Ms. Debi Wheeler, a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, is the Director of both the Deb Wheeler Fund and the Pete Wheeler “Pay It Forward” Fund founded in memory of her son, Harold W. “Pete” Wheeler IV. During the last 15 years, Ms. Wheeler has served on many committees, boards, and civic organizational campaigns, focusing on the needs of children.

In addition to advocating for children’s issues, Ms. Wheeler supports promising technologies and therapeutic strategies that come from basic brain research. She has a special interest in traumatic brain injury, as well as neurorehabilitation and neurotechnology. 

Ms. Wheeler brings a wealth of strategic planning expertise to the numerous projects and partnerships she has led as a member of the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary Society and as a volunteer for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and other research enterprises at Pitt. She has contributed volunteer time as well to the University of Pittsburgh. Known for her inimitable style and panache, Ms. Wheeler has a notable history of engaging talented and committed civic leaders in causes that she values. Ms. Wheeler splits her time between Somerset County, Pittsburgh, and Florida, where she has created networks of like-minded philanthropists.