CaringBridge Founder to Retire in 2017

Eagan, Minn., (January 18, 2017) — CaringBridge today announced that Founder and Chief Ambassador, Sona Mehring, has decided to retire effective June 30, 2017. The global nonprofit social network that offers free personal, private websites to connect family and friends during a health crisis will mark 20 years since its founding in June 1997.

After two decades, Mehring will officially retire and plans to follow her passion for connecting people in a positive and supportive way, especially online. She will remain a voice for women in leadership and technology, and plans to continue supporting entrepreneurial initiatives.

“These past 20 years have been a miraculous journey,” said Mehring. “It’s been an incredible honor to have brought CaringBridge into this world at a time when the household use of the internet was in its infancy and to help CaringBridge flourish and grow. I look forward to watching the next 20 years of CaringBridge unfold.”

For the CaringBridge staff, Mehring has been the heart and soul of the organization. She is now embarking on her next chapter and is confident she is leaving CaringBridge at a time when the organization is strong and the prospects for the future are bright.

“I’ve worked with Sona side-by-side these last two years and our partnership has been wonderful,” said Liwanag Ojala, CEO of CaringBridge. “I am grateful for her continued support and humbled by the mission of CaringBridge she created 20 years ago, which has enabled comfort and hope to patients, caregivers and their loved ones all over the world. I will surely miss her day-to-day presence but her mark on CaringBridge, as its founder, is indelible.”

“Sona started the first CaringBridge site for one family 20 years ago, and to watch her and the team grow that one site into a global nonprofit that impacts the lives of millions of families every year has been amazing,” said Bill McKinney, Board of Directors chair. “Sona has worked closely with the Board to ensure that this transition would leave CaringBridge in the best possible position to not only move forward, but to thrive. This has been a thoughtful and deliberate process and the Board is grateful for Sona’s dedication and commitment to CaringBridge.”

About CaringBridge

CaringBridge is a global nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health journey through the use of free personal websites. Their mission is to amplify the love, hope and compassion in the world, making each health journey easier. Nearly 90 percent of all funding comes from individual donors. Since its founding in 1997 by Sona Mehring, more than 650,000 CaringBridge websites have been created. Combined, they have received more than 2 billion visits. For more information, visit caringbridge.org.