MILTON MURRAY FUND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Advancement Operations Officer, Loma Linda University Health
- Member of Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman / President, Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation
- Member of Committee
Jim Closser, CAHP recently retired as Vice President for Advancement & Alumni at the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia (MTSA) located in Madison, Tennessee (Metropolitan Nashville). He joined MTSA in June 2006. Previously, Jim was Executive Director of the Tennessee Christian Medical Center Foundation, Madison, Tennessee. He chartered the foundation in 1985 and led its operation for 22 years. Jim began his healthcare career at AdventHealth located in Orlando, Florida in 1979.
Jim has worked in both public relations and/or development since 1979. He is very active in community endeavors, having served as President of both Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as various charitable boards and committees. Jim is President of the Tennessee Christian Medical Foundation established in 2006.
Jim holds associate and bachelor's degrees from Southern Adventist University. His hobbies include music, photography, and travel. He is married to Myrna Litchfield Closser, a retired teacher who worked at Madison Campus Seventh-day Adventist Elementary. They have one son who is a trauma nurse and paramedic.
Job Titles:
- Committee Coordinator and Fund Secretary for the Milton Murray Fund for Philanthropy
- Member of Committee
Kara Rachal, CFRE is a dedicated, enthusiastic, and detail-oriented team member who enjoys connecting people, passion, and mission. She currently works as a Director, Client Strategy for Pursuant, where she partners with clients to achieve fundraising success.
Kara previously served as the Director of Philanthropy and Volunteers for Adventist Health Sonora where she managed a comprehensive fundraising program, working to build individual, corporate, and foundation relationships with philanthropic intent. While there, Kara helped to increase fundraising from $500,000 to $1 million annually. She has also worked as the Development Officer/Program Coordinator for Porter Adventist Hospital at Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation (RMAHF). While at RMAHF, Kara was influential in annual fundraising campaigns, data management, board relations, and major event production. Prior to RMAHF, Kara worked at Southern Adventist University in both Marketing Relations and Advancement departments.
Kara is the Committee Coordinator and Fund Secretary for the Milton Murray Fund for Philanthropy. She currently serves on the Mesa County Giving Club Oversight Committee. She has also served on the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2018-2020); as a volunteer head coach for the Tuolumne County Youth Soccer League; on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Colorado Chapter (2016); as a volunteer for the Philanthropic Service for Institutions annual conference; and as a volunteer for Kids In Need of Dentistry based in Denver.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of Committee
- Member of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy
- Philanthropy Consultant
Ken has served as the Executive Director of two successful healthcare foundations and as the Associate Vice President for Advancement at the University of Texas at Brownsville. He was named as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) by CFRE International in 1996 and still maintains that distinction. Ken is also recognized as a Certified Governance Trainer by BoardSource and frequently works with nonprofit boards in improving leadership, recruiting, and advocacy.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Vice President, Client Strategy for Pursuant
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Vice President for Advancement, Union College