Community Champion & Philanthropist | Gathering for Impact
Kristin Andrus doesn’t believe in titles. She believes in being proximate — and she appears to be everywhere at once, her capacity for compassion seemingly bottomless. One day, she’s working with The Policy Project to establish statewide policies that supply free period products in K-12 bathrooms. The next, she’s gathering the community to pull weeds and raise over $30,000 at The Christmas Box House, driving Afghan refugees to women’s groups, welcoming international ambassadors, or hosting quarterly “Building Bridges” events that bring together over 250 nonprofits to collaborate and learn from experts in areas like social media, donor relations and more.
In addition to mobilizing the masses, Andrus mentors vulnerable families one-on-one, helping them navigate challenges like food insecurity, domestic violence and teenage pregnancy. Regardless of the channel or service, Andrus does all she can to champion women and vulnerable communities — and get everyone she comes in contact with excited about helping, too.
“It’s about friendship. It’s about relationships. It’s about engaging in a cause that is uniquely interesting or important to you and then coming back again and again,” Andrus says. “I’m always offering ways for families to give back and ways to lean in. I think a lot of people want to help, but they don’t know how to.”
Looking ahead, Andrus is focused on providing more structure to her family foundation, Gathering for Impact, so she can better partner with nonprofits and continue educating the community. She’s also writing a cookbook called “Life at Our Table” that will feature family recipes and stories about the importance of human connection, with all proceeds going toward substance abuse and addiction prevention (look for it around Mother’s Day 2025).
Above all, Andrus is on a mission to help women discover their unique “giving personalities” and get engaged in their communities in whatever way feels right to them. Are they crisis relievers, infrastructure enhancers, cultural enthusiasts or kindness spreaders? Whether they’re helping host large events or working to their strengths closer to home, Andrus invites them to come along and help bring about good.
“I’m really excited to see women getting more engaged in their communities in whatever way that feels right to them,” she says. “I think we have so much hidden potential and so much to offer. … I really am excited to see what women can do in Utah. I do believe if we want change here, it is going to be the women that create that change.” To Main Page