Earlier this summer we welcomed Ruby Wilson, our part-time 2020 Communications Intern! Back in May, Ruby completed her first year at Howard University where she is working on a B.B.A. in Marketing and is a participant of the Executive Leadership Honors Program. A 2019 graduate of Wheaton High School (MD) where she was part of the Biomedical Magnet Program, Ruby lives in Silver Spring and is a member of Grace Episcopal Church, a longstanding SMGW Partner Parish. In just six weeks, Ruby, working mostly virtually, has played a central role in in developing our re-designed website . . . which we aim to roll out as you receive this issue of In Step. Speaking of which, Ruby is our copy editor for In Step and – most notably so far – has put us back on the social media map in the last few weeks . . . you can reach Ruby at rwilson@samaritanministry.org
In June we also welcomed Jeff Hale, our new Development Director who began his ministry with us in early June, not long after Ruby arrived. Jeff is a seasoned fundraising professional who comes to us from the Sheridan Group, where he shared a vibrant development consulting practice for over seven years. Previously, Jeff served as Development Director for the Global Alliance for Arts & Health and before that, at Ford’s Theatre and the Kennedy Center, playing a pivotal role in organizing their individual giving programs and securing foundation funding. His time at Sheridan focused on a wide range of clients and projects, with a central focus on assisting organizations develop better individual donor and fundraising plans and strategies, including development assessments for capital campaigns as well as annual giving campaigns. Jeff is an active member of Reformation Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill and serves on the Board of Southeast Ministry (SEM), a SMGW partner at Skyland Workforce Center, both of which inspired his interest in leading a development shop at a similar social service organization. Jeff lives with his wife Alice and two boys, Benjamin (17) who is a graduating senior from School Without Walls, headed to College of Charleston in the fall and Nicholas (15) who is now finishing his freshmen year at Wilson HS in DC . . . you can reach Jeff at jhale@samaritanministry.org
Finally, as most of you know we celebrated – with a mixture of joy and sadness – the retirement of long-time Lead Caseworker Annette Carver. Annette’s retirement was June 1, but we celebrated it on June 24 with a “Parade of Cars” drive by her home, where she stood on the steps, proudly waving, with a retirement banner flying from her front porch. Symbolic gifts she now treasures included a net of oranges (which she loves – and a Chalice inscribed to a “Phenomenal Woman” – after one of her favorite poems by Maya Angelou. Soon she will also receive a Memory Book that includes the many photos and cards that she has received.
While we will all miss “Miss Annette,” we are glad that she seized this opportunity to retire and enjoy this chapter of her life. Anyone that knows Annette knows that is will not be a classical kind of “retirement” by any stretch of the imagination! It is hard to describe in one paragraph the incredible impact and accomplishments that Annette has made over her many years at Samaritan Ministry – she retires with the longest collective tenure of any Samaritan Ministry staffer, paid or volunteer! When our region opens we plan to honor and celebrate her in person . . . but in the meantime, our immense gratitude and great congratulations go to Annette Carver.
