Our Board Members are not mental health experts. We are coaches, educators, and parents who understand at the deepest level the importance of addressing the mental health issues of student-athletes. We work with mental health experts to develop the training and resources we provide to raise awareness and #TAKEDOWNTHESTIGMA.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brian Monday - President & Founder
Brian Monday is the founder and President of the Eric Monday Foundation. The Foundation strives to engage and educate coaches and competitors by bringing an awareness of mental health challenges and its stigma. We start with recognition that competitors experience unique stress and intensity and are least likely to ask for help, and that 49% of adolescents experience mental health challenges at some time. Through awareness and support, the Foundation also fosters opportunities for those involved in athletics to develop their mind, body and spirit while raising up fellow participants. Bottom line: Our goal is to #TakeDownTheStigma of mental health. Brian Monday has been the Regional President for the Mid-South Region of TD Bank encompassing DE, MD, DC, VA, NC and SC. He is currently responsible for special bank initiatives in the commercial bank.
A long time Virginia resident, Brian is active and passionate about the community has served in leadership roles for multiple organizations including Leadership Fairfax; the Virginia High School League Foundation; the Eric Monday Foundation and various sports organizations.
Brian earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. He is married to Holly Monday with two sons, two German Shepherds and one Newfoundland dog and resides in Vienna, VA. Key interests include mental health advocacy, coaching football, skiing, travel and music performance.
Brian Hagerty - Treasurer
Brian is retired from commercial banking having been most recently employed with TD Bank. He has over 30 years of experience in commercial banking in the DMV region with most of his focus in the Professional Services and Not-For-Profit industry spaces.
Brian is native to Northern Virginia, and a graduate Assumption University in Worcester, Mass. He and his wife, Kathleen, are proud parents of two adult children, Seamus and Connor. They currently reside in Chantilly, Virginia.
Holly Monday - Secretary
Holly@ericmondayfoundation.org
Holly has been in the Retirement Industry for over 25 years where she has focused on working with Plan Sponsors to drive positive retirement outcomes for their employees. She has a passion for connecting with parents and promoting awareness and education on the topic of mental health. Holly earned her Associates Degree from Illinois Central College and further studied accounting and marketing at Bradley University. She currently resides in Vienna, Virginia with Brian and their son Clay.
Thomas "Toby" Eckhardt
Toby Eckhardt is founder and Chief Creative Officer of Focused Image, Inc. He founded the company in Washington, D.C. in 1985. Today, Focused Image is a leading marketing communications agency within the Greater Washington area that helps clients realize their business potential and growth objectives through brand development, marketing, advertising, public relations and social media. Toby takes an active role with every Focused Image client, from strategic development through creative execution.
With more than 25 years’ experience in branding and creative marketing, he has worked with hundreds of clients from technology start-ups to Fortune 1000 companies to develop new brands, redevelop existing brands and raise visibility with target audiences. Over the past 20 years, Toby and his team of seasoned, senior communications professionals at Focused Image have developed strategic plans, award-winning brands, and highly creative campaigns for well-known brands such as Airbus, Amentum, AOL, Black & Decker, CACI, CSC, Eskimo Pie, Northrop Grumman, Leidos and XM Radio.
Toby has been on the board of EMF for 10 years and has been involved in the Melee ’til Midnight tournament since its inception in 2010. He has made significant contributions to building the Melee legacy through brand development and marketing the event.
Toby earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College.
John Partridge
John Partridge has served on the board of the Eric Monday Foundation for over 13 years, dedicating his leadership, advocacy, and operational expertise to advancing the foundation’s mission. Throughout his tenure, John has played an instrumental role in promoting and operating the foundation’s flagship event, the annual Melee Til Midnight wrestling tournament, one of the largest and most impactful youth wrestling fundraisers in the nation. He has also helped drive the organization’s grant initiatives and has spoken to collegiate, high school, and youth sports teams across the country to amplify the foundation’s powerful mission of mental health awareness through its #TakedownTheStigma campaign.
A lifelong mental health advocate, John’s service extends beyond the foundation. He has frequently served as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), representing children and families in crisis and championing the importance of support systems, early intervention, and mental wellness.
An entrepreneur at his core, John is the President and Founder of the national home services brand Honey Do Today (#americashandyman), and the Co-Founder of the professional business networking organization Team Network, a nationwide community built on the principles of collaboration, empowerment, and Give-and-Go leadership.
John resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, Alexandra, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner deeply committed to mental health care, and their four children. His family legacy of service continues through his son, Ryan Partridge, who also serves as a board member of the Eric Monday Foundation.
Through his leadership, advocacy, and community engagement, John remains steadfast in honoring Eric Monday’s legacy—helping young athletes and families access the resources, conversations, and support systems needed to tackle mental health with the same strength used to battle on the mat.
Matt Baum
Matt Baum has been involved with the Eric Monday Foundation since his days as a Vienna Youth Incorporated (VYI) and James Madison High School wrestler, long before officially joining the Board of Directors in 2024. In his current role, Matt leads the Foundation’s Grants Committee—overseeing the vetting of grant applications—and plays an integral part in organizing the Foundation’s flagship event, Melee till Midnight.
A lifelong athlete and proud Vienna native, Matt grew up participating in a wide range of Vienna Youth Athletics programs, including football, wrestling, soccer, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse. He continued his athletic journey at James Madison High School, competing on both the football and wrestling teams, and later at Clemson University as a member of the rugby team.
After college, Matt returned to his hometown, where he remains deeply connected to the Vienna community. His personal and athletic experiences have fostered a lifelong commitment to improving mental health awareness and support for teammates and peers alike.
Professionally, Matt is a licensed CPA with over five years of experience in public accounting.
Through his leadership, advocacy, and community engagement, Matt continues to honor Eric Monday’s mission of #TakeDownTheStigma by championing open conversations and support around mental health challenges.
Ryan Partridge
Bio to come
Ashley Anderson
Ashley Anderson, a Northern Virginia area plant, is Director of Student Services at Fairfax High School with a passion for her community. She focuses her efforts on equity and inclusion and building relationships with students and parents. With both parents in the military, Ashley moved back to the DMV area during elementary school and attended elementary, middle, and high school in the Madison pyramid. After high school, Ashley attended Virginia Tech where she received a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies. She has worked in admissions recruiting students for her alma mater and then worked five years with the state of Virginia as a Disability Analyst. After receiving her masters in Counselor Education in 2015, she became a school counselor at Madison where she effortlessly worked to build connections with those around her. She also supported students in their efforts to attend college and co-leads her school equity team, and along with another colleague she supported Madison in increasing the social and emotional learning of students through regular lessons. In December of 2023, Ashley was named Director of Student Services at Fairfax High School. She was named Outstanding Leader for her school and one of the Optimist Club’s Greater Vienna Partners in Education in 2018. Outside of her duties as a counselor, she often works with the activities department taking tickets at games.
Ashley is very close to her family. Her brother and father live locally in Maryland while her mom has traveled south living in Florida. Her brother and sister-in-law welcomed a daughter this past spring who she spends as much time with as she can.
ADVISORS
Phil Cronin, Ed. D, R.A.A
Phil Cronin has served Fairfax County Public Schools for over twenty-five years at Marshall, Hayfield, Chantilly, and West Springfield. He started as a social studies teacher and currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Herndon HS. Dr. Cronin received his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Mary Washington College, a Master’s in Education from George Mason University, and his Doctorate in Education from Virginia Tech.
Having coached a variety of sports, including football, softball, and soccer, Phil was inducted into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018. He has been Virginia’s coaching director, head Greco coach, and team liaison for both national and International events.
Phil has been a been a supporter of the Eric Monday Foundation from its onset and serves as the Tournament Director of Melee til Midnight. As a former coach, he is most proud and excited by the implementation of the Coach’s Guide to Mental Health program. In addition to coaching, he enjoys spending as much time as possible with his adult family.
