Jean M. Butler

President and CEO, enCourage Kids Foundation

Jean works with hospital administrators, community leaders, corporations, private enterprise and a committed staff team to improve the hospital experience for pediatric patients. Under Jean’s leadership, the Foundation supports innovations and initiatives that address the physical health and mental well-being of children while they are in the hospital.

Jean came to EKF with more than 25 years’ experience in a variety of executive roles in business and philanthropy. Most recently, she was President of New Key Pet LLC, a pet products company, where she expanded distribution to mass market and specialty retailers, and developed a new line of innovative products.

Jean was the Chief Executive of The Toy Foundation, where she created and launched national programs with Ronald McDonald House Charities, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the U.S. Department of Defense, CASA For Children, Amazon, Target, Toys R Us, and more. She led the research, design, and development of a multi-million-dollar evidence-based research program with a renowned Children’s Health System to analyze the role of play in the healing and recovery process among pediatric patients. Her innovative marketing and media programs, which resulted in first-ever national media coverage of North American toy industry philanthropy, have been featured on NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. In recognition of her significant contributions to the field, Jean received the Wonder Women in Toys Award.

Prior to joining the children’s toy industry, Jean held several senior business development and sales positions at Time Warner Inc., where she received the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Financial Contribution from Time Warner’s Executive Management.

Jean holds a BA in Economics from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA in Marketing from the Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, and was an adjunct instructor in the global MBA program at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business.