A few weeks ago, REACH welcomed Lizzy Dugan to the staff as our new Development Associate. She joins us as we begin our new fiscal year and continue to work on our Reach for the Stars Gala. Before summer ends and the busy fall months take hold, we wanted to take some time to get to know our latest member of the REACH team.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am from East Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating from East Providence High School, I attended Emmanuel College in Boston and earned degrees in Sociology (major) and Leadership Management (minor). After graduating, I was hired at Sojourner House, a comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault agency that serves Providence and northern Rhode Island as their Volunteer and Events Coordinator. During my time at Sojourner House, I quickly realized how important local domestic violence agencies are to survivors and communities and it was clear that I wanted to pursue a career in nonprofit development at a DV agency. Most recently, I worked as the Events and Communications Coordinator for Read to a Child, a national nonprofit that promotes literacy and mentoring for students in inner city schools. Throughout my professional career, I have helped plan numerous events, both large and small, and I developed a strong passion for fundraising and community building. Intersectional feminism and advocating for those who are most vulnerable is extremely important to me and I am so happy to be at an incredible organization that values both of those things!
What are some of your hobbies?
In my free time, I love to cook and try new restaurants. I am definitely a “foodie” at heart and I love experiencing the local restaurant scene in my community. I also love to be outdoors and traveling, both locally throughout New England and across the country/internationally when I have the opportunity. I am always up for a good hike or beach day, especially if that beach day is in Rhode Island with my family. I have a beautiful cat named Hunter who brings great joy to my life, so I would definitely consider being a “cat mom” one of my hobbies!
What are you most excited about in your new job?
There are so many reasons why I am excited to be joining the team at REACH! First and foremost, I am thrilled to be back working in domestic violence services and to be working with an amazing group of people who are so passionate about what they do. I feel incredibly motivated by ALL the people here at REACH, including the staff, board, volunteers, and donors, and their commitment to ending domestic violence in our communities.
I am also excited to be working on the 15th AnnualReach for the Stars Gala. Event planning is a passion of mine and working with the Stars event committee has been such a pleasure so far. This year, we are not only celebrating that 15th anniversary of the Gala but also the 10th anniversary of the Survivor Speakers Bureau. To honor both of these momentous milestones, REACH has some awesome surprises that we can’t wait to share with you. Planning is well underway here at the office and I have a feeling it is going to be a phenomenal event!
