Staff
Meet the Staff at the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund.
Susan Johnson comes to the Neighbors Fund with over 25 years of experience managing organizations in Chicago, Boston and Sydney, Australia. She grew up in Yarmouth Port and returned home to the Cape in 2007 to raise her children and care for her aging parents. It was at this time that Susan cemented her career in nonprofit management, leading organizations such as HB&RACC, HECH, Cape Cod Village, and the Cape Cod Museum of Art. She is also the Co-Founder of Katelynn’s Closet, a 501c3 nonprofit providing clothing to children in need on the Cape & Islands.
Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and received graduate certificates in nonprofit management from Suffolk University and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. During the pandemic, she earned a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Leadership through the University of Colorado, Boulder. Susan is a Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach. She currently lives in Dennis with her husband, Doug, their combined 5 children; Sadie -a very happy lab; and Tove – the salty hedgehog. When she is not at the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund, she is photographing sunrises, writing poetry, traveling, or cheering on her kids from the bleachers.
Photo from Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times
Lorraine graduated from UMass Dartmouth with a degree in psychology, specializing in counseling. Her counseling career began at a Dynamic Action Residence Enterprise (D.A.R.E.) emergency foster care placement agency contracted with the Department of Social Services. Shortly thereafter she became an active member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis and served 9 of her 21 years there as Conference President. She has been with the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund since 1998 and has been involved with all aspects of the fund from intake to helping facilitate successful fund raising appeals and was promoted to Director of Client Services.
Lorraine resides in her lifelong home of Hyannis with her husband, Joseph. They have three children, John, James, and Jean and she now enjoys being Grandma to Lucia and Elijah.
“In 1998 I became a case worker at the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund fulfilling my desire to enhance my ability to assist others in need. The Neighbors Fund is unique to most organizations in their capacity to provide immediate assistance to a needy family without a prolonged application process. It is very rewarding and heartening to help families and individuals work through a financial crisis. I see empowerment as the key to future stability and assist people with household budgeting. I also stay current with updates on local, state, and federal assistance programs that can further enhance the clients’ financial stability.”
Photo from Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times
Ellen comes to the Neighbors Fund with over 25 years of development and marketing experience. Most recently, she was with Heritage Museums & Gardens. Until their merger with the MSPCA, she held the role of Director of Development at Northeast Animal Shelter. Previously, Ellen was Individual Giving Manager at the Conservation Law Foundation and spent 15 years as Membership & Annual Fund Manager at the Peabody Essex Museum, fine tuning her fundraising and donor cultivation skills.
Ellen earned a BA from Lehman College in New York, majoring in Communications. After spending many years vacationing on the Cape, she fulfilled a dream and became a full-time Sandwich resident in July 2023. In her leisure time, Ellen enjoys swimming, biking, hiking, crossword puzzles and gardening.
Kim joined the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund in April 2022 after working in the local school district for many years, as well as in the medical field. She has seen how families struggle on the Cape and how the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund can make a difference. She is excited to be part of a team that has such a positive impact in her community.
Kim has an associate’s degree in Business Management and a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Bridgewater State University. She brings organizational and problem-solving skills, creativity, and compassion to the Neighbors Fund team.
Kim lives locally with her husband and two dogs. She is proud mom to a son and a daughter. Outside of the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund, she helps her husband run their construction company, enjoys reading, sitting on the beach and spending time with friends.
Martha (Marty) has worked in Human Services for more than 35 years. Prior employers were Housing Assistance Corporation where she started as a receptionist, then went into Fundraising and Development overseeing the coordination of a record setting 5 site Walk to End Homelessness with a volunteer staff of more than 200. She then specialized in Homeless Prevention, doing housing search, intervention, budgeting, case management, and seeking outside funds for move in costs. She also worked at the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Youth Ranch programs assisting at risk youth and for several years for Mashpee Village, a low-income housing community where she focused most of her work on crisis intervention for families, youths, seniors, and singles at risk.Marty has been with the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund since 2005. When asked why she works for the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund, Marty stated that she loves helping others and serving the community for the greater good.
“The Neighbors Fund puts the person first; assistance is not dictated by governmental agency guidelines that have little to do with what is going on in real people’s lives in real time. We believe in treating all with dignity, respect, and kindness during a time when they often feel slighted by the world. These are not just words to us but reality.”
I’ve had the opportunity to work as an intake counselor for the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund, serving the community, for the past 9 years. Having a passion to work in the social service field, I started as a volunteer at a local shelter in Plymouth, eventually obtaining a degree in Business Management and BS in Human Services. My employment experience consisted of working in hospice and elder care as well as case management and advocacy for the developmentally disabled.
I came to the Cape in 1997, have 4 children and 1 grandchild. In my leisure time I continue to actively volunteer for various organizations, attend art/music events, quilt and study Italian.
“The Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund exemplifies what a local charity should be-helping those in the community help themselves- making the Cape a better place to live.”
Linda came to the Cape Cod Times Neighbors Fund in 2023. She has experience working as a Transition Coordinator where she worked closely with individuals living with disabilities to help them navigate the process of obtaining benefits and services to live independently. Prior to that, she held positions as a Project Manager in the Telecommunications industry. She has two kids and enjoys all the Cape has to offer.
“I love working for an organization that provides assistance for folks going through tough times. It’s very rewarding to help my fellow community members when needed.”
