Sunshine from Darkness—a subsidiary of the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation—has hired its first full-time executive director, longtime nonprofit professional Marlene Hauck. In her new role, she will serve as the primary spokesperson for the cause, oversee strategic planning and implementation, planning and budgeting, and areas including fundraising, marketing and communications, event oversight, and board engagement and relations.

The mission of Sunshine from Darkness is to raise awareness of mental health and addiction disorders, and erase the stigma of both. Hauck has worked in the nonprofit realm for more than 25 years, with 10 years of leadership experience for two nonprofits. She served on the board of directors of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare and made the transition to director of marketing and development for First Step of Sarasota when Coastal and First Step merged in 2020.