Title: President
Company: Mission 34
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Heather R. Bonner, president of Mission 34, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in nonprofit organizations.
Though she has built a strong reputation for herself across more than 20 years in sales, marketing and real estate, Ms. Bonner’s most powerful project was born of a great personal tragedy. In 2018, her son, Sean Jr., passed away following an undiagnosed concussion and a struggle with mental illness. Driven by this terrible loss, Ms. Bonner and her family founded Mission 34 in 2019. Named after the number on Sean’s college baseball uniform, this nonprofit is devoted to getting rid of the stigma around mental illness, making it easier for young people and athletes in particular to discuss issues that are often ignored. Ms. Bonner notes Mission 34’s tagline, “A New Type of Tough,” which emphasizes the strength required to confront mental illness rather than treating it as a weakness. She prioritizes helping people who are struggling, so that they do not feel alone and can recognize the value in getting help.
As the president and chair of the board of Mission 34, Ms. Bonner directly handles the appointment of directors and new board members for the organization. She participates in virtually every element of the nonprofit’s operations, including merchandise, social media, graphic design, marketing, finances, strategic planning and more. Ms. Bonner also regularly communicates with city and college chapters of Mission 34 located around the United States. The organization currently has 12 chapters, with locations in such cities as Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Miami, New York City and San Francisco. She is especially proud of the chapter located at Denison University, where Sean Jr. was attending college.
Alongside advocacy and speaking engagements, Ms. Bonner also aids in organizing fundraising events for Mission 34. Most recently, she attended Rock the Cause for Mission 34, a yearly event featuring local musicians. February 2025 marked the inaugural iteration of the event, raising more than $350,000 with over 600 guests attending. Ms. Bonner has also recruited many of Sean’s close high school friends, giving them opportunities to assist in awareness campaigns. She attributes the success of Mission 34 to the support of those friends and the broader community in her home city of Charlotte, North Carolina.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Ms. Bonner has served as a realtor and broker with Corcoran HM Properties since 2007. Her earlier professional experience includes time spent in marketing, the airline business and the cosmetics industry.
Ms. Bonner’s ability to lead Mission 34 has been supported by her academic background. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in economics with a minor in friends from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1988. Subsequently, Ms. Bonner earned a Master of Business Administration in marketing and international business from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Business Administration in 1994.
Beyond her primary vocation, Ms. Bonner is a dedicated wife and a loving mother to her children, Allison, Ryan and Sean Jr. She has been passionate about photography since she was young due to being inspired by her grandfather. She also enjoys riding bikes, running, rowing, and playing ice hockey, tennis and pickleball. Eager to continue expanding Mission 34’s reach, Ms. Bonner aims to establish at least one college and one city chapter of the organization in every state in the U.S. Though she is not retiring imminently, she also plans to set up the nonprofit for continued success after her and her husband step away.
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