Catherine “Kay” Berridge
Leading founder
Catherine P. “Kay” Berridge (1906-2003), humanitarian and philanthropist, bequeathed a generous endowment from her estate to Bridgeway Center, Inc. (BCI) in support of community-based behavioral health. Catherine was President of the Community Action Program and founded the Okaloosa County Guidance Clinic (now Bridgeway Center, Inc.), Head Start, and Foster Grandparents programs. She was awarded the Florida Association of Mental Health’s Silver Medallion. Catherine was active in the Camellia Society, Delta Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, and St. Simon’s on-the-Sound Episcopal Church. Catherine grew up in Lewistown, Montana. She attended Washington State University (WSU) in 1929, where she met her husband, Harold L. “Biff” Berridge.
In 2000, at the age of 93 years, Catherine Berridge was inducted into the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame. Mrs. Berridge was the first President of the Okaloosa Guidance Clinic (OGC) Board of Directors. She served on the Board with her husband, Lt. Colonel Harold Berridge. Colonel Berridge retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1966 as the Director of Human Factors Engineering at Eglin Air Force Base. He died in July 1989.
A Heritage and Honor Wall in remembrance of Catherine Berridge was constructed at the BCI Hospital Drive location in the Catherine Berridge Education Room.