Partners on the Path

Mission Statement

To mobilize faith-based and community partners to serve and bring vulnerable individuals into the community through charitable, educational, religious, and social initiatives.

FOUNDER'S STORY

The What led to the launch of Partners on the Path (POTP) in June of 2025 was a culmination of many life experiences and many unique people I have met walking life’s personal path. After some thirty-five years as a personal injury lawyer, I represented clients who had sustained life-changing injuries and conditions, working to serve the whole person through various alternatives in order that they have both resolution and restoration.

Such work in the field of law provided me with an abundance of examples of the societal, educational, charitable, and spiritual gaps that challenged those who crossed my path professionally and personally. While my devotion to volunteer work within my Church served as a ministerial tool to serve those of all age groups, I found that the serving was often confined within the walls of Church buildings and often impeded by institutional priorities. Such barriers left many in need on the outside looking in and feeling forgotten. I realized that to truly serve, I had to look beyond the sanctuary and into the lives of those I encountered.

I felt called to move the spirit of service from the sanctuary and into the streets-a calling that found its voice in a powerful papal vision. POTP was inspired in part by the words of Pope Francis, as he shared in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), of his dream for a ‘missionary option.’ His words both identified the institutional gaps in providing community service and solidified for me a pathway in reaching out beyond the impediments:

‘I dream of a Missionary option that is a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.’

POTP is the embodiment of that dream. We move beyond the walls of traditional institutions and into the community at large to tend to those who have fallen through the cracks. Our focus is a ministerial commitment to those on the margins who feel lost or forgotten. Whether it is navigating the aftermath of a catastrophic injury, addressing educational gaps, providing physical sustenance, or providing spiritual companionship to the isolated, POTP acts as the missing link between the person in need and the resource that can restore them.

“To mobilize faith-based and community partners to serve and bring vulnerable individuals into the community through charitable, educational, religious, and social initiatives.”

Our mission is defined by our extensive experience and our commitment. POTP strives to serve the vulnerable and marginalized by moving beyond institutional walls and into the community, identifying specific needs, and strategically bridging resources, individuals, and organizations to provide whole-person restoration.

Lori Marchiori-Brandt

DIRECTION TEAM

The Direction Team provides strategic vision and oversight for Partners on the Path, ensuring our mission remains clear and responsive to community needs.

Laura “Lori” Marchiori-Brandt, JD, MAPS, LEM is the Founder and Director of Partners on the Path, NFP (POTP), an organization dedicated to serving those in need and on the margins. By mobilizing community partners, POTP provides charity, education, and social support initiatives to fill the gaps and reintegrate our vulnerable population. With over 35 years of experience as an attorney and volunteer youth minister, she leverages her expertise in legal advocacy and spiritual mentorship to foster community inclusion.

Previously, a managing trial attorney, she built a career with high ethical standards and efficient case resolution for thousands of clients. Simultaneously, she grew an active youth ministry of over 100 members by fostering a clear vision, mastering strategic fundraising, and providing effective leadership. A believer in acting to bridge systemic gaps, she leverages her expertise at POTP to create community-based initiatives. As director of POTP, she created and continues to facilitate the Rolling Meadows Interfaith Council, directly reintegrating vulnerable, forgotten community members.

Holding a Juris Doctorate with a Master’s in Pastoral Studies and certification as a Lay Ecclesial Minister, Lori effectively combines legal acumen and pastoral leadership in this endeavor. She has a proven track record of scaling both business and ministry initiatives that ensure impactful and sustainable growth. Lori welcomes connecting with fellow community advocates and seeking volunteers to further POTP’s mission, driven by the philosophy, “I wondered why somebody didn’t do something. Then I realized, I am somebody.” Unknown Author.

Eduardo “Edy” Guillen brings a heart for service, creativity, and genuine care to Partners on the Path. With decades of experience supporting church administrations and youth ministry, he has helped guide retreats, service projects, capital campaigns and small groups that build real connections and community. Edy was also actively involved in Hispanic ministry and has served on various boards, always looking for ways to better support and uplift diverse communities.

As a Spanish speaker, he is passionate about making spaces more welcoming and accessible. He uses his gift for craftsmanship to design and create meaningful environments and bring ideas to tangible life. He has experience in writing and editing newsletters, talks, and publications for a wide variety of audiences.

His style is rooted in quiet leadership and empathy. Inspired by his deep love for family, Edy finds joy in helping others thrive. He believes that everyone deserves to feel seen, welcomed, and supported. At his core, he is faith driven and committed to offering encouragement and walking alongside individuals and families to provide resources and hope.

Kim Jensen, LCSW, OSW-C is an oncology social worker at Endeavor Health/Northwest Community Hospital where she has worked for 28 years. She has over 45 years’ experience as a social worker primarily in healthcare. As an oncology social worker, she is passionate about providing counseling and financial assistance to patients who are in treatment for their cancer. She also oversees and leads several cancer support groups and for the past 26 years has directed their annual Cancer Survivor Celebration.

In 2011, she was one of 11 in the country to receive the Lane Adams Quality of Life Award through the American Cancer Society in recognition for exceptional support and compassionate, high-quality care for people with cancer and their families. The state of Illinois also recognized her as being the only Illinois resident to win this award.

Outside of work, she is on the Condominium Association Board as the Treasurer, sings, is active in her church and is very excited to be joining Partners on the Path as the Treasurer. Her lifelong commitment to help people “where they are at” to have the best life possible.

Thomas “TM” McKenna is a lifelong resident of Arlington Heights and a proud alumnus of Our Lady of the Wayside School and Rolling Meadows High School. These two schools helped establish a deep love for both the Northwest Suburbs and helping others, which is why he is thrilled to be involved with Partners on the Path.

While in college at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio (Go Spartans!), Thomas continued to serve his community through a Catholic Homeless Outreach Ministry called Labre. There, he aimed to build relationships with homeless individuals and provide them with both food and Christ’s love.

When Thomas is not at work as a Manufacturing Engineer, you can find him volunteering with the Our Lady  of the Wayside High School Youth Ministry, as he has done for the past decade. Thomas looks to bring his love of service and building Catholic communities to assist Partners on the Path in bringing people together to better share Christ's love.

Reverend Brian Simpson brings his gift of pastoring to the surrounding Chicagoland area as an ordained Catholic Priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and since 1972 has served as Pastoral Associate and Administrator of various Parishes.

He received the call to serve as Chaplain in the U.S. Navy and served during the 25-year period with the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commands, including overseas in Okinawa and La Maddalena with three deployments across the Pacific and two tours in Iraq. He also served as Director of Training, U.S. Navy Chaplain Center and School.

Since retiring from active ministry in 2016, he has continued to serve several area parishes and is an active member within the Rolling Meadows community. He serves on the Rolling Meadows Veterans Committee and the Rolling Meadows Interfaith Council. He brings to Partners on the Path ready-made connections to local government and religious communities. His vast experience brings high-level operational skills in counseling, logistics, and community resilience to the Partners on the Path’s Direction Team.   

Theresa “Teri” Toenjes brings over 15 years of ministry experience in the Catholic Church. As a Director of Evangelization, she has accompanied individuals on their faith journeys and led outreach efforts that support vulnerable communities with compassion and strategic vision. With her background in education and formation, she provides motivating presentations, helping individuals identify, discern, and live out their charisms to enrich not only themselves but the community.   

Her lifelong call to serve inspires her commitment to Partners on the Path. Outside her ministry work, Teri enjoys time with her family, especially her new grandchildren, and values walking with people through life’s challenges.

Mary Tornabene, APRN, FNP-BC, joins the Partners on the Path board with a career-long commitment to mercy and the conviction that "loving thy neighbor" truly means everyone, without exception. As a Family Nurse Practitioner on the mobile health team at Lawndale Christian Health Center, she brings 35 years of clinical expertise directly into Chicago's shelter systems, ensuring that high-quality care reaches those the world often overlooks.

Throughout her career, Mary has championed the belief that our community's strength is measured by how we care for our most vulnerable members. This was especially vital during the pandemic, when she worked across agencies to lead vaccine rollouts and disease prevention efforts, and, more recently, to coordinate her agency’s medical response for new arrivals to the city. A former Chair of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Clinicians Network Steering Committee and recipient of their 2007 Outstanding Service Award, Mary balances her compassionate heart with a deep sense of accountability to the common good.

At POTP, Mary is dedicated to building resilient, inclusive communities rooted in dignity and justice.

LOGISTIC TEAM

The Logistics Team supports the mission of Partners on the Path by addressing key operational needs, including funding, marketing, and volunteer coordination.

Amanda Haro is a community advocate with over15 years of experience walking alongside individuals and families as theynavigate complex systems. Her professional background in higher education andtalent acquisition has shaped a practical, people-centered approach focused onhelping others find support, resources, and opportunities.

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Rooted in faith and a charism for service, her work centers on compassionate listening and guiding others through uncertainty. This commitment to connection is what drives her ongoing dedication to community and volunteer work.

At the heart of her involvement with POTP is a desire to give back in a meaningful way. As part of the logistics team, she brings both professional experience and lived experience as a mother, keeping her grounded in the everyday realities families face. This perspective fuels her commitment to creating bridges between organizations and the people they serve. Amanda is motivated by relationship-building, empathy, and a belief that support systems should feel accessible to all.

Carol Thompson is an experienced healthcare professional, as well as an educator and mentor, possessing excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills. Carol’s intuitive insights allow her to help others into actionable growth and have enabled her to make a difference in the lives of individuals and in organizational settings.

As a clinical laboratory scientist, Carol has held leadership roles in hospital laboratories and served as the director for a national laboratory accreditation program that reviewed clinical laboratories for compliance with federal regulations. She found that problem-solving and creating workable solutions has been the key to success.

Carol joined Partners on the Path to help explore ways to help individuals and organizations create workable solutions for projects that serve others. In today’s world, Carol sees a moral obligation to serve, whether as an individual or in a group. The need is great, and there are many ways to serve others if we all work together. Having raised children and participated in multiple youth activity organizations, Carol now finds that her focus in life has shifted to caring for those who are home-bound or are confined to nursing facilities. She also dabbles in crafts and growing flowers, especially cultivating orchids. Carol loves to read and has a habit of staying up way too late to finish a good book.

Carol knows that to find workable solutions for any project, the right processes must be in place. That takes someone to listen, ask the right questions, and through careful analysis help determine the best solution. Carol would love to have a conversation through Partners on the Path and hear the ideas you or your organization have for serving others.