FINDING
HOPE
in HUMAN CONNECTION
Everyone needs hope.
Samaritans creates
human connections that inspire hope and save lives in the moments that matter most.
50 Years of Connection 1974-2024
3 million calls, texts, and chats answered
180,000 people educated
17,000 loss survivors supported
Dear Samaritans Community,
This year, we celebrate 50 years of Samaritans’ hope-building mission. Samaritans began as a team of 22 volunteers answering rotary telephones in a donated basement office. Today, more than 270 volunteers and staff provide compassionate, lifesaving connections by phone and text and through an array of in-person and virtual programs. These days, we’re harnessing new technologies and thoughtful partnerships to reach more people where they are, in the ways they need.
As our reach has grown, one thing has remained constant: human connection. We create welcoming, nonjudgmental spaces for people to share challenges, find empathy, and discover hope.
Samaritans’ mission remains vital. Suicide rates are the highest they have ever been in the United States, with some populations at even greater risk. We’re meeting this challenge with a renewed sense of purpose and intentional action. This year, we extended the hours of our peer-to-peer textline, Hey Sam, so more young people can get support when they need it. We launched a grief support program for parents who have lost a child to suicide, and we introduced new partnerships to meet the unique needs of young men of color, railway workers, and other communities highly impacted by suicide.
There is so much work still to do. I remain inspired by the brave individuals who share their stories with us, by the staff and volunteers who bring tremendous kindness and care to each connection, and by the donors and partners who keep us going.
As we look ahead at the next 50 years, I truly believe that we have what it takes to offer a hopeful connection to all who need one. Together, we can create a world without suicide. Thank you for joining us on this mission.
In gratitude and hope,
Kathleen C. Marchi Chief Executive Officer & President
Meeting a Growing Need for Connection
In our darkest moments, a simple connection can shed light.
Nearly 50,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2022. Suicidality has increased the most among youth, communities of color, and certain high-risk professions. Loneliness is a clear risk factor. People of all backgrounds need human connection more than ever, and that’s what makes Samaritans’ approach so impactful.
Samaritans helps to prevent suicide by building connections grounded in empathy and hope. We offer just-in-time support to individuals experiencing crises, we lead support groups that help survivors move forward, and we provide outreach programs that help communities cultivate better mental health. We’re on a mission to create an accessible connection for every person who needs one. We’re on a mission to spread hope.
3 people attempt suicide every minute in the United States. (CDC, 2022)
1 in 5 high school students seriously considers attempting suicide. (CDC, 2023)
Up to 135 people are affected by a suicide loss. (Cerel et al, 2018)
SAMARITANS LIFESAVING SERVICES 2024 Impact
24/7 Helpline
Our free, anonymous Helpline—part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline— provides compassionate listening to people in crisis and all who struggle.
108,453 calls answered
A dedicated peer-to-peer textline for youth (up to age 24) to reach out when feeling overwhelmed or having thoughts of suicide.
3,963 text conversations
Suicide Grief Support Education & Outreach
Support groups, one-onone visits, and community events connect suicide loss survivors with peers who understand their grief journey.
2,383 program participants
Free virtual and in-person workshops help schools and communities recognize warning signs of suicide and create better mental health.
16,105 people reached
FINDING HOPE in crisis
Samaritans provides a caring connection to callers in crisis and all who need support.
For 50 years, Samaritans has been a leading provider of crisis services in Massachusetts. Our volunteers and staff provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support to hundreds of callers each day through a partnership with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and our legacy lines. Samaritans’ fully remote call system—introduced during the pandemic and strengthened through recent investments in technology—allows volunteers and staff to engage in meaningful service on their own schedule and across time zones, helping us ensure 24/7 coverage to callers in need.
In 2024, we strengthened our capacity to meet growing call volume.
• We hired 34 team members and formed a new partnership with the Healthy Minds Alliance, which places AmeriCorps volunteers on the Helpline team.
• We implemented a process to directly connect callers with the new Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line and mobile crisis services.
Answering the Call to Serve
Following a serious illness, Dea decided not to return to her decades-long career in telecommunications and, instead, began looking for ways to make her passion for mental health a full-time commitment. She found her opportunity through the Healthy Minds Alliance, an AmeriCorps program that pairs older adults and others eager to serve with 988 Lifeline crisis centers, including Samaritans.
“For me, it’s a huge opportunity to give back,” Dea says. Having raised children with severe mental health challenges, she immediately connected with the Samaritans mission.
Samaritans’ remote system has made it easy for Dea to take calls right from her home, starting as early as 6am. “You get up, grab your coffee, and you’re good to go,” she says.
These days, Dea feels energized by her work. “It’s a personal thing for me to know that I did somebody some good,” she says. “Whether it was a short or a long call, it made a difference to that person.”
Dea recently joined the 24/7 Helpline as a full-time staff member, following the conclusion of her AmeriCorps year. Working with Samaritans is, in her words, “a dream job.”
The biggest thing is listening, really hearing. When you have a good connection with the caller, they start sharing a lot.”
—Dea, Samaritans Helpline Coordinator
142 volunteers and staff
9,037 calls answered per month
98,276 volunteer and staff hours
Thank you. Samaritans is grateful for the dedicated volunteers and Helpline staff who make heartfelt, human connections available 24/7.
NURTURING HOPE for youth
Samaritans offers timely mental health support to teens and young adults via peer-to-peer texts.
The Hey Sam textline has become a powerful tool for supporting young people experiencing mental health challenges. Our team of volunteers and staff responded to nearly 4,000 texts in 2024, a 101% increase from the previous year. This rapid growth is due to growing awareness of the resource among youth and to the decision to extend textline capacity into the evening hours. Hey Sam continues to de-escalate nearly every imminent risk situation, helping youth to develop safety plans and rarely needing to contact emergency services.
The Hey Sam youth advisory board played a central role in guiding program enhancements in 2024.
• Youth leaders helped us develop teen-attuned outreach efforts on TikTok and Instagram.
• We hired a new volunteer training manager and, with youth guidance, updated our training materials to better reflect youth concerns, like school stress and bullying.
If you are a young person in need of support, send a text to: 439-726
Youth Lead the Way
Caiden is part of a team of youth who are shaping Samaritans’ groundbreaking peer-to-peer support textline. Currently a high school senior, Caiden originally joined the Hey Sam team two years ago, drawn in by its youth-centered mission.
“Being able to have people in my demographic contribute stuck out to me,” he says. “I think that it can be really impactful to talk to someone in a similar life situation to you.”
Since joining, Caiden has taken on a variety of roles. In addition to his weekly text shifts, he participates in monthly youth advisory board meetings, trains new volunteers, has helped design outreach campaigns, and co-created a volunteer training module focused on self-care and preventing burnout. He is also a contributor to the Samaritans blog, where he published advice for adult allies of LGBTQ+ youth, a group at particularly high risk for suicide.
As a trans youth who has experienced his own challenges with mental health, Caiden is passionate about creating better mental health resources for teens like himself. And he appreciates how Samaritans truly listens to its youth leaders.
“Youth culture is constantly evolving,” he says. “It’s so important to have people who can say, hey, I think this is something we could be doing to make a bigger impact. [At Samaritans] I feel respected on the same level as any adult making these decisions.”
95 volunteers and staff
2,128 young people supported 101% increase in traffic from FY23
In an ideal world, everyone should have someone they can talk to when they’re feeling alone or scared… [At Hey Sam], we want to make it so that more people have that support system in their life.”
—Caiden, Hey Sam Team Member
SUICIDE GRIEF SUPPORT
SUSTAINING HOPE for survivors
Samaritans creates a community of support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Our grief support programs provide survivors with connections to peers who understand this unique type of loss.
We offer a mix of in-person and virtual groups, one-on-one meetings, and community events, including our Annual Memorial, to support suicide loss survivors in Massachusetts and around the world. This year, Samaritans welcomed two staff to lead this work and expanded our facilitator team to meet increasing demand for services.
In 2024, we launched several new ways of supporting loss survivors.
• We introduced monthly virtual SafePlace meetings for parents who have lost a child to suicide, in addition to our in-person group.
• We offered new in-person and online grief education workshops with support from the Parmenter Foundation.
• We partnered with police departments to form a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) team launching in winter 2024 that will connect survivors with resources immediately following a loss.
Moving from Grief into Purpose
Michele lost her son to suicide 11 years ago. Samaritans has played an important role in her long grief journey. Today, Michele co-facilitates monthly in-person and virtual SafePlace meetings for parents. She and her co-facilitator, Brian, also provide Survivor to Survivor visits to parents who’ve experienced a loss.
“It’s very isolating to lose someone to suicide, especially a child,” Michele says. “People are very grateful to get tools from people that have been there.”
Michele has found community with other parents in the Samaritans network for many years and has been gratified to see individuals she’s supported move from despair into hope. In the new parent-specific groups, Michele notices an especially powerful sense of connection.
“We just have this knowing with each other,” she says. “You know that there’s a group of people you can talk to if you can’t talk to anyone else. That’s why people keep coming back, sometimes for years.”
“Brian and I talk about how it helps us with our own grief—to be able to share how we’ve coped, and to help somebody through it,” Michele says.
2,383 grief support program participants
679 new requests for grief support (90% increase)
100+ parents supported
I think my son would be glad to know that I’m trying to help people who’ve lost their loved ones. He was a really kind person.”
—Michele, Grief Support Facilitator
Michele (5th from the right), fellow grief support facilitators, and Samaritans staff gathered for a quarterly meeting in spring 2024.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
BUILDING HOPE in community
We build community expertise to prevent suicide and create better mental health.
Samaritans leads free workshops in schools, workplaces, and local communities that help people recognize the warning signs of suicide and offer resources to those who are struggling. We understand that different populations experience suicide differently, and so we partner with community-based experts to develop collaborative programs attuned to each community’s unique strengths and needs. We’ve recently co-developed innovative outreach programs for railway workers, Haitian mothers, veterans, and others at elevated risk of suicide.
In 2024, we reached a record number of individuals through community programs and built important future capacity.
• We hired a new senior director of community education and outreach to lead a growing roster of community programs.
• We developed a combined grief support and suicide prevention workshop series to support communities, including schools, following a loss.
2024 Program Highlights
BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS: A grant from the Liberty Mutual Foundation is helping us reach teachers and students in Boston through creative community partnerships, including a deepening collaboration with the Follow Suit young men’s mentoring program in Roxbury.
TRAINING COMMUTER RAIL WORKERS: Through an expanded partnership with Keolis Commuter Services (operator of the MBTA Commuter Rail), we’re developing a training series to help more than 900 frontline railway workers identify people at risk of suicide, de-escalate crises, and connect peers and members of the public with essential mental health resources.
BASIC NEEDS INITIATIVE: We distributed 100 wellness packs— containing a blanket, water, socks, and personal hygiene items—to people experiencing homelessness in Boston. This outreach strategy is helping us share Samaritans Helpline information and other resources with a particularly high-risk population.
I’m excited and humbled to be part of Samaritans and to get the message out there, the befriending and the warning signs. It’s amazing to be able to help raise awareness.”
—Paula, Samaritans Trainer
16,105 people engaged
236 workshops and community events
79% of youth workshop participants feel better able to get help for a friend
Abdellah Chajai, CEO of Keolis Commuter Services speaks at the 2024 Breakfast for Hope
Paula (left) and other Samaritans staff members share Samaritans resources with local teens.
Teaming Up to Prevent Suicide in Boston
Anthony Thompson founded Follow Suit because he wanted to help Black and Brown boys from the Roxbury neighborhood avoid the types of mistakes he made in his youth. “I love you, and I don’t want you to have that on your resume,” he tells participants.
He and partner Gilbert White developed a curriculum that equips boys to make life-affirming decisions about nutrition, finances, relationships, and more. Every graduate receives a custom-made suit so they can dress for the success they envision.
In 2022, Anthony met Samaritans Chief Clinical Officer Kacy Maitland at a community event hosted by Toy Burton of DeeDee’s Cry. “What you’re doing is suicide prevention,” Anthony recalls Kacy saying. “The lightbulb went off in my head,” he says. “Yes, a kid in my neighborhood, if he drops out of school, that’s a path to suicide. If he chooses to join the gang, that’s a path to suicide. We’re saving lives.”
That first conversation blossomed into a powerful, multi-year partnership. Anthony, Gilbert, and Samaritans’ Steven Karaiskos initially met monthly to discuss the under-acknowledged challenge of suicidality among boys of color and to figure out how they could address that challenge through customized outreach.
“You can’t ride in as the savior,” Anthony says. “You’re going to need community support… because it’s a whole different language.”
Steven agrees, saying, “I can read the research, but I’m not living this. I needed to hear it all... It was really about asking the questions, sitting down and saying, who are you and what do you need?”
Working together, the three men translated Samaritans’ best practices into a workshop called My Brother’s Keeper that teaches participants how to recognize suicide’s warning signs in peers. “It’s asking, listening, and knowing where to get help,” Anthony says, “1-2-3, a three-point shot.”
Sometimes, the translation is as simple as finding the right, youth-friendly metaphor. Other times, it’s designing activities that allow young people to process ideas actively and contribute their own insights, such as a recent session when boys designed T-shirts with their own suicide prevention slogans.
The curriculum has evolved as the partners have listened to participants and integrated boys’ own language and concerns directly into the workshops. This year, Anthony, Steven, and Kacy presented the collaborative model at the American Association of Suicidology national conference.
“Go into these places, and just listen first,” Anthony urged attendees. “Just come and see.”
Suicide prevention… it takes a village. We tell all the young men: Look beside you, look behind you. It might be your teammate, your cousin, the kid you ride the bus with every day. Be your brother’s keeper.”
– Anthony Thompson, Founder, Follow Suit
37%
From 2018 to 2021, Black youth ages 10 to 24 years old experienced a 37% increase in suicides. (Stone et al, 2023)
2024 FUNDRAISERS
Raising Hope Together
This year, the Samaritans community raised millions to support our lifesaving mission.
Every year, members of the Samaritans community help fuel our work through HopeRaisers—creative, independent fundraising initiatives—and as participants in the Boston Marathon®, TCS New York City Marathon, and Samaritans 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention. Many of these dedicated fundraisers are themselves affected by suicide. They mobilize funds for our crisis services, grief support programs, and community outreach.
We are so very grateful for their commitment and support.
5K SPOTLIGHT: Ruben Azocar
This year marked Dr. Ruben Azocar’s 24th run with the Samaritans 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention. Ruben lost his brother Ricardo to suicide in 1997 and began running to process his grief and celebrate his brother’s life.
“The race allows me to take something incredibly difficult and turn it into a time of happiness and remembrance,” he says.
Ruben joined the Samaritans Board of Directors in 2023 and became Vice Chair of the Board in 2024. He has a passion for supporting suicide prevention among health care workers and in the Latinx community, where suicide rates are rising. In his work with Samaritans, Ruben hopes to help create awareness about mental health and suicide prevention in both communities.
$7.5M raised in FY24
$257,414 Boston Marathon Team
$101,805 TCS NYC Marathon Team
MARATHON SPOTLIGHT:
Josh Sideman
Josh Sideman hit a personal and organizational record in 2024, raising more funding for Samaritans ($43,026) than any other Boston Marathon runner on Team Samaritans, ever.
He ran in honor of his mother-in-law, Debbie, who died by suicide in August 2023 after struggling with depression for most of her life. By running and fundraising on behalf of Samaritans, Josh aimed to both celebrate Debbie’s memory and raise awareness about suicide.
“If I could talk to one person today and they hear my family’s story, maybe that would help them check in on a loved one who might be struggling,” he says. “The more you talk about something in a safe and understanding way, the more it’s normalized. People shouldn’t be afraid to have this conversation.”
He hopes other families will turn to Samaritans for support. “It’s just so important to know that there is a resource like that here in Massachusetts that is available, and it’s easy to find,” Sideman said. “It’s okay to not be okay.”
$623,190 Samaritans 5K Run/Walk
$597,629 Breakfast for Hope
I am sharing my family’s story so we can help remove any stigma around mental illness and prevent other families from having to go through the same tragedy.”
—Josh Sideman, 2024 Boston Marathon Team
Celebrating 50 Years of Connection
The Samaritans community, legislators, and local leaders gathered at the Massachusetts State House in honor of our 50th anniversary. Those present included MA Governor Maura Healey, Sen. Rebecca Rausch, Rep. Edward T. Philips, Rep. Donald Wong, Sen. John F. Keenan, Dept. of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, Dept. of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, and HHS Secretary Kate Walsh.
On April 1, Samaritans celebrated 50 years of hope and connection at a special reception on the Grand Staircase of the Massachusetts State House. Samaritans staff and volunteers were joined by families impacted by suicide, mental health advocates, and lawmakers to mark the day and to advocate for continued support to fuel Samaritans’ lifesaving mission.
Keynote speaker Governor Maura Healey named mental health a priority for her administration, and Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh offered reasons for hope in a time of increased mental health challenges. “We know that despite the
number of painful, heartbreaking losses to suicide we’ve experienced, there are just as many, if not more, people whose lives were saved through prevention,” Walsh said.
“I have no doubt that Samaritans and its fellow providers are a big reason why.”
At the event, members of the Samaritans community encouraged legislators to continue state funding for suicide prevention, which Samaritans has been fortunate to receive for more than five years. “There is so much work to be done, and so many people in need of connection,” Samaritans CEO Kathy Marchi said. “We cannot do this alone.”
JULY 1, 2023 TO JUNE 30, 2024
Building Capacity to Sustain Impact
Over 50 years, Samaritans has evolved from a small, shoestring organization to a mature nonprofit. In the past four years, our staff has more than doubled and our annual budget more than tripled. As we continue to expand our services to reach more people, we must also build our internal capacity to support the communities we serve.
Our total revenue grew in 2024 due to continued commitments and additional multi-year pledges of $4.5M to our Every Conversation Counts campaign as well as $3.8M of state and federal funding to support our programs and the 988 Lifeline. We are grateful to the many donors who help fund the future of Samaritans and ensure everyone has somewhere to turn.
Finding Hope in Community
Samaritans relies on generous donors who believe in the power of human connection. Thank you to our Life Saving Society members who contribute $1,000 or more annually.
*Board of Directors | **Samaritans Council Members | Bold denotes multi-year intentions
$1,000,000+
Bancel Philanthropies/Champions of Love
Mark and Grace Sullivan
$500,000-$999,999
Julie and Kevin** Callaghan
Cummings Foundation
Manton Foundation
Sanofi
$200,000–$499,999
Thomas** and Fran Bartlett
David** and Kay D’Orlando
$100,000–$199,999
Stewart** and Patricia Chapin
Debbie* and Timothy Connolly
Samantha Joseph*
Albert and Diane Kaneb
Keolis
Liberty Mutual Foundation
Reuben and Arlene Mark
Jonathan Pettee
Lisa E. Sarno**
Joseph Shapiro** and Lynn Clark
Tina Snider Foundation
Windover Foundation
$50,000–$99,999
Cabot Family Charitable Trust
Stephen and Carol Cohen
George Harrington Trust
Margaret Stewart Lindsay Foundation
Jeanine and R. Douglas* Murphy
Apratim* and Urmi Purakayastha
Jeffrey and Nora Smith
Ronald M. White and Andrew W. Taylor
$25,000–$49,999
Anonymous (1)
American Tower
Ruben Azocar* and Maray Garban
Kathy Bello*
Debbie Johnston and Ed Szkutak
Pamela* and Russ Kenn
Hall Kirkham** and Marjorie Asfour-Kirkham
Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine
Janet Lawn
Lindsay Leavitt** and Daryn Decesare
Kathleen Marchi and Christopher Kelley
Steve Mongeau and Janice Ruell
Nicole* and Ameer Moustafa & The Christian Caldaroni
Memorial Foundation
The Parmenter Foundation
Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation
William and Cynthia Sibold
Joseph* and Kelli Wagner
$15,000–$24,999
Anonymous (2)
Alice Willard Dorr Foundation
Jen and David Hollenbaugh
Insource Services, Inc.
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Elizabeth Mahoney*
Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation
Stephen Mosha*
Susan and Tom Turpin
Drew** West and Family
$10,000–$14,999
Anonymous (1)
Barstow Family Fund
BlackRock
Larry M.* and Shelly Buchsbaum
Columbia
ConRes IT Solutions
Elizabeth B. Kreske Foundation
Kennedy Elsey*
Paul English
Lori Frederick
Melissa and Michael Gallagher
Leslie and Charles Gordon
Please let us know if you identify any mistakes in this listing.
Jill Borrelli* and Andrea Lewis
Andrew Cohen
Emma* and Martin Feldmann
Howard C. Connor Foundation, Inc.
Intex
Stacey Marino*
Sean** and Debi Murphy
O’Connor Professional Group
Janice and Jorn Velaers
Elizabeth Wallinger
Donald and Kay Wiggin
$5,000–$9,999
Anonymous (1)
Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation
Audax Charitable Foundation
Falan Austin
Daniel Beesley
Boston Bruins - TD Garden
Boston Evening Clinic Foundation
Shawn Carlson
Christy** and Jay** Cashman
Community Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy
Deloitte
David Doyno
Kevin Dunckel and Kathleen Lyons
Anthony Edwards
John Fernandez
Charles and Tina Grant
Matthew and Gail Hoffman
Barbara and Amos Hostetter
Cecilia Idman-Rait and Peter Rait
Johnson & Johnson
Niklas Jordow**
Paul and Ann Kaplan
Todd Komarnicki
Sarah Laubinger
Bruce and Janet Liddell
Marion Magill
Mass General Brigham Health Plan
Robert McGuiness**
MutualOne Charitable Foundation
Nyes Ledge Capital Management, LLC
Ann Marie Oliver*
Oracle
Terrie Perella** and Rob Pirozzi
PwC
Red Sox Foundation
Salesforce
Kristina Schaefer and Lisa Chapnick
Josh Sideman and Chelsea MacFarlane
Virginia Sokol
Thomas Anthony Pappas Charitable Foundation
William P. Anderson Foundation
Marc and Robin Wolpow
$3,000-$4,999
Derek Bettencourt
Boston Celtics
Boston Children’s Hospital
Jason Cannon
Peter and Lorraine Del Col
Dimeo
Mark Dimor
Charles Drakos
EBSCO Industries
Diane and Neil Exter
David Johnson
Lincoln Financial Group
Netflix
Suzanne and Andy Offit
Gordon Pugh
Reservoir Church
Carol Rugani
Seaport Consulting
Select Equity Foundation
Dorothy Shapiro
Kent Sheng
Jordan Smoller, Md, ScD
Town Fair Tire Foundation
Katrine and Daniel Walsh
Wellesley Hills Junior Woman’s Club
$1,000–$2,999
Anonymous (4)
Erin Abraham
Ivan and Blain Allen
Ali Allison
David Angell
Arlin Mfg Co.
Gary Beckmann and Flora Pirquet
Paul and Shari Belanger
Marc and Suzanne Bellanger
David Belluck
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Farlow Blakeslee
Lynne Blech
Ella Boodell
Susan Boudreau
Tony Bowen
Michael and Monica Braun
Rita Bromark
Andrew Brown
Colin Browning
Craig Buckley
Tom Burke
Bruce Button
Elizabeth Callahan
Cambridge Trust Company
Vincent** and Karen Capozzi
Ted Charles
Roseanne Chee
Cisco Systems, Inc.
David Cohen**
Brian Conway
Molly Cramer
Rebecca Crider
Andrew Dagostino
John and Terri Danner
Isabel DeAndrade
Christopher and Leslie Delcol
Dell EMC
Manuel Desa
Pedro De Souza
Jessie Dill Jakobs
Paul Domanico
Timothy Dooher
Jim and Susan Draddy
Chad Dunn
EditBar
Susan Ellis
Lisa Endlich
Chris and Jenny Eni
Episcopol Diocese of Massachusetts
EY
Fainelli Family
S. Warren Farrell
Joseph D. Feaster, Jr.**
Debra Fine
Catherine Finney
First Presbyterian Church in Brookline
Allie Fitzgerald
Michael Fleming
Chad Flick
Susan Flynn
Frederic Foerst
$1,000-$2,999 continued
Nannette Fridman
Usagi Fund
RoseMary and Dan Fuss
Kimberly Gagnon
Lyndon Garrett
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Konrad and Suzanne Gesner
Ashley Gillooly
Susan Gilroy
Peter Goldfarb
Leah Goldstein**
Amy Jaick Gottlieb
Eileen and Bryan Greene
Stefanie Greenfield
Greystone Management
Emily Gritters
Jay Grossman
Teal Guidici
Robert Hamel
Sarah Hancock
David Hanssens
JoeAnn Hart
Todd and Barbara Hasselbeck
Jill Hatton
Kevin Hinchey
Kara Hines
Donalda Hingston
Caroline Hobbs
Mark** and Diana Horgan
Carrie L Howder
Calder Hughes and Lillian Mongeau Hughes
Danielle Iannelli
Ianovale Co. Inc.
Abigail Ingalls
David Ives
Susanna Jacobus
Nicholas Jaworek
Jeff and Marsha Jellin
Shira and Saul Joseph
Jeffrey and Kathleen Jurgens
Dennis Kanin
Logan Kapit
Leslie Kaplan**
Keys Behavioral Health
Alexa Kimball
New Hope for Survivors
This summer, Samaritans launched a new virtual support group for individuals who have survived a suicide attempt. The program creates an opportunity for survivors to connect with peers in a nonjudgmental environment, while accessing resources to rebuild their lives. It is part of our expanding mission to be there for those who need us, forging connections that make it possible to move forward with hope.
Leif King
Todd Krasnow
Donald Krause
Zack Kutchin
Kyle Shapiro Foundation
Laura Aloisi Labrie
Carolyn Langelier
Steven and Charla Lerman
Kathleen Latu
Jerrold and Barbara Lavine
Lavonne Delcol Foundation
Lotti Lawlis
Ann and Andrew** Leavitt
Erica and Geoff Lennon
Jessica Lindley
LinkSquares
Diana Lloyd and Jordan Hershman
Richard Long
Olivia MacDonald
Manulife Financial
Thomas Martin
Matt and Kate Massenzio
Chris and Joy Mattei
Samaritans is the helpline I wish I had known about and called way back then. Now, I am the one training our Befrienders on the Helpline, and I am honored and beyond excited to be a part of our Survivors of Suicide Attempts Support Group. To be able to hold onto my truth and use my Lived Experience in the work I do each day is truly a blessing.”
– Kiara Hernandez, Helpline Training Coordinator and 2024 Breakfast for Hope keynote speaker
Mickey and Ernie Mattei
Lila McCain**
Maureen McCarthy
Christopher McKown and Abigail Johnson
Meet Boston
Nochum Mendelsohn
Sweta Mepani
Microsoft
Christine Minihane
Joan Mitchell
Rose Mitchell
Karin Cassel Mitterando
Peter and Joan Mongeau
Rhona Morgan
Rowland T Moriarty
Scott Morrison
Zach Moskow
Deb and Ronald Murphy
NBM Inc.
David Nersessian
Emanuel Neuman
Brian Nixon
Matthew Nock, PhD
Rachel Pachter
Lucille Palumbo
Marc Palumbo
Pan Communications
Lisa Repp Parsons
Peter and Tracy Parsons
Shannon Pastuszak
Paypal
Laurence Perkins
Point72 Asset Management
Proctor & Company
Jane Quercia
Arthur and Paula Rabe
Jeffrey Rayman
Arthur Reed
Henry Roach
Ralph and Frances Roberto
June and David Rokoff
Barbara Rosen
S&P Global
Sandra Salveter
Emily Sandler
Sarah’s Village Foundation
Christine Savage
Diane and Andrew Seger
Andy Shapiro and Ruth Bonsignore
Melinda Shaw
Robert and Mara Sherman
Cristina Shinnick
Lois Sideman
Eva Smith
Justin Smith
Michael Smith
Thomas and Ann Smith
Kevin and Beth Smithson
Denise Spencer
Starting Line Maine
State Street Foundation, Inc.
Alec Steinberg
William and Judith Steul
Stifler Family Foundation
Gary Strickland
Katherine Sullivan
William Taylor
Dimity Thornton
Drew Tidwell
Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School
Michael* and Denyse Turpin
Daniel Underkofler
UniFirst Corporation
Unitarian Universalist ChurchFirst Parish in Sherborn
Uvas Foundation
Joan Verity
Village Bank
Daniel Wallinger
Colleen Walsh
Graham Walters
Wegmans
Welch Breen Family Fund
Wellington Management
Kevin West
Tracy Westcott
Stephen Wietrecki
William James College
David Williams
Danielle and Greg Wolfus
Monica Dickens Legacy Society
Fifty years ago, Monica Dickens founded Samaritans. Today, her vision lives on through our Legacy Society, whose members have made a bequest in their will or designated Samaritans as a beneficiary of their retirement plan, life insurance, or other means.
Marc and Suzanne Bellanger
Julia Burns Estate
Maryanne Cataldo Estate
David** and Kay D’Orlando
Kyle Freeman**
Risa Greendlinger and Donald Reed
Donalda Hingston
Roberta Hurtig
Abigail Ingalls
Samantha Joseph*
Janet Lawn
William Lockeretz Estate
Robert McGuiness**
Edith Michelson Milender
Steve Mongeau
Lewis Vincent Olson Estate
Martha A. O’Neil Estate
Carol Orme-Johnson
Lisa E. Sarno**
Mark and Grace Sullivan
Elizabeth Veinot Estate
Amanda Wallinger Estate
Ronald M. White and Andrew W. Taylor
Fundraising Leaders
Thank you to the dedicated teams and individuals who raised more than $15,000 in support of Samaritans through events and HopeRaisers.
Christopher Del Col, 2024 Boston Marathon
Kathy’s Team, 5K Run/Walk
Memorial Suicide Prevention & Awareness Fundraiser for Jacob
Frederick, HopeRaiser
The Michael H.K. Cohen Fundraising Team, 5K Run/Walk
Joshua Sideman, 2024 Boston Marathon
Team HP3, 5K Run/Walk
Team Michael and Jimmy, 5K Run/Walk
Our Dedicated Team
Samaritans is a people-centered organization, and our people—the staff, volunteers, board members, and council members who operate and oversee our programs—bring tremendous skill and empathy to our work. We thank them for their commitment to supporting all who need a connection.
FY24 Samaritans Staff
Kathleen C. Marchi Chief Executive Officer & President
Administration
Patricia Shin Senior Director of Administration
Jean O’Halloran Executive Office Manager
Communications
Megan Cassidy Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Len Cattan-Prugl Marketing and Communications Manager
Development
Erin Barfield Chief Development Officer
Janet Lawn Chief Campaign Officer
Rebecca Allen Leadership Gifts Officer
Cynthia Reeves
Major Gifts Senior Coordinator
Catherine Mather Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Chris Chirco Director of Special Events
Mackenzie Morse Special Events Manager
Brenna Lorenzen Special Events Coordinator
Programs
Kacy C. Maitland, LICSW Chief Clinical Officer
Casey Chalmers Administrative Program Coordinator
Community Education & Outreach
Fred Bernabe, Psy.D Candidate, M. Ed Senior Director of Community Education and Outreach
Michael Davis
Community Outreach and Partnership Manager
Max Copans Senior Coordinator of Community Education and Outreach
Hey Sam
Jeremiah Mankin Director of Text Services
Charlotte Boyd Hey Sam Training Manager
Gina Bates Youth Services Coordinator
Crisis Services
Kristen Ulrich, LICSW Senior Director of Crisis Services
Findley Montgomery Senior Manager of Helpline Training
Edward Wilkinson
Quality Assurance Manager
Gregory Barrett Recruitment and Onboarding Coordinator
Melissa Favazza Operations Coordinator
Lauren Pavlechko Volunteer Mentorship Coordinator
Ashley Alexander Helpline Training Coordinator
Kiara Hernandez Helpline Training Coordinator
Kathryn Tumber Helpline Training Coordinator
Suicide Grief Support Services
Sissi O’Shaughnessy Senior Director of Suicide Grief Support Services
Brenna Sullivan
Senior Coordinator of Suicide Grief Support Services
Per Diem
Workshop Trainers
Anwar Alananzeh, LMHC
Nate Binzen
Jamie Cohen
Paula Correia
Carine Corsaro, RN
Kali Geddes
Sunday Hull
Elise T. Phillips, M.Ed.
Sara Pinkham, M.Ed.
Debra Prudhomme
René Rives
Jehovanie Robert
Michele Scher, MSW
Hannah Thacher, OTR/L
Grief Support Group Facilitators
Lynn Bennet
Carly Burton
Joe Cedrone
Tim Crowley
Brian Douglas
Dan Fields
Amy Grzybinski
Charlie Haffey
Donalda Hingston
Michele Kelly
Alex Magyar
Ashley O’Dell
Rhonda Pilla
Jim Raney
Akiko Roy
Larry Shapiro
Gary Shea
Shannon Woolley
FY24 Board of Directors
Kathleen C. Marchi, President
Samantha Joseph, MBA, Chair
Jill Borrelli, LICSW, Vice Chair
Kathy Bello, MBA, Treasurer
Ann Marie Oliver, MBA, Secretary
Ruben Azocar, MD
Larry Buchsbaum, MBA
FY24 Samaritans Council
Stew Chapin, Co-Chair
Lindsay J. Leavitt, Co-Chair
Chloe Bancel
Thomas Bartlett
Lyndon Braun
Delaney Callaghan
Kevin Callaghan
Vincent Capozzi, MPA
Christy Cashman
Jay Cashman
David Cohen
Debbie Connolly
Kennedy Elsey
Emma Feldmann, LICSW
Pamela Kenn
Elizabeth Mahoney
Stacey Marino, MBA
Stephen Mosha, JD
Nicole Moustafa
Doug Murphy, MBA
Apratim Purakayastha, Ph.D.
Joseph Wagner, MBA
A Special Thanks...
Samaritans has a dedicated staff of 54 coordinators and shift supervisors, who answer calls and texts to our 24/7 Helpline and Hey Sam. These compassionate individuals are essential to our work. While we are not listing their names to protect their privacy, we are beyond grateful for the many ways they support our crisis services.
Margaret Connolly
Candice DeStefano
David D’Orlando
Michael Durkin
Laurel Escoll
Samreen Fatima
Joseph D. Feaster, Jr.
Corinne Ferguson
Kyle Freeman, MSW
Leah Goldstein
Desmond Herzfelder
Mark Horgan
Christopher Johnson
Niklas Jordow
Leslie Kaplan
Rev. Hall Kirkham
Bethany Lavery
Andrew E. Leavitt
Stacey Lucchino
Tyler Mabry
John Marando
Blair Markell
Lila McCain
Robert McGuiness
Daniel Milner
Sean P. Murphy, CFA
Terrie Perella, MBA
J. Brian Potts
Christian Putnam
Kathleen Ruggiero
Lisa Sarno
Joe Shapiro
Maggie Small
Prudence Stratton
Zoe Umeh
Steve Watson
I am profoundly grateful to our dedicated community who tirelessly work to help people find hope with Samaritans. Your unwavering commitment to suicide prevention is truly inspiring.”
—Kathleen C. Marchi, Samaritans CEO & President
Make Hope Your Mission
We’re grateful for the many partners and individuals who understand the power of connection to save lives. Your contributions to Samaritans have helped us build lifesaving connections for thousands of survivors and people in crisis in 2024. We hope you’ll join us as we continue to expand our services to meet growing demand in Massachusetts and beyond. We invite you to double down on hope by deepening your connection to Samaritans in the year ahead. Get involved at samaritanshope.org
We’re creating a world without suicide, one hopeful connection at a time. Join us.
