WINTER 2015Two Women Create a Bond at Rosie’s Place

OMAM Gives Back at the Holidays

Words and Photos from Our Annual Luncheon

Ways to Get Involved This December

Our Wish List for School Uniforms

Become a Friend for All Seasons

Christopher Hadley is an Executive Vice President and the Chief Talent Officer at OMAM, a global asset management company. As head of Talent and a member of The OMAM Foundation, he is also responsible for encouraging and organizing the company’s 75 Boston-based employees’ volunteer efforts throughout Boston. Chris and OMAM have a longstanding relationship with Rosie’s Place, which is especially significant at holiday time.

How does OMAM contribute to Rosie’s Place, and how is your holiday time here special?Rosie’s Place is one of OMAM’s top priorities in the community. In addition to providing financial support, we also sponsor employee donation drives, match employee gifts through our foundation, donate coffee mugs, attend and sponsor your fundraising events and provide hands-on help with employees volunteering on-site. We enjoy preparing and serving meals in the Dining Room and in the past we have provided gift sets for Rosie’s Place guests at holiday time. This year we held a drive to collect items and filled 150 Thanksgiving bags of food for families at (Rosie’s Place satellite office) Franklin Field. It was a great event for building teamwork and our employees really loved handing the bags out. (See Community of Friends, page 3.)

What are the benefits for your employees?We at OMAM are committed to giving people a chance to serve the larger community. Financial services provide a critical role in society by enabling savings and investment, risk protection and job creation. As important as these services are, at times they can seem a bit impersonal. When we work together in the Dining Room, it’s a meaningful way to increase our engagement and teamwork. It’s a chance for people who aren’t in the same departments to get to know each other a little more. We really value humor and fun!

What is it about Rosie’s Place that keeps the relationship with OMAM growing after 12 years?Rosie’s Place is an extremely well-run organization. Quite frankly, some organizations have one formula that they repeat year in and out. Rosie’s Place has an ever-expanding depth and breadth of programs and solutions. Problems are approached and solved with creativity, and the team at Rosie’s Place is always developing and implementing new ideas. I think in part because they do not accept any government funding, they have the freedom and the necessity to continue to innovate. Everyone I’ve encountered at Rosie’s Place is incredibly dedicated and engaged. My sense is that we are culturally very similar. OMAM, too, is always looking to innovate, and our employees are certainly dedicated.

Q&ACHRISTOPHER HADLEY EVP | CHIEF TALENT OFFICER, OMAM

NEWS

Norma and Beverly are sharing a laugh over lunch in the Rosie’s Place Dining Room. Laughter is something that comes more easily to them now because their lives are on the upswing. And because they’ve found each other.

Beverly’s path literally crossed with Norma’s this spring when they met in the predawn hours at the Rosie’s Place running/walking group. Three times a week, at 6:30 a.m., our guests take part in exercise around the neighborhood. The two women, who are close in age, struck up a conversation immediately and were amazed at the many things they had in common.

“We just started talking about what we were going through and found we have very similar backgrounds,” says Beverly. “Norma helped me out right off the bat and we’ve been inseparable ever since.”

Norma had started coming to Rosie’s Place earlier this year as she worked to heal from addiction and a nervous breakdown. Beverly had recently been evicted–illegally–from the East Boston apartment she shared with her 12-year-old granddaughter, Justice. When they were put out, Justice found placement in a residential program for adolescents with mental health issues and Beverly got a bed in our Overnight shelter, knowing she would be safe in a place where she had received help so many times before.

Through sharing their histories, the two women found understanding and support. Both women had their first babies at age 16; Norma went on to have two more children and Beverly had one. Both women have worked from a very young age and were striving to finish their bachelor’s degrees. They both struggled with bad relationships, depression and substance abuse. And they both knew they were ready to move forward with positivity and hope.

Norma came to Beverly’s aid when a former boyfriend stalked her at Rosie’s Place. “He was trying to chase her up the ramp and I helped her to be strong and get him to stay away from her,” remembers Norma. She invited Beverly to stay with her when her first 21 days in our Overnight program ended. They started eating together in the Dining Room, enrolled in smoking cessation and other classes here and continued in the walking group. They gave each other encouragement

as our Advocacy department assisted Beverly in applying for disability payments and Norma in seeking subsidized housing so she could move out of her market rate room. Beverly relied on our shelter as she worked to resolve her homelessness.

“Trust is everything to me,” says Norma. “There’s always gossip, but I knew Beverly was a rare friend when I confided in her and she never repeated what I said.” Beverly adds, “I’m a little tougher than Norma and sometimes I see people who are trying to get over on her. I make sure no one takes advantage of her.”

Bright days aheadAs Norma works to rebuild her life, sobriety has been a large component of her progress. She credits in part a Christian church in Jamaica Plain she recently joined and, of course, she has invited Beverly to come along. “I was happy to go because I am grateful for my Rosie’s Place community and wanted to thank God,” says Beverly. They were both baptized recently and have found a second community through Bible study and Sunday services. “I’m a work in progress,” says Beverly. “We both are.”

Good things surely are happening for Norma and Beverly, none more amazing than the phone calls they received on the same day. Norma learned that an affordable one-bedroom apartment in Dorchester would be available October 1, and Beverly was told she would be moving into a new apartment in Chelsea by the holidays. One of Rosie’s Place’s stabilization workers will meet with Beverly monthly now that she is housed and is helping her get settled with furniture and other household items. Knowing she will be reunited with Justice by Christmas is the best present Beverly could receive.

Norma has stayed close to her family in the area and, on Thanksgiving, one more place–for Beverly–was set at their table.

Norma says her life is richer with a close friend. “It’s important to know you’re not alone,” she says. “Beverly has become the sister I never had. She keeps me going, and you need that sort of friend.” Beverly agrees with a loud “yes!” and they both laugh again.

Two Women Find a New Start and a Dear Friendship at Rosie’s Place

From left, Beverly and Norma

Dear Friends:

Often, it’s the little things that

conspire to pull our guests down

into hunger and homelessness.

Higher gas prices? For some of

our women, that means the end of

their ability to commute to a job beyond

the reach of public transportation. Higher food prices? A

weekly visit to the grocery store becomes a monthly one.

School vacation? Without school lunch and breakfast, the

kids are home and hungry. A welcome growth spurt for a

teenager means shoes that no longer fit and a coat whose

sleeves are three inches short of his wrists. A wedding or a

funeral means scrounging for a gift or decent clothes.

In the best of times, our guests work hard to make ends

meet; in the meaner times, they count on Rosie’s Place

even more. From food programs like our Dining Room and

Food Pantry to material assistance and advice provided

through our Overnight, Advocacy and Outreach programs,

we aim to help women meet their biggest needs, right now.

Our Women’s Education Center, Self Advocacy and Legal

programs work with women around longer-term needs, to

escape the constant deprivation many of our guests face.

Rosie’s Place knows that we must continue providing

services our guests depend on, as well as expand and

adapt these services to meet our guests’ needs. In the midst

of an ambitious strategic plan, we’ve sent teams of skilled

advocates, lawyers and housing and job search workers

to assist women living in public housing or whose children

attend public school. We’ve expanded our Outreach team

to include a staffer who solely focuses on our guests with

serious chronic medical conditions. Our new offices in

Dudley Square provide us with the room to grow in our Legal

and Arts programs.

We’ve truly begun to realize our vision that Rosie’s Place

services are available to any poor or homeless woman–

whether she crosses our threshold on Harrison Avenue or

not. Kip’s vision of a world where all our sisters could find

respite and refuge has gotten a little clearer–and we hope

a little closer.

It’s said we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by

what we give. By supporting Rosie’s Place and our guests–

through your gifts of time, energy and talent, your financial

gifts, your fond wishes and your steadfast commitment–you

are making a life that’s larger by the moment. You have our

great thanks for joining us in our efforts to alleviate suffering

and craft solutions for poor and homeless women. We hope

with all our hearts that the coming year is the best ever for

you and those you love. Happy holidays!

With faith,

Sue

Our Executive Directoron our Mission and Vision

ROSIE’S PLACE NEWS is published three times a year to inform our friends about activities and events taking place throughout the Rosie’s Place community. OUR MISSION is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women to maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives.

Executive Director Sue MarshDirector of Development Leemarie MoscaDirector of Communications | Editor Michele ChausseCommunications Coordinator | Contributor Cara RotschaferDesign Colette O’Neill

We’d love to hear from you! Please contact us with your comments at 617.318.0210.

Rosie’s Place accepts no government funds and relies instead on committed supporters like you!

Back Bay Winter Twilight by Sam Vokey

5 Ways to Give This Holiday Season

“Rosie’s Place is giving me all that I need to make me move forward…I am an orphan that

comes to a lady’s house. She has food, she has things to do. She comfort me, she make me feel warm and happy…and strong. I become

different.”

Lucy N., a guest whose story of escaping abuse in Central Africa was shown at the Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon, speaking about the difference Rosie’s Place has

made in her life.

Every holiday season brings more women in need, both at Rosie’s Place and in our community. We make a special effort at this time to reach out to often forgotten women to provide them with warmth and comfort. Here are some ways you can help us brighten the season for our guests:

1. COLLECT NEEDED HOLIDAY ITEMSCoordinate an effort with your workplace, school or family to collect holiday gifts for our guests. For more information, visit www.rosiesplace.org/drives. Our most-needed items include:

• $25 gift cards (CVS, Walgreens, Target, Payless, Old Navy)

• Bath and body gift sets with lotion, body wash and body spray

• Sets of hats, scarves and gloves• Pajamas, slippers and robes• Blankets and throws• Sheets (twin and full size)• Watches and rolling backpacks• Gift bags, wrapping paper, ribbons and tape

2. CATER A MEAL IN OUR DINING ROOM Gather a group of up to 10 coworkers or friends to prepare and serve a meal for 150 to 200 women. Underwrite the $350 cost for the entire meal by splitting the donation up among your group or finding a sponsor (such as your employer or church) to support you. Contact volunteer@rosiesplace.org to get started.

3. SEND CUSTOMIZED HOLIDAY CARDSOur 10-packs ($18), variety packs ($24) and custom orders of 50+ are available in six designs. Our newest card, Back Bay Winter Twilight, by acclaimed local artist Sam Vokey, adds another timeless Boston winter image to our collection. View designs and order at www.rosiesplace.org/holidaycards.

4. BENEFIT ROSIE’S PLACE WITH AN EVENTConsider making Rosie’s Place the beneficiary of your community event or holiday gathering. To organize a drive for food, coats and other winter essentials or holiday gifts, contact kamoro@rosiesplace.org.

5. DONATE TO ROSIE’S PLACEVisit www.rosiesplace.org/give to support our vital programs and services for 12,000 women each year with a one-time gift or monthly donation that funds our work year-round!

“For me this is a really good day…and I am grateful. This is not my worst day. This is not the day I carried that bag of drug money.

And this is not the day I was sentenced to prison or the dayI started doing time, because those were really bad days…

What I want for the women at Rosie’s Place and frankly for allof you—is for us to be judged by our best days and not only by

our worst days—for us to be recognized for the best thingswe’re capable of going forward.”

Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black, sharing what she learnedfrom her experience in prison, excerpted from the keynote speech she gave

at the 2015 Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon.

Piper Kerman

“If you haven’t been there, I’m telling you, you don’t have to go there only on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Go there any day of the week, sit down there, serve

lunch and see the remarkable work that they do.”

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, encouraging the 1,700 attendees atFunny Women…Serious Business to volunteer at Rosie’s Place.

QUOTABLE

Lucy N.

MayorWalsh

Newly-elected Boston City Councilor Andrea Joy Campbell was one of eight City Council candidates

who visited Rosie’s Place before the November 3

election. In addition to speaking about her priorities

and answering questions from guests, Councilor

Campbell recalled coming to Rosie’s Place’s Dining

Room with her grandmother as a child.

Rosie’s Place staff and guests mobilized

this fall to support the Massachusetts Fair

Share Amendment, gathering more than 600

signatures from staff, board, guests, volunteers

and supporters. After attending trainings, guests

and staff collected signatures outside the

Massachusetts Avenue T stop twice this fall. This

proposed constitutional

amendment would tax the

state’s highest earners

at a fairer rate and

generate more revenue

for public education and

transportation.

Rosie’s Place is offering a $40,000

fellowship to a woman who has new ideas,

talent and energy. The Kip Tiernan Social Justice Fellowship is awarded annually for an

independent and innovative project in the New

England area that will improve the lives of poor

and homeless women. Informational sessions are

in January and concept papers are due February 8, 2016. The Fellowship is awarded in spring

2016. Visit rosiesplace.org/fellowship for more

information.

In September, local sororities and

fraternities took part in a Serve in

September competition developed by the

Volunteer Services department to encourage

college students to help out in the Dining Room.

Theta Phi Alpha at Suffolk University provided the

most service, with 26 hours. Brianna Silva, Theta

Phi Alpha Philanthropy Chair, says the sorority

has been giving back to Rosie’s Place for years

through volunteering and coordinating drives. “We

chose to volunteer at Rosie’s Place because, just

like our national efforts, they help those in need,

especially those who

may be homeless or

struggling through

finances and other

obstacles of life,”

she says.

This year, Rosie’s Place took part in

National Hunger and Homelessness

Week, November 14 – 22, and engaged guests

and supporters in activities to raise awareness of

these issues and to challenge stereotypes. Guests

worked with storyteller Lani Peterson to craft short

talks about the “before and after” of difficult periods

in their lives. Two guests joined Self-Advocacy

Manager Davida Ginsberg as speakers at an event

organized by a team of five students at Boston

University designed to “Redefine Homelessness.”

In addition, throughout the week Rosie’s Place

shared guests’ written and videotaped stories

through our website and social media.

?DiDYou

Our annual Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon was a smashing success, raising a record-breaking $650,000–

almost 10% more than in 2014! Thanks go to the 1,700 attendees, table hosts and sponsors, especially Headlining Sponsors

Bank of America, Boston Interiors, Eastern Bank and OMAM and Presenting Centerpiece Sponsor Neiman Marcus Natick.

The remarkable women who added so much to the program are, from left, Sara Underwood, Fox25; Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker; co-emcee Karen Holmes Ward, WCVB 5; Rosie’s Place Executive Director Sue Marsh; featured

speaker, author Piper Kerman; co-emcee Susan Wornick; Latoyia Edwards, NECN; and Kim Khazei, WHDH 7. Also

participating in the program were Boston City Councilor-At-Large and Rosie’s Place board member Michelle Wu and U.S.

Senator for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren, who delivered her remarks via video from Washington, D.C.

FriendsCommunityof

MayorWalsh

State and City of Boston elected officials lent their

support to the work of Rosie’s Place at the Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon on October

27. From left, Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and his partner Lorrie Higgins.

Megan Polli, Rachel Huff and Ellen Gager, from left,

were among the Friends of Rosie’s Place who enjoyed

a Fall Night Out at Harpoon Brewery on September 29.

Guests sampled a variety of beer, as well as seasonal ice

cream flavors from Honeycomb Creamery and organic

chips from Late July, all while learning more about Rosie’s

Place and our programs and services.

The staff at Salon Mario Russo gathered before cutting

and styling the hair of 65 women on Sunday, October

18 at the 7th annual Renew You event to benefit Rosie’s

Place. Thanks to event founders Lisa Donovan of Kiss

108 and Mario Russo, more than $5,000 was raised to

support vital services for our guests.

Thanks to OMAM employees,

Thanksgiving celebrations were a

bit warmer this year for families at

Rosie’s Place’s satellite office at

the Franklin Field public housing

development. OMAM staff filled 150

shopping bags with Thanksgiving

food items and, at a Thanksgiving

party on November 12, employees,

from left, Craig Mellin, Hahn Lin,

Mark Pietkiewicz, Jenny Souza, Erin

Montgomery and Michele Truhe

distributed them to supplement the

holiday meal of the predominantly

woman-headed families who live

there.

Know

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDBOSTON, MA

PERMIT NO. 14526889 Harrison AvenueBoston, MA 02118

www.rosiesplace.org

Many of the parents in the Boston school system are similar to our guests: single moms, un- or under employed, struggling with housing, food and utility bills. In response, Rosie’s Place has placed full-time staff at four Boston public elementary and middle schools–the Orchard Gardens, Holmes, Shaw and Blackstone Innovation Schools—to help. All of these schools require uniforms, and we have found that many students may only have one set of clothes to last them from week to week and season to season. We have launched an initiative to provide school uniforms to kids in need, and ask for your help with donations of new or gently-used:

• Long-sleeved polos, shirts and sweaters in dark green, yellow, light blue and dark blue• Pants, skirts, jumpers and cardigans in navy and khaki• Hat, gloves and mittens for children and adults• Children’s coats

*Youth sizes 4-16. Uniforms can be found at L&M Bargain, Old Navy, Target and Walmart. Or send us a gift card and we’ll do the shopping!

Please contact Community Collaborative Manager Tenisha Daluz at tmdaluz@rosiesplace.org or 617.318.0264 for more information. We thank you!

RESOLVE TO BECOME A FRIEND FOR ALL SEASONS IN 2016

Make it your New Year’s resolution to support Rosie’s Place all year through our monthly giving program, Friends for All Seasons. This is an easy and convenient way to give year-round with scheduled credit card or checking account payments. Your minimum monthly gift of $15 provides steady and dependable funding that enables us to better meet the needs of our guests. Other benefits of monthly giving include:

• Administrative costs are reduced, allowing your gift to have more of an impact

• You will be kept up-to-date on our work through the Rosie’s Place newsletter and invitations to special events but will not receive any other requests for support

• You will receive one tax receipt in January summarizing your giving for the year

• You will be able to give at a level over a 12-month period that you may not have thought possible as a one-time donation

Become a Friend for All Seasons Today!Online: www.rosiesplace.org/fasPhone: Katie Amoro at 617.318.0211Mail: Provide your credit card information or a check in enclosed envelope and mark to make your gift a monthly donation.

winter

WIS

H L

IST

WBUR’s A ChristmAs CArolTuesday, december 15, 2015, 7:00PmOmni Parker HOuse, bOsTOn

This year marks the 13th anniversary of WBUR 90.9 FM’s reading of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. You will hear your favorite WBUR personalities bring this timeless tale to life at Boston’s historic Omni Parker House, the site of Dickens’ first reading. Tickets are $60 and all proceeds benefit Rosie’s Place. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit rosiesplace.org/wbur.

Safe and Sound GalaWednesday, may 4, 2016cruisePOrT bOsTOn’sblack FalcOn Terminal

Please be our guest for a special evening of food, friends and philanthropy at our annual Safe and Sound gala. Enjoy delectable cuisine prepared and served by celebrity chefs with fine wine pairings—and the chance to win unique insider-only auction packages. Sponsorships are available and tickets begin at $500. For more information, please contact Katie Amoro at 617.318.0211 or kamoro@rosiesplace.org.

Rosie’s PlaceAnnual MeetingTHursday, marcH 3, 2016, 7:30amTaj bOsTOn

Save the Date for our Annual Meeting breakfast. The featured speaker will be Mario Russo, the creative force behind Salon Mario Russo, who will share keys to his success as his Newbury Street-based salon celebrates its 25th anniversary. For more information, please contact Kristen Leonard at kleonard@rosiesplace.org or 617.318.0232.

SAVE THEDATE

Parents: Do you

have a child enrolled

at a private or public

school that has

uniforms? This is a

great opportunity to

donate the clothing

they have outgrown!