Leadership
2011-2012 Governing Board
Gathering Change, Inc. is led by Dorothy Goodwin, Founder and President. The talented women who make up this team offer the organization a broad range of experience from both the private and public sectors. Please read the biographies below to learn more about each board member.
Biographies
Yvonne Blacker Creative Director
Yvonne's experience as a graphic designer includes fundraising efforts for major non-profit groups such as The American Red Cross, The American Cancer Society and The Jimmy Fund. She has spent numerous years in the advertising field focusing on logo development, brand identity and discovering marketing opportunities for new businesses. Along with graphic design, Yvonne works as an interior decorator, assisting clients in creating warm and inviting spaces that celebrate the people who live in them.
Education: BA Communications, Boston College
Why Gathering Change? I chose to put my design background to work for Gathering Change, Inc. because I was inspired by their simple philosophy of "give what you can." Whether it is spare change or spare time ... it all adds up to a difference in the lives of others.
Send and email to Yvonne: yblacker@gatheringhangeinc.org
Judy Bousquin Publicity Committee Chair, Nominating Committee
Judy, a resident of Stoneham, currently teaches preschool. Previously she held daycare in her home when her children were young and ran the office of a documentary film production company prior to that. Passionate about community service, Judy has volunteered at a variety of non-profit organizations throughout her life including working as a volunteer writer and photographer at a community newpaper in her hometown of Dorchester, volunteering within the Stoneham school system and donating her time to her church.
Education: BA, Sociology, UMass Boston
Why Gathering Change? Gathering Change is an organization that offers individuals, groups and businesses the opportunity to put compassion into action. With its grassroots commitment, GCI is spreading awareness of the reality of hunger within our local neighborhoods. I believe awareness is essential in creating caring communities and in creating lasting change.
Send an email to Judy: jbousquin@gatheringchangeinc.org
Mary Briggs Advisory Committee
Mary has enjoyed 35 years of diverse clinical experience as a physical therapist in rehabilitation, acute care, orthopedics and home health. For the past 12 years she has owned and managed a private practice in Wakefield, MA specializing in Integrated Manual Therapy. Mary has been involved over the years in parent volunteer and service groups in the Lynnfield School System and community events, including The Project Bread Walk for Hunger and volunteering at my Brother's Table.
Education: BS, Boston University, Certified I.M.T. Practitioner
Susie Cleary Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
Susie taught math and science for seven years at both the elementary and middle school levels before becoming wife and mom to three children. As a track coach in Richmond, Virginia she volunteered with her athletes for the Special Olympics. Susie has been involved in fund raising efforts for both the YMCA Reach Out Campaign and the ALS Association. Recently she was elected to Lynnfield School Committee. She lives with her husband and children in Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
Education: James Madison University, Harrisburg, VA, Majored in Education/Minor in Sociology
Why Gathering Change? As my children have all grown to school age, I have felt the need to start getting more involved in the community. Gathering Change came along at just the right time. I was invited to one of their informational meetings and found it to be a perfect fit. Not only can I become involved in helping others, but my children can also wrap their arms around this organization.
Send an email to Susie: scleary@gatheringchangeinc.org
Joanne Cotton Business Advisory Committee
Joanne is currently working in a local consignment store, as well as private tutoring and substituting for the past 16 years. Prior to that, she was the owner/director of a full-time day care center for 10 years. Joanne is a lifelong resident of Melrose where she lives with her husband and four teenagers. Her volunteering is widespread but has been focused on work with the local food pantry. Another priority that is close to her heart is rocking premature babies, at the hospital.
Education: BS in Elementary Education /minor psychology, University of Maine
Why Gathering Change? Joanne and her youngest daughter, Madison, are involved with A Servant's Heart Food Pantry. They were introduced to Gathering Change and felt that the ideal of the group was tantamount to the needs of their community. Inspired by the thought of educating people to "give back" in such an effortless approach they began to "gather change" at the middle school and then at her Bat Mitzvah. "Be the 'change' you wish to see in the world."
Dorothy Goodwin Founder and President, Grant Writing Chair, Web Site/Newsletter Co-Chair
For 20 years Dorothy was the sole proprietor of Top It Off, a provider of custom window treatments. She was responsible for new business, selling, designing and fabricating window treatments as well as interior design consulting. Before Top It Off, Dorothy held a variety of Sales and Administrative positions at such companies as Steelcase, Inn America Corporation, Laventhol & Horwath, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Education: Northeastern University, Marion Court College
Why Gathering Change? Gathering Change, Inc. is a reality because of a few close friends and my family who supported, encouraged, and believed that the idea of collecting what is in our pockets, on the floor of our cars, under our seat cushions, on the top of our dryers or in the bottom of our pocketbooks and giving it back to our neighbors. Gathering Change, Inc., supports basic needs, brings hope, builds community and feeds the desire we all have within ourselves to do the right thing for our human family. I am forever changed by what I see and inspired daily by those that give their time, talent and spare change so that we can fulfill our mission.
625,000 of our neighbors are in need of emergency food assistance. There are over 6.5 million Massachusetts residents. Imagine what we can do together. We call this "Neighbors helping neighbors."
Send an email to Dorothy: dgoodwin@gatheringchangeinc.org
Cindy Z. Hanshaw Website/Newsletter Committee Co-Chair
Cindy brings to Gathering Change, Inc. her diverse experience in the philanthropy, publishing and marketing fields. Previous roles include Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Boston, a donor collaborative who invests in innovative non-profit organizations, and Communications Manager for The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), a nonprofit advisory firm that designs, carries out and evaluates philanthropic programs for donors. She has consulted with clients such as The International Network for Strategic Philanthropy, The Berteslmann Foundation, Bank of America, and The World President's Organization.
Education: BA, Communication Studies, CSU Sacramento and MA, Integrated Marketing Communication, Emerson College
Why Gathering Change? I wanted to lend my experience working with donors to this worthy cause. I have been blessed with so much in this life and one way to show my thanks for that is to do what I can to help others in need. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such kind and selfless people.
Send an email to Cindy: chanshaw@gatheringchangeinc.org
Donna Hegan Fundraising Committee Chair
After her retirement from the Lynn Public Schools where she worked for 35 years as a teacher and administrator, Donna worked for two years at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Lynnfield as their Director of Religious Education. Through a community service project introduced to her Religious Education students, she became acquainted with "Gathering Change, Inc." and quickly learned how loose change could gather and add up to money to help support local food pantries. Her experience with event planning in her previous careers inspired her to become the Fundraiser Chairman. Together with other Board members, Donna is looking forward to organizing events that will help to raise awareness about hunger and to raise money to provide food for those less fortunate.
Education: St. John's Seminary, Master of Arts in Ministry, Suffolk University, Master of Arts in School Administration, Salem State College, Bachelor of Science in Business Education
Why Gathering Change? As a faith-filled Catholic and daily Mass attendee, Donna has been influenced by the Church's mission of social justice, particularly by demonstrating her gratitude to God for the many blessings in her life, through helping to find ways to feed the hungry and poor. "Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me."
Rosie McKenna Advisory Committee
Rosie is a former Teacher, and a Sales Director with Mary Kay, Inc. Presently she is employed by Adult Foster Care of The North Shore. Rosie has been active in many local charitable efforts most recently, Hospice of the North Shore, Recovery High School in Beverly, and Mission, Social Action Board of Second Congregational Church in Beverly.
Education: B.S. Northeastern University, M.ED. Salem State College
Marianne Snow Vice President, Nominating Commitee Chair, Volunteer Committee Chair
Marianne is a self-employed, non-denominational minister. She works with both adults and children as a Reiki practitioner and teacher, facilitating weekly meditation, relaxation and yoga classes, as well as workshops, retreats and rites of passage. In the past, Marianne has been a Children's Librarian, storyteller and teacher.
Marianne has also been involved in coordinating and participating in many civic volunteer activities for over 20 years including: My Brother's Table Soup Kitchen, Learning About Disabilities Coordinator, Earth Day Coordinator, Interfaith Food Pantry Liaison, Parent Library Coordinator, Cultural Arts Committee, Sunday School Teacher/Youth Group Leader, Wakefield Repertory Theatre & Creative Arts Center-Board of Directors, Town Reading Committee, Music Boosters Organization, etc. The common effort of coming together to support the goals and endeavors of the groups involved has been a satisfying and rewarding experience.
Education: Master of Education/Library Media Studies, B.A. English; Elementary Education Minor
Why Gathering Change? Since our first discussions it became clear that we can make a difference with the desire to help others in need and the simple act of collecting our spare change. Awareness of the difficulties of people in my own community, my gratitude for the blessings I have, and the overwhelming consciousness that we are all one has inspired me to help create and support Gathering Change. I am especially hopeful that its commitment to our own neighborhoods and the gestures of generosity and sharing it embodies will create a caring living environment for all of us.
Marianne Supino Board Secretary
Marianne is currently the Education Coordinator at Supino Insurance Agency, Inc. in Lynnfield and Malden. In addition, she serves as a board member for the Yorkholme Homeowners Association in York, Maine. Previously she served on the Board of directors at Children's Hospital Boston-Celiac Sprue Association. Marianne was a former executive, specializing in real estate development, with Bank of Boston and McDonald's Corporation.
Education: BA, Boston College
Why Gathering Change? My motivation in joining Gathering Change, Inc. was wanting to do something that will have an immediate and positive effect on local people in need. The founders are impressive people, generous in both spirit and in heart. The kind of leaders that inspire others into action, including me.
Send an email to Marianne: msupino@gatherinchangeinc.org
Mary Taggart Donation Committee Chair
I have volunteered for many local groups over the years, serving as President and Vice President of Wakefield Music Boosters. I was responsible for coordinating major fundraising efforts and the allocation of our resources. Professionally involved in sales and training for over 20 years.
Education: BFA
Why Gathering Change? I am deeply concerned about the every-widening gap between the "haves" and the "have nots." I believe that we should care for each other and be sure that basic needs are met. This organization will help to connect those that can give to those in need.
Send an email to Mary: mtaggart@gatheringchangeinc.org
