On April 24th, the ambassadors of The Bee Foundation gathered for an inspiring and energizing weekend for the 2025 TBF Ambassador Retreat; This retreat allowed our team to deepen our connections, renew our commitment to brain aneurysm awareness, and empower each other for the difficult work ahead.
Thursday Night: A Warm Welcome
The retreat began Thursday evening with a welcome dinner full of heartfelt conversation. Christine Kondra, co-founder of The Bee Foundation, led a table-side chat on Food & the Connection to Recovery, highlighting the important role nutrition plays in healing, strength, and overall well being. Her personal insights set the tone for a weekend centered around holistic care and community.
Friday: A Day of Learning, Strategy, and Collaboration
Friday, April 25th, was a full day of meaningful activities designed to energize and equip our ambassador 
community:
- Morning Sessions:
- We opened the morning by sharing a piece of our stories – our “why” for being here today, or what we were looking forward to getting out of this retreat. We heard powerful answers such as “to help save just one life,” “so others don’t have to go through what we did,” and to keep said loved one’s name alive. With our purpose clearly defined, we were able to understand each other more deeply and create a sense of unity that grounded the rest of the day. This shared vulnerability laid the foundation for honest conversations, meaningful collaboration, and a collective commitment to making a difference together.
- Continental Breakfast & Welcome: Erin Kreszl and Laura Geib kicked off the day with a welcome and overview of TBF’s four pillars: Awareness, Research, Advocacy, and Support.
- TBF Ambassador Manual Introduction: Erin provided an in-depth look at the new Ambassador Manual, a key tool for empowering ambassadors in their roles.
- Restorative Pilates Session: Ambassadors enjoyed a rejuvenating Pilates session, encouraging mindfulness and self-care — crucial elements in both advocacy and recovery. Restorative pilates served as a calming activity to set our intentions and to prepare our minds & bodies for the hard work that will follow.
- Strategic Planning & Breakouts:
- Strategic Planning Introduction: Leslie and Jaleesa guided ambassadors into a strategic thinking session, aimed to encourage each individual ambassador to understand how they can put their great attributes to best use while assisting in TBF’s mission.
- Pillar Breakout Sessions: Ambassadors divided into small groups focused on Awareness, Research, Advocacy, and Support, brainstorming ideas and goals for the year ahead.
- Group Share Back: Each team then shared their insights and action steps with the full group, recapping all of their great ideas to support TBF & our mission.
- Afternoon Sessions:
- Lunch & Events Planning: Ambassadors learned about upcoming fundraising and awareness events, exploring how they can engage their communities.
- Ambassador Expo:
- Strategic Planning Commitment Sign-Up
- Tea Time & Devotion with Jaleesa and Minda
- Book Corner and Apiary Readings with Claudia
Evening Community Engagement:
Ambassadors closed out the day by participating in a Community Health Education & Reception, a public event designed to raise awareness about brain aneurysm signs, symptoms, and emergency response best practices. It was a powerful way to bring our mission directly to the broader community.
A Weekend to Remember
The 2025 TBF Ambassador Retreat left everyone feeling renewed, motivated, and more connected than ever. We are so grateful for our ambassador community which includes survivors, caregivers, advocates, and friends, whose passion fuels everything we do.
Together, we are creating a future where brain aneurysm research is prioritized, lives are saved, and no one has to walk this journey alone.
Stay tuned for more updates as our ambassadors take the inspiration and strategic plans from this retreat into the months ahead!
