Meet the Friendship Circle Team

Rabbi Mordy Rudolph

Executive Director

Rabbi Mordy graduated high school at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh, and studied in London, England, and Tzfat, Israel, before receiving his Rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical College of America at Morristown. He initiated The Friendship Circle together with his wife Rivkee, in September 2006.

Email: [email protected]

Rivkee Rudolph

Director

Hallie Weinstein

Facilities Manager

Hallie is happy to be back at Friendship Circle. She was involved in the early days when Friendship Circle was first beginning here in Pittsburgh while she was also attending The University of Pittsburgh. Hallie went on to get her degree in finance and then moved to Virginia after she and her husband, Josh, got married.  During their time in Richmond, Hallie and her family were all involved in the Friendship Circle of Virginia. Hallie is thrilled to have brought her family back to Pittsburgh to live near family and is excited for the opportunity to be back at this incredible organization helping with the very important work of building an inclusive community.

Email: [email protected]

Nechama Hordiner

Administration & Program Support Sr. Associate

Nechama worked as a preschool teacher for 10 years before she went back to school to learn more about human actualization. She completed an undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in communications at Chatham University.  Specifically led by her fascination with how adults express themselves and grow at work, Nechama continued studying and completed an MBA in leadership. Nechama joined the Friendship Circle team recently, September 2023, and is excited to be a part of this dynamic, and incredibly talented team of highly committed community members. Nechama lives in Squirrel Hill with her husband and seven kids.

Email: [email protected]

Holly Benson

Grant Development and Communications Associate

Holly joined The Friendship Circle in September 2023, having volunteered at past FC events such as Walk4Friendship and Friends All Around. She grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from West Chester University in 2020. She has completed two service years (with AmeriCorps VISTA and PULSE), the latter of which brought her to Pittsburgh. She is grateful to join a team of such talented, passionate individuals and can’t wait to connect with FC members and the community!

Email: [email protected]

Emily Vogt

Inclusion and Membership Manager

Emily graduated from Goshen College in August 2017 with a degree in P-12 Education. She moved to Highland Park in September as part of the PULSE program, spending a year serving the city of Pittsburgh. Emily is so excited to serve at The Friendship Circle and to help further their mission of enriching the lives of all participants through mutually advantageous interactions.

Email: [email protected]

Grace Whited

Program and Engagement Sr. Associate

Grace joined the Friendship Circle in September 2021 as a part of the PULSE program, a year-long service opportunity. She grew up in Maine and graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh working toward her Master’s in Applied Developmental Psychology. Grace is passionate about fostering the holistic development of children and creating spaces for people to tell their own stories. She is excited to be part of the Friendship Circle Team and can’t wait to make lasting friendships in the FC community!

Email: [email protected]

Mariel Ward

Program and Engagement Sr. Associate

Mariel joined the Friendship Circle in the summer of 2022. She is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan and studied Speech Language Pathology & Audiology at The College of Wooster in Ohio. She has experience in early childhood education and in mental health advocacy for children and teens. Mariel is passionate about community organization and accessible communication. She enjoys bringing people together to have meaningful conversations and learning about what is important to the people in her life. She is excited to create relationships, plan opportunities that are inclusive and fun, and help show the value of being a part of a diverse population. Hoping to spread the importance of the Friendship Circle’s mission, she looks forward to contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.

Email: [email protected]

Lucy Sommer

Program and Engagement Associate

Lucy joined the Friendship Circle team in March of 2023. She grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in 2017. She recently moved back to Pittsburgh from Tucson, Arizona. Lucy was a member at The Friendship Circle throughout her high school years, and she was involved with the Leadership Board for two consecutive years. She is passionate about inclusion, making our teens feel heard and creating a strong group of young leaders! Lucy is excited to be back as a staff member and continue to make close and meaningful friendships with everyone associated with the Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh.

Email: [email protected]

Julia Averbach

Member Engagement Manager

I am so excited to officially be back at The Friendship Circle as the Manager of Member Engagement! For those of you who don’t know me, The Friendship Circle has been a part of my life for many, many years. I grew up in Squirrel Hill and attended Friendship Circle programs throughout high school. I went to Ohio University where I met my now fiancé, Gabe! After graduating, I returned to Pittsburgh and worked at The Friendship Circle as the Member Relationships Manager for three and a half years before moving to Chicago. I have since moved back to Pittsburgh and now live in the Strip District with Gabe and our very fluffy Bernedoodle, Benji! I am so excited to be back at The Friendship Circle and can’t wait to continue making new memories and growing friendships with all of you!

Email: [email protected]

Becca Greenhouse

Teen Engagement Sr. Associate

Ally Weekley

Wellness Coordinator

Ally joined the Friendship Circle in November of 2021. Ally is originally from Florida, but moved to Pittsburgh where she received her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Ally is a NASM certified personal trainer and wellness enthusiast. Ally is passionate about ending stigma surrounding mental health, advocating for mental health treatment as a human right, and providing all individuals, of all abilities, with meaningful connection and purpose. Ally enjoys the community and connection of the Friendship Circle, and hopes to make a difference in the lives of each member–and the greater community–in her role as wellness coordinator.

Email: [email protected]

Our Board of Directors