The women of the Elizabeth Stone House and the Wilderness Heals Hike would like to extend a warm welcome to Amy Howard, the Stone House's new associate director of development and hike coordinator. Amy replaces Danielle Piscatelli, who served in the position for four years before leaving to work at an environmental advocacy agency in downtown Boston. Dear Wilderness Heals hikers and supporters,
Vicky (and this blog) have provided me with a wonderful opportunity to introduce myself and to hopefully learn more about all of you in return. My name is Amy Howard, and I am the newest member of the Elizabeth Stone House team. As the associate director of development, I will be working with Amanda Green, the development assistant, and the rest of the Stone House--as well as all of you--to plan an absolutely fabulous 2009 Wilderness Heals Hike!
I was born and raised in a small town in Maine. My family has always been deeply involved in social-justice work, and the influence of my parents and two older sisters drove me to pursue an education in social work and a career dedicated to improving the health and lives of women. I graduated from Skidmore College in upstate New York, and then went on to pursue my Masters in social work (with a concentration in nonprofit management) at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia .
After I finished school, I took a wonderful job working for an international reproductive-health nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., called Catholics for Choice. My New England roots have brought me back to Boston, and I am so excited to be back in the Northeast and to be a part of the Elizabeth Stone House’s amazing work.
I would consider myself a relatively novice hiker, as my first true love has always been modern dance. For the past 18 years, I danced for hours and hours a day before giving up this dream to throw myself completely into social-justice work. In my free time, I have been exploring Boston, searching for a great new yoga studio, and discovering all of the delicious new restaurants in and around the area!
After growing up in the woods of Maine, I am excited to see more hiking areas in New England and to enjoy the changing of the seasons once again. I love exploring new opportunities and new challenges, and I am ready to soak up all that the Hike has to offer while raising much-needed, unrestricted money for the courageous women and families here at the Stone House.
As the primary contact for the Wilderness Heals Hike, I welcome any questions you might have regarding the Elizabeth Stone House, fundraising, and the Hike in general. As someone who is new to both the Stone House and the Hike, I welcome and encourage your feedback. Please call me at 617-427-9801, ext. 415, or e-mail me at ahoward@elizabethstone.org with any thoughts you have.
I am looking forward to meeting all of you in person. Until then, let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who are the volunteers, leaders, and true heart of Wilderness Heals. Your commitment to one another and to the women and families of the Stone House continues to inspire me.
--Amy
The NH Broadcaster recently published a story about Jane Frasca and her daughter, Natalie Surmeli, two 2008 Wilderness Heals hikers who collectively raised an estimated $6,500 for the Elizabeth Stone House. This wasn't the first mother-daughter team that participated in Wilderness Heals. Eleven years ago, when she was only 17, Anna Wells joined her mother, Mary Lincoln, for her first Wilderness Heals Hike. Today Anna is a team leader coordinator, and Mary serves on the Stone House's board of directors. And in 2007, Karin Downs hiked with her 18-year-old daughter, Shanti Balin-Downs. Today, Karin is a team leader. To read more about Jane and Natalie, click here.
Additionally, hikers Nika Stoop and Vicky Waltz were recently featured in the Boston Globe and Bay Windows. Click here and here to read their stories.
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