Marian (Rodrigues) Bressner, M.Ed., Ph.D.

Marian Bressner believes that one of life's greatest privileges is to use our blessings to create opportunities for others. Guided by the conviction that doing well and doing good can exist together, she founded The Cura Vita Fund to invest in people, ideas, and organizations that strengthen health, expand opportunity, and restore hope.

Named from the Latin words meaning Care for Life, Cura Vita Fund reflects a belief that meaningful change begins long before a crisis. The Fund supports initiatives that advance preventative health, mental and emotional well-being, education, economic empowerment, and innovative approaches that help individuals and communities flourish throughout every stage of life.

Marian's vision has been shaped by both gratitude and adversity. Through her own life experiences and the transformative power of education, compassionate guidance, and resilience, she developed a deep appreciation for the dignity and potential within every person. These experiences continue to inspire her commitment to supporting solutions that not only address immediate needs but also help create healthier, stronger futures for generations to come.

Throughout her career as a health educator and wellness counselor, Marian has encouraged individuals and families to recognize that well-being is one of life's greatest investments. Her work has embraced a broad and thoughtful understanding of health, drawing insights from functional medicine, traditional Chinese healing practices, yoga, education, and counseling. Rather than focusing solely on illness, she has long advocated for prevention, resilience, and the conditions that allow people to thrive.

Marian holds a master's degree in education with a concentration in early childhood development and counseling, a PhD in natural health, and certification as a yoga teacher. A lifelong learner, she continues to explore diverse practices and perspectives that honor the full potential of the human experience—body, mind, and spirit.

At its heart, Cura Vita Fund exists as an expression of a philosophy that has guided Marian’s life:

“As we are blessed, we bless others.”

Through thoughtful investment, compassion, and a commitment to human potential, Cura Vita Fund seeks to help create a healthier, more hopeful, and more equitable world—one where individuals and communities have the opportunity not only to survive, but to flourish.