I am thrilled to introduce myself as the Ellie Fund's new Executive Director. I come to the Ellie Fund from the field of child welfare and serious poverty, having worked at The Home for Little Wanderers for 7 years. Since starting in July, I have been consistently amazed by the sheer compassion that the Ellie Fund exudes in all they do.

 

Kindness is here at the Ellie Fund; it flourishes, it heals and it matters.

 

One thing has stood out to me in the meetings I have had with patients, oncology professionals and  

friends - everyone has an Ellie. Ellie is a person who gives so much of themselves to care for those around them, even in the midst of being faced with challenges and hardships. My Ellie is my mother, Linda, who lived with metastatic breast cancer for 8 years. Though Jeff and Eliot Popkin were much younger than I when they lost their beloved mother Ellie, we share similar experiences. Our mothers were both women who cared deeply for everyone around them. They were mothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, co-workers and friends. They were beautiful and kind and, even when things got tough, they were more concerned about others than themselves.

 

Everyone has an Ellie.

 

I have had the privilege of working at some of Boston's most beloved institutions that aim to cure, prevent and understand various diseases and public health issues. But I have never, until now, seen the power of sheer kindness and compassion like what is on display at the Ellie Fund.

 

It is my hope that, together, we can continue to identify resources, learn about new integrative therapies and ensure that we are effectively serving our patients to the best of our ability. I look forward to years dedicated to achieving our mission of providing essential support services and compassionate care to breast cancer patients so that they can focus on when really matters - family, recovery and healing.

 

I am honored to be a part of the Ellie Fund team and look forward to meeting you.