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. Through the delivery of thousands of “Birthday Boxes” filled with cake mix, icing, decorations, and gifts, the organization brings moments of joy, dignity, and normalcy to children facing hardship.
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 was honored as Leadership St.
Tammany’s 2025 Alumna of the Year and the 2025–2026 City of Covington Citizen of the Year
in recognition of her community leadership and service. She holds a Juris Doctorate and a B.S. in Marketing from Louisiana State University.
Marie is known for her collaborative leadership style, her ability to build meaningful
partnerships across sectors, and her belief that small acts of kindness can create powerful ripple effects. She leads with both heart and discipline — building systems that scale impact while keeping people and purpose at the center.
Outside of her work, Marie enjoys playing golf, learning Italian, and spending time with family
and friends — and she is rarely far from a cupcake or a celebration.