top of page

MEET OUR TEAM

Bridget's Cradles is a nonprofit incorporated in the state of Kansas and tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). Bridget's Cradles is overseen by a Board of Directors as well as by legal and financial counsel. 

Ashley Opliger

President &
Executive Director

 

Ashley is Bridget's Mommy and co-founder and President of Bridget's Cradles. She is married to Matt and they have three children: a daughter in Heaven, Bridget, and two sons, Branton and Brenner.

 

Ashley is a fully-devoted follower of Christ and longs to glorify Him with her life. She desires to share the hope of Heaven with moms grieving the loss of their baby. 

 

Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and friends, crafting, reading, and podcasting. You can read more about her daughter's life story here and watch a short video of her story here.

​

To watch a short documentary filmed by Grotto Network on Ashley's work with Bridget's Cradles, visit here.

​

Connect with Ashley:

@ashleyopliger

Facebook | Instagram

www.ashleyopliger.com

Working to honor Bridget Faith Opliger October 22, 2014

Amanda Farris

​

director of marketing & communications

 

Amanda is married to her best friend, Paul, and they live outside of Atlanta with their twin girls. However, she is a Wichita native and travels to Kansas to Bridget's Cradles HQ often.

 

Amanda received her Master's degree in International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology with the goal of helping children and families both nationally and internationally.

 

Amanda has a huge heart for bereaved families and prays that one day all grieving families feel supported and loved and will know the hope of Heaven.

Working to honor all babies in Heaven

Matt Opliger

​

Vice President

Matt is Bridget’s Daddy and the Vice President of Bridget’s Cradles. He married the love of his life, Ashley, in 2014, and together they have three children.

 

Matt has his Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and works with airplane composite materials. Matt enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports.

 

Matt is honored to bless bereaved families in memory of Bridget. He believes babies are made in the image of God and his hope for families is that the cradle offers hope and comfort in a heartbreaking time.

Working to honor Bridget Faith Opliger October 22, 2014

Rod Opliger

​

Treasurer

Rod is Matt's Dad and Bridget's Papa. He is the Treasurer of Bridget's Cradles bringing 40 years of experience in finance and accounting.

 

He is the Finance Director of Central Community Church in Wichita, KS. Rod was named one of the Top CFOs by the Wichita Business Journal in 2012. He enjoys financial planning, fishing, boating, traveling, and spending time with his family.

 

Rod believes that the gift of life that God gives is so precious and that we should treasure it. He wants all families who experience a pregnancy loss to know that there is hope. By placing faith in the Lord, we will one day be re-united with our little ones in Heaven.

Working to honor Bridget Faith Opliger October 22, 2014

Teresa Golik

Teresa is Ashley's Mom and Bridget's Grammy. She is a co-founder of Bridget's Cradles and the creator of the original cradle for Bridget. You can read more about the story behind her first cradle here

 

She is an avid knitter and sewer for Bridget's Cradles and makes each cradle with love and prayers for bereaved families.

 

Teresa is married to her high school sweetheart, Steve, and has three children and two dogs. She works as a postpartum registered nurse (RN) and has 40 years of nursing experience.

 

She enjoys knitting, reading, spending time with her dogs and family, and taking trips to the ocean.

Director

Working to honor Bridget Faith Opliger October 22, 2014

Casey Siegrist

​

SECRETARY

Casey is married to Jake and they have three children: Olivia, Jack, and Harper, and also share their home with a fetch-loving Yorkie named Hines.

 

Casey and Jake’s second child, Jack Monroe, was stillborn on October 6, 2014 at 30 weeks. 

 

She has a passion for serving bereaved families and will continue to follow the calling God has placed on her life through her work with Bridget’s Cradles, in memory of her son, Jack Monroe. Casey has been involved with the ministry since it was founded and is active in its daily operations.

 

Casey enjoys spending time with family and friends, and watching her girls participate in many different sports and activities. 

Working to honor Jack Monroe Siegrist October 6, 2014

Jacob Siegrist

​

Director

Jacob is happily married to Casey and father to Olivia, Jack, and Harper. Jacob’s son, Jack, was stillborn at 30 weeks in October of 2014.

 

He is the Senior Vice President, Credit and Lending Operations Director with Fidelity Bank. 

 

Jacob also serves as treasurer and board member for The Kansas Chapter of the Risk Management Association and a board member of Music Associates for Wichita State University.

 

His passions are family, singing, reading, carpentry, and golf. He is very committed to the mission of Bridget’s Cradles and is honored to be involved in the impact the ministry is making in his hometown of Wichita, KS and also nationwide. 

Working to honor Jack Monroe Siegrist October 6, 2014

2-headshots1.jpg

Judy Eskridge

Cradle Operations

Judy is the blessed mother of three children and twelve grandchildren, all living in the Wichita area. She is active in her church Sunday School, Bible Studies, and chancel choir. Judy is also the coordinator for VIM teams at her church. She enjoys sunny days outside with family and friends.

​

Judy has volunteered with Bridget's Cradles since January 2018 after hearing about the organization on the news. She had been praying for God to show her where He could use her in local outreach and was touched by Ashley's story. 

 

Judy plays an important role on the team and completes many operations with the cradles including sewing, tagging, sorting, and packing them into hospital boxes. She is thankful to serve bereaved families through the ministry.

WORKING TO HONOR ALL BABIES IN HEAVEN

1-headshots1.jpg

Dena Broderick

LOCAL OPERATIONS
VOLUNTEER

Dena lives in Wichita with her husband, Matthew, and their four children: Camden, Eli, Gabriel in Heaven, and their rainbow baby, June. 

​

After receiving a cradle for her son, Gabriel, Dena has been blessed to be able to volunteer with Bridget's Cradles in his memory since August 2015.

 

She is involved in the intake process, planning, preparing and running volunteer work nights and Hope Gathering events. Dena has a passion for serving moms. She desires to use her experiences and knowledge to help others through similar journeys.

 

Spending time with her family, camping, traveling, and volunteering are some of Dena's favorite things to do, when she's not working her full-time job as a software engineer. 

Working to honor GABRIEL MASON BRODERICK

 June 28, 2015

Annie (3)_edited.jpg

Annie Kaiser

Hospital Coordinator

Annie lives in Holland, Michigan with her husband Jimmy. Their only child Parker was born stillborn at 16 weeks.

 

Annie is an administrator at an assisted living center in her hometown and loves the people she works with and works for. 

​

After receiving a cradle when Parker was born, she quickly joined the Hope Online meetings and listened to Cradled in Hope podcast episodes. Annie traveled to Wave of Light in Wichita and knew she wanted to do more to help this ministry. 

​

Annie and Jimmy enjoy spending time with family and friends playing board games. 

Working to Honor James Parker Kaiser V

August 1, 2022

Emily-1.jpg

Emily Jaax

Finance Volunteer

Emily lives in Valley Center with her husband Chris, and their three children, Genevieve, Judah and Atticus. They have three babies in Heaven, one miscarried at six weeks, Andrew born into Heaven at 16 weeks, and one miscarried at five weeks. 

 

After losing her son Andrew, Emily came to Bridget's Cradles hoping to volunteer to honor her babies. She assists with the finances and adding the finishing touches to cradles.

 

When she's not working her full-time job as a CPA, Emily enjoys crafting, spending time with her family and working on her farm.

working to honor Andrew Christopher Jaax and babies in Heaven

9/20/18, 11/29/19, 2/16/21, 2/10/23

1-Rachel Headshot.jpg

Rachel Hemmingson

 administrative volunteer

Rachel is married to her husband Matt, who is in the Air Force. Although she grew up in the Midwest, she has moved several times and currently lives in Hill AFB, Utah with her four kids Zailey, Teagan, Skylar, and Oliver.

 

Rachel has a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, but as a stay-at-home mom spends much of her time with her kids or volunteering. As a family, they love to explore the outdoors and travel as much as possible. Rachel also loves to craft.

 

After hearing about Bridget’s Cradles mission, Rachel knew she wanted to help grieving families. She began volunteering at Bridget's Cradles headquarters in Kansas. After moving to Utah, Rachel continues to volunteer remotely from her computer.

working to honor all babies in heaven

bottom of page