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, a mission-driven organization dedicated to transforming the culture of athletics by elevating mental health awareness, education, and support. Guided by the belief that competitors face unique pressures yet are often the least likely to seek help, the Foundation works to empower coaches, athletes, and families and to #TakeDownTheStigma surrounding mental health.
In addition to his philanthropic leadership, Brian Monday is a respected keynote speaker and strategic visionary, known for inspiring organizations to prioritize mental wellness and build stronger, more compassionate cultures. He has delivered powerful mental-health awareness presentations to the National Reconnaissance Office, Johns Hopkins University, U.S. Navy helicopter pilots, the Marymount University Wrestling Team, and numerous high schools across Virginia.
Professionally, Brianserved as the Regional President for the Mid-South Region of TD Bank, overseeing operations across Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
A longtime Virginia resident, Brian is deeply engaged in community leadership. He has held roles with Leadership Fairfax, the Virginia High School League Foundation, the Eric Monday Foundation, and multiple youth sports organizations, always championing programs that strengthen young people and the communities around them.
Brian earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina. He and his wife, Holly, live in Vienna, Virginia, where they raised their two sons alongside two German Shepherds, a Newfoundland, and a cat. His passions 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 Monday has been involved with the Eric Monday Foundation since its inception and is deeply committed to fostering awareness, education, and connection around youth mental health. She is especially passionate about supporting parents and equipping them with tools to recognize and respond to mental health needs in their families and communities. Holly’s dedication to this mission is fueled by her belief that every young person deserves to feel seen, supported, and connected.
Her advocacy style is rooted in servant leadership—guiding others with empathy, humility, and a genuine desire to help. She is especially committed to reducing stigma, encouraging compassionate listening, and helping families find access to practical, accessible resources to better support the mental well-being of their young people.
Beyond her work with the Foundation, Holly is an active presence in her community. She supports her son’s high school, serves on the Board of HopeLink Behavioral Health, and finds balance and restoration through gardening an activity she finds essential to her own mental well-being.
Holly spent more than 30 years as a sales leader and Managing Director in the retirement industry, partnering with plan sponsors to design retirement programs that help employees reach strong long-term outcomes. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Innovation from Bradley University.
Grounded in compassion, community, and connection, Holly continues to advocate for mental wellness wherever her work takes her. She resides in Vienna, VA with her husband, 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
Ryan Partridge has been a Board Member and member of the Grant Committee for the Eric Monday Foundation since 2024. Ryan plays an active role in planning and operating the Foundation’s flagship event, Melee ’til Midnight. He also delivers trainings to coaches and youth athletes to help them identify and support individuals struggling with their mental health. Ryan’s “why” is simple yet deeply held: it takes everyone – not just mental health professionals – to #TakeDownTheStigma and support individuals struggling with mental illness. With the right knowledge, courage, and empathy we can start the important conversations and know what to do next.
Ryan wrestled at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia. During his senior wrestling season, Ryan served as team captain and won the Northern Virginia Regional Championship. He later attended the University of Virginia and now works in healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Ryan is a CFA charterholder and lives in New York City.
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.
