Events

MATTHEW THORNE, Executive Director

 Matthew brings to MRWC a drive for systems-thinking, strategic planning, and organizational sustainability. He loves to turn innovative ideas into projects on the ground. His background in restoration ecology, outdoor education and art brings a creative, intuitive perspective to his non-profit leadership approach. Prior to settling in New Hampshire, Matthew spent the last 15 years working alongside diverse populations from the highlands of Guatemala up to the rain forests of southeast Alaska. Before joining MRWC, Matthew oversaw farm and food access programming at the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success in Manchester, NH. Matthew holds a B.A. from American University in International Development and an MS in Restoration Ecology from University of Washington.

matthew@merrimack.org

TRACEY CHALIFOUR, Director of Development

Tracey is a versatile professional with a successful track record of fundraising, grant writing, special event planning, marketing and communications, and leadership roles for non-profit organizations in the Merrimack Valley and North Shore of Massachusetts.

Tracey’s development expertise is instrumental in building the durable and generous support that we need to protect and improve the health of the watershed for all to enjoy. Joining MRWC in October 2021, Tracey’s career path has taken her on a journey through cities and towns located along the Merrimack River, working for healthcare, cultural, and human services agencies.

Prior to her nonprofit experience, Tracey worked in the technology and hospitality sectors. She holds two bachelor’s degrees from UMass-Amherst, in business administration and in hospitality administration. Tracey has lived in cities and towns adjacent to the Merrimack River for almost her entire life, and has served on the board of a local trail organization with direct connections to the river since 2004. Working at the MRWC is right at the confluence of her professional and personal experiences and interests.

tracey@merrimack.org 

A Word from George Kakridas - Author of "Growing Up Under The Nazi Boot" 

I was born and raised in a small village named Vresthena, near Sparta, Greece, in a poor family with four siblings.

During the first five years of my childhood, I lived like every child in the village. I played soccer barefooted on our neighborhood's narrow dirt roads with my friends. Kicking a ball made from old rags, we called “topi”. It didn't bounce and didn’t roll too far before it got unraveled, and we had to stop playing to put it back together again.

My innocent young life suddenly ended one bright sunny morning in 1941, when I was played soccer in the “platia” square with my friends. It was a glorious warm morning. The birds were chirping and celebrating another beautiful spring day over our heads on the huge maple tree, when suddenly a loud rumble of heavy trucks full of armed soldiers rolled into our village square.

It was as though someone had turned off the sunlight, stopped the birds from chirping, and our world sank into the darkness like it was midnight. It transformed our free and innocent lives into life like in a prison camp full of despair, hopelessness, and hunger. Our precious lives were meaningless to the cruel and brutal Germans.

I watched the Germans executing innocent men, women, and children to avenge their soldiers' deaths by the guerrillas. The brutality and atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis on the Greek population went on for four long years, and we all had to learn how to stay alive while watching our friends, neighbors, and villagers murdered by the ruthless occupiers.

After their defeat and withdrawal from our village and country, we celebrated our freedom again, but it was short-lived when another war began, the Greek Civil War. This bloody civil war continued for five more years until they too were defeated by the Greek soldiers with the help of the Americans. Once again, we were alive but our hearts and souls were forever marred.

I was fortunate to survive through what I would describe as living in a death camp full of fear and hopelessness, until I immigrated to America and lived the American dream.

The Rotary Club of Andover welcomes Rotary 7930 District Governor Alexander Falk. 

Project Home Again - Nancy Kannell  

When an acquaintance who was down on her luck came to Nancy and said her stove was broken and she had no money to fix it or buy a new one, she had an idea. Eighteen years later, Nancy’s passion for helping others has led PHA to grow from a one woman operation to a staff of dozens of volunteers serving hundreds of families a year.

At Project Home Again, they partner with social service agencies in northeastern Massachusetts to bring new and gently used household goods, furniture and appliances to low-income families in need.

Our mission is to provide them with the things they need to live with comfort and dignity. We try to make the experience as positive as we can, letting our clients “shop” to choose items that reflect their personality and individual style. It’s what allows us to truly turn their houses into homes.

Our work is people-focused and people-powered, and there are three groups that make the magic of Project Home Again possible — our clients, our volunteers and our donors.