From left: Volunteer Maria Vallace, Grant Writer Leslie Levenson, Director of Operations Jody Barnet, Office Manager Stephanie Matern, Executive Director Ari Barbanell, Development Manager Caitlin Sawicki, Community Engagement Specialist Christine Ruddy, Communications Manager Carolyn Conley-Das, Distribution Coordinator Heidi Wilson
Dear friends of Circle of Hope,
Happy September! We are all so excited to be back in action at Circle of Hope after a brief break in August. Already this month, we have given hundreds of people experiencing homelessness the clothing and hygiene essentials they need for comfort, health, and dignity.
I am beyond thrilled to join this dynamic team as Circle of Hope’s new Executive Director! It has been a joy to get to know members of the staff and board over the past month and I look forward to meeting all our volunteers, partners, and supporters very soon. In the meantime, please allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Ari Barbanell and I am a storyteller, event producer, development professional, and former arts leader. Prior to joining the Circle of Hope team, I spent eight years focusing on awareness and fundraising around issues of homelessness in Greater Boston as co-founder and Executive Director of The Winter Walk. My belief in the transformative power of storytelling, connection, and community led me to this work, and to Circle of Hope.
In this thriving organization, I see the impact of each and every person who has contributed along the way – and there are many of you. Every dollar you have donated, hour you have volunteered, collection drive you have organized, and event you have attended has helped someone experiencing homelessness feel the warmth of our circle. Your energy, dedication, and compassion have given thousands of people exactly what they needed for warmth, health, and safety. Many of you have been part of Circle of Hope for years – some more than a decade! – and I am so excited to learn from you, hear your stories, and find out what brings you back to Circle of Hope year after year.
Together, we will continue building on the strong foundation built by Circle of Hope's Founder, Barbara Waterhouse, and helping thousands of people in deepest need stay warm and healthy.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out any time with questions for me, or just to introduce yourself! I can be reached at ari@circleofhopeonline.org (or simply reply to this email). Thank you and I can’t wait to meet you!
Warmly,
Ari Barbanell, Executive Director
