Mary Tate of Greenwich has been appointed to the position of Volunteer Coordinator for The Nathaniel Witherell, as announced by Scott Neff, Executive Director for the Friends of Nathaniel Witherell, the nonprofit fundraising arm of the 202-bed Nathaniel Witherell Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center. She replaces Sally Van Leeuwen who recently retired after 26 years with the Witherell.
In her new role, Tate will manage 300+ volunteers and a host of events, including resident art shows and the quarterly “Pooches on Parade,” a cornerstone of the Witherell’s pet therapy program. Tate will also manage the gift shop, oversee the greenhouse and holiday decorating, write the Witherell newsletter, and take on special projects.
Tate brings an extensive background in corporate human resources to her role, having previously served as a senior human resources advisor for General Re in Stamford for 18 years. Prior to that, she managed human resources for the US Olympic Organizing Committee, where she was tasked with recruiting both specialized television professionals and 200+ volunteers. Tate also held human resources positions with The Walt Disney Company, working in Tokyo and Paris, where she coordinated a 12-country European recruiting tour that generated over 2,000 new hires.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mary to our team at Friends of Nathaniel Witherell,” said Neff. “She’s had much success in the for-profit sector in training and engaging volunteers, and she’s very involved in youth-centered programs as a volunteer. Students—both on the high school and college level—are some of our most innovative and active volunteers. We look forward to Mary’s input and outreach to further our work to enhance quality of life for our residents.”
In addition to her corporate track record, Tate also has dedicated much of her time to community involvement and volunteering. She is a member of the Fairfield County Business Council Internship Roundtable, and serves a board member of Howard University’s annual student symposium events. She volunteers with St. Luke’s Life Works by preparing meals for women in crisis, and, with her son, started “Matthew’s Way,” an organization that supports needy children.
Tate will report to the Friends board, which supports ongoing projects to enhance the experience of Nathaniel Witherell’s elderly residents through its David G. Ormsby Resident Life Fund. This Fund provides for daily newspapers, weekly flowers for the Chapel, Chaplaincy services, music performances including specialized music and memory programs for residents who have Alzheimer’s disease/senior dementia, art appreciation lectures, birthday and holiday parties and day trips.
