Meet Our Team

Kristin Finan

Kristin Finan

Co-founder, Executive Director

Kristin was raised in Austin and became interested in foster care as a teen after befriending a group of children who lived in a foster home in her South Austin neighborhood. She became a certified foster parent in 2015 and co-founded Carrying Hope a year later after seeing children arrive on her doorstep in a moment of crisis without any of the comfort items or essentials they desperately needed. Kristin, a firm believer that hope is always stronger than fear, has been humbled and honored to grow Carrying Hope from a small neighborhood project to a full-fledged 501c3 nonprofit that has made a difference for tens of thousands of Texas children and youth. A proud foster, adoptive, and birth mom of six, Kristin earned her undergraduate degree in journalism at the University of Texas and in 2023 earned her master’s degree in social work at Texas State University. Contact her at kristin@carryinghope.org.

Mauri Elbel

Mauri Elbel

Co-founder, Managing Director

Mauri is a native Texan, University of Texas at Austin grad, and has called Austin home since 2008 after working as a reporter on the tiny Caribbean island of St. John and earning a master’s of journalism from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Mauri has been an advocate for foster children for more than a decade, with volunteer experiences ranging from teaching weekly creative writing classes and reading bedtime stories to foster children living in a residential treatment center to providing respite care for children in the system and as a court-appointed CASA advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. As a mom of three who grew increasingly frustrated with the way children were coming into foster care with absolutely nothing, Mauri co-founded Carrying Hope to help bring positive change and much-needed hope and comfort to the kids who need it most. Contact her at mauri@carryinghope.org. 
Briana Shires

Briana Shires

Austin Office Manager

Briana is new to Austin and loves being a Texan for the first time. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and wanted to continue working with children in settings that mattered. Briana and her family became licensed in 2017 and had many placements during their six years as foster parents, provided respite care, started support groups, and were involved in various other parts of the foster/adopt world, including adopting their son. It’s her mission to continue supporting children who are in the foster care system, and Carrying Hope is the perfect place to do that. Briana is a mother of five wonderful children and enjoys watching them grow into compassionate and loving people who will hopefully go into the world and make it a better place. Contact her at briana@carryinghope.org. 
Megan McDermid

Megan McDermid

Austin Office Staff

Originally from Wisconsin, Megan moved to Austin in 2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from Texas Woman’s University. After starting as a Carrying Hope volunteer in 2024, Megan quickly fell in love with the mission and now channels that passion into coordinating volunteers and ensuring every Hope Pack is created with dignity and care. She’s grateful for the Austin community that shows up for kids and caregivers again and again. Beyond Carrying Hope, she coordinates the Community Service Group at her church, helping people discover local nonprofits that resonate with their gifts and passions. She’s devoted to all things volunteering, supporting non-profits, and building practical pathways for individuals to make a difference through service. Outside of volunteering, she’s an avid traveler who loves exploring National Parks, planning road trips, and chasing new trails and vistas. She has been married to her amazing husband, Eric, since 2008 and is currently honing her kitten-wrangling skills with two new fur babies. Contact her at megan@carryinghope.org.

Meet Our Board Members