Fernside increased its community outreach by 124%
- Fernside also leveraged bi3’s $1 million seed funding for the endowment to raise an additional $500,000 to meet its goal
“The bi3 team is a true partner, we feel their support and willingness to jump in any way they can. They just don’t make broad offers of help; they lend their experience, knowledge, and connection whenever possible.”
– Vicky Ott –
