Congratulations to Marie Rudd-Gregory (Class of 2023) who was recognized as the Leadership St. Tammany 2025 Alumna of the year at the annual Holiday Party on Dec. 5.

 

Marie Rudd-Gregory is the Founder and Board President of the Brooke It Forward Foundation, a Louisiana-based nonprofit that shares “birthday joy” with children in crisis. Inspired by the life of her daughter Brooke, Marie established the foundation in 2019 to ensure that every child feels celebrated, regardless of circumstance.

Under her leadership, Brooke It Forward has grown from a local idea to a regional movement serving more than two dozen Louisiana parishes and several Florida counties through partnerships with Children’s Advocacy Centers, CASA programs, and food banks.

A former attorney and mediator with over two decades of experience, Marie brings strategic insight, compassion, and community focus to her work. She is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany and the Chevron Community Fellows Program and holds a Juris Doctorate and B.S. in Marketing from Louisiana State University.

Beyond her professional and volunteer commitments, Marie enjoys playing golf, learning Italian, and sharing time with friends and family—always with a dash of laughter and a sprinkle of joy.