As a $5 million organization, we have put together a team of full and part-time staff to best serve our growing patient needs.
Executive Team
Meredith Mendelson
Executive Director
Meredith Mendelson
Executive Director
Meredith joined Ellie Fund as Executive Director in 2018. Under her leadership, the organization has more than doubled the number of patients served annually and significantly increased revenue, strengthening Ellie Fund’s ability to support breast cancer patients across Massachusetts.
Prior to joining Ellie Fund, Meredith worked in Development and Communications for several respected nonprofit organizations in Boston, including The Home for Little Wanderers. She holds a law degree from Lewis & Clark College and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Rhode Island.
Meredith’s connection to Ellie Fund’s mission is deeply personal. She stood alongside her mother throughout an eight-year journey with metastatic breast cancer and witnessed firsthand the impact a cancer diagnosis can have on a family. That experience continues to fuel her dedication to ensuring patients receive critical support when they need it most.
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Chloe Smith-Sokol
Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager
Chloe Smith-Sokol
Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager
Chloe joined Ellie Fund in 2024 as the Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager shortly after graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. In her role, she supports the Executive Director and leadership team while coordinating key administrative and organizational priorities.
Chloe has always been drawn to mission-driven organizations focused on advancing equity and previously worked with Tech Goes Home.
Her connection to Ellie Fund’s mission is deeply personal. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Chloe was young and later passed away from the disease in 2014.
Back to Staff & BoardDevelopment
Kate Ward
Director of Development
Kate Ward
Director of Development
Kate joined Ellie Fund in 2025 as the Development Director. In this role, she oversees the organization’s fundraising strategy, including annual appeals, corporate sponsorships, donor stewardship, and the team responsible for special events and grants.
Prior to joining Ellie Fund, Kate served as Chief Advancement Officer at Saint Columbkille Partnership School and Director of Branch Operations at the YMCA of Greater Boston.
Kate holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Communications from Siena College and a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy from Boston College.
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Sarah Burke
Development Manager
Sarah Burke
Development Manager
Sarah joined Ellie Fund in 2025 as the Development Manager, Special Programs. In her role, she supports fundraising initiatives and donor engagement efforts that help ensure Ellie Fund can continue providing critical services to breast cancer patients and their families.
Her connection to Ellie Fund began when her mother was a patient, and the support her family received during that time left a lasting impact. Inspired to give back, Sarah volunteered at fundraising events and helped organize games for the Students for Hope program—first as a Framingham State University field hockey captain and later as a coach at Braintree High School.
Sarah has also participated in Ellie Fund’s Boston Marathon team, running in both 2024 and 2025 and raising more than $46,000 in support of Ellie Fund’s mission.
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Bridget Flynn
Development Operations Associate
Bridget Flynn
Development Operations Associate
Bridget joined Ellie Fund in 2024 as a Development Operations Associate. In her role, she supports the development team by managing the donor database, processing gifts, assisting with development reporting, and supporting fundraising events.
Bridget graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2023 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Prior to joining Ellie Fund, she worked for six years at a daycare facility where she developed strong organizational and communication skills.
Her personal experience with cancer ignited her dedication to Ellie Fund’s mission. Bridget’s father passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer, inspiring her commitment to supporting families facing similar challenges.
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Vicky Sanchez Merino
Director, Special Events
Vicky Sanchez Merino
Director, Special Events
Vicky joined Ellie Fund in 2023 as the Director of Special Events after previously volunteering within the Patient Services Department. In her role, she leads the planning and execution of major fundraising events, including the Red Carpet Gala, and oversees Ellie Fund’s third-party events program.
She brings a background in event planning and management and extensive experience coordinating large-scale fundraising events.
Vicky holds degrees in Tourism and Hotel Management, Fashion Design, and a Master’s in Communication, Event Marketing & Public Relations from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
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Kathy Wynters
Athletic Events Manager
Kathy Wynters
Athletic Events Manager
Kathy joined Ellie Fund in 2022 following many years of volunteer involvement with the organization. In her role, she manages Ellie Fund’s four major athletic fundraising events, helping engage athletes and community partners in support of Ellie Fund’s mission.
Kathy previously enjoyed a more than 30-year career as a college athletics administrator and launched the Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer program while serving as Associate Commissioner at Hockey East.
A graduate of Providence College with a Bachelor’s in Business and Marketing, Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1983 and has dedicated much of her life to supporting breast cancer charities.
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Lauren Faga
Grant and Stewardship Manager
Lauren Faga
Grant and Stewardship Manager
Lauren joined the Ellie Fund in December 2025 as the Grant and Stewardship Manager, where she is dedicated to strengthening the partnerships that make Ellie Fund’s work possible. She brings several years of experience practicing law in the Boston area, and is proud to channel her skills into advancing the Fund’s mission of supporting breast cancer patients and their families.
A graduate of Boston College, Lauren went on to earn her law degree from Suffolk University Law School. Throughout her legal career, she enjoyed working with and serving her clients, and was fortunate to find meaningful opportunities to serve clients as a volunteer for legal nonprofits as well. Lauren brings her joy of making true connections and telling compelling stories to advocate for Ellie Fund’s impactful work.
Back to Staff & BoardPatient Services & Community Engagement
Cheryl Whetstone
Director, Patient Services
Cheryl Whetstone
Director, Patient Services
Cheryl joined Ellie Fund in 2022 as a Patient Grants Specialist after volunteering with the organization. She now serves as the Director of Patient Services, overseeing programs that connect patients and families with financial assistance and support services.
A native Spanish speaker, Cheryl has dedicated many years to supporting women and families facing language barriers through translation and advocacy.
Earlier in her career, she served as Special Events Manager at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Cheryl holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Northeastern University.
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Nekia Clark
Director, Community Engagement & Outreach
Nekia Clark
Director, Community Engagement & Outreach
Nekia joined Ellie Fund in 2022 as the Director of Community Engagement & Outreach. In this role, she leads partnerships with community health centers and community-based organizations to increase breast cancer awareness and expand access to Ellie Fund’s services. She also leads Ellie Fund’s BIPOC Support Group.
Before joining Ellie Fund, Nekia spent 15 years working in Human Resources, where she developed strong relationship-building, recruiting, and leadership skills.
Nekia’s connection to Ellie Fund’s mission is deeply personal. She is a breast cancer survivor and former Ellie Fund patient who first became involved with the organization as a volunteer after experiencing its impact firsthand.
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Danna Remen
Director, Strategic Initiatives
Danna Remen
Director, Strategic Initiatives
Danna joined Ellie Fund in 2019 and serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. In this role, she leads key initiatives and partnerships that support Ellie Fund’s efforts to expand its reach and serve more breast cancer patients across Massachusetts.
Prior to joining Ellie Fund, Danna served as Interim Executive Director at Global Oncology and previously worked with Generate4Schools, a startup focused on developing innovative revenue streams for nonprofits.
Danna holds a Master’s in Environmental Health Science from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Bachelor’s in Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Araci Sequeira
Patient Services Specialist
Araci Sequeira
Patient Services Specialist
Araci joined Ellie Fund in 2024 as a Patient Services Specialist. In her role, she works directly with patients to help connect them with Ellie Fund’s resources and support services.
Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Cape Verdean Creole, Araci uses her language skills and compassionate approach to build trust with patients from diverse backgrounds.
She was drawn to Ellie Fund’s mission after losing both her grandmother and a close friend to cancer.
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Angelina Soares
Patient Services Specialist
Angelina Soares
Patient Services Specialist
Angelina joined Ellie Fund in 2025 as a Patient Services Specialist shortly after graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor’s in Health Sciences with a focus in Speech-Language Pathology.
Her connection to Ellie Fund began during college when she fundraised for the organization through her sorority’s philanthropic efforts.
Angelina is dedicated to ensuring each patient feels supported, seen, and cared for as they navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Back to Staff & BoardOperations & Administration
Nicole Thomas
Director, Operations and Administration
Nicole Thomas
Director, Operations and Administration
Nicole joined Ellie Fund in 2025 as the Director of Operations and Administration. In this role, she leads the organization’s operational strategy, overseeing internal systems, business operations, and organizational infrastructure that support Ellie Fund’s continued growth and impact.
Nicole first became involved with Ellie Fund in 2021 when she joined the Board of Directors after her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis.
Prior to joining Ellie Fund’s staff, she spent nearly a decade at Wellington Management as a Business Manager. Nicole holds a Master’s in Project Management and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.
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Drew Brownsword
Director, Financial Operations
Drew Brownsword
Director, Financial Operations
Drew joined Ellie Fund in 2024 as the Director of Financial Operations. In this role, he oversees the organization’s financial operations and data analytics functions, helping ensure strong financial stewardship and informed decision-making.
After nearly 30 years in corporate business, Drew transitioned to the nonprofit sector, first serving as Director at the Travis Roy Foundation and later working with Bikes Not Bombs.
Drew also serves as Board Treasurer for Beautiful Day, a Providence-based nonprofit supporting refugees and their families.
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Susan Gilmore
Director of Administration
Susan Gilmore
Director of Administration
Susan joined Ellie Fund in July 2023 as the Director of Administration. In this role, she supports the organization’s internal operations, working closely with leadership to strengthen business processes and support board governance.
Before joining Ellie Fund, Susan held roles in finance and real estate development at John Hancock, Fidelity, ITT Sheraton, and Ernst & Young.
Susan holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Boston College and co-founded the Financial Services Women’s Executive Alliance.
Back to Staff & BoardCommunications & Advocacy
Samantha Hall-Linnehan
Director, Communications & Advocacy
Samantha Hall-Linnehan
Director, Communications & Advocacy
Samantha joined Ellie Fund in 2026 as Director of Communications and Advocacy after working with the organization as a consultant for five years. In this role, she leads Ellie Fund’s communications strategy and advocacy efforts.
Prior to joining Ellie Fund full-time, Samantha was principal and co-owner of In-House Alternatives, a Massachusetts-based external affairs firm that supported nonprofits and municipal governments.
Samantha holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Suffolk University and a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
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Karen Fisher
PR Consultant
Karen Fisher
PR Consultant
Karen joined Ellie Fund in 2025 as a Media Relations and Communications Consultant. In this role, she supports Ellie Fund’s communications and media outreach efforts, helping expand awareness of the organization’s mission and impact.
Karen brings extensive experience in public relations, marketing, and public affairs. Most recently, she served as Media Relations and Public Affairs Specialist at WCVB, Boston’s news and community leader, where she was part of the market’s top-rated news station for more than a decade. Earlier in her career, she was Director of Communications at TEAM Marketing, a boutique sports marketing agency, and began her public relations career at Massachusetts-based footwear brands Reebok and The Rockport Company.
Karen earned a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
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Robert Ernst
Board Chair
Managing Partner, FBN Construction Co.
Joseph Middleton
Vice Chair
Tax Partner - KPMG
Jeff Popkin
Founder
Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner, Boston Event Guide
Lucy Amello
Senior Associate Director - Graduate Career Development, Bentley University (Retired)
William Boyle
Managing Director, Global Head of Private Capital Advisory
Scott Clifford
Managing Partner, Law Offices of Lipsey & Clifford, P.C.
Amy Comander, MD
Breast Oncologist and Director of Lifestyle Medicine, Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute
Denise Hayes
Educator
Denise Hayes
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Mark Irving
Vice President and Corporate Secretary, Hologic, Inc.
Steven Isakoff, MD, Phd, MMSC
Associate Director for Clinical Research, MGH Cancer Center
Tom Jacob
Owner, Jacob Consulting Commercial Real Estate
Amy Judd
Global Health Professional (Retired)
Amy Judd
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Cynthia Kropp
Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, AMC Globank Services (Retired)
Lisa Matthews, CFP, CHFC, CLU
Financial Services Professional and Entrepreneur (Retired)
In Memoriam
Thanda Fields Brassard
Thanda, a graduate of Boston College and Boston College Law School, spent 12 years at Fiduciary Trust Company, where she focused on estate and tax planning. Thanda’s support of Ellie Fund began in 2015 after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and received assistance from Ellie Fund during her treatment. She joined the board in March 2018 and her personal experience with Ellie Fund support services brought a unique and valuable perspective. Thanda passed away as a result of metastatic breast cancer in March of 2024.
