Friendship Circle Tribute Book
August 1, 2023
Look through our 2022 and 2023 Friendship Circle memories and see what we have been up to! Tribute Book 2023
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
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Rivkee Rudolph graduated from Yeshiva Schools, then studied at Seminary Chaya Mushka in Israel. She began her professional life as a pre-school teacher, first in Pittsburgh and then in New York. In 2006, Rivkee founded The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, where she has served as its Director ever since. She is singularly focused on and is largely responsible for Friendship Circles’s basic philosophy: all members are equally welcome and lines between abilities should be blurred as much as possible. Her commitment to executing this philosophy throughout the scores of programs and events FC sponsors has enabled the organization to become an integral part of both the Jewish and the general community in Pittsburgh.
Email: [email protected]
Ann Grandinetti
Development and Community Engagement Coordinator
Ann was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, and her master’s degree is in Public Administration and Non-Profit Management. Working at an organization like the Friendship Circle, which serves the community in such a vibrant way, is why she went to school for non-profit administration in the first place. She is ecstatic about this amazing opportunity!
Email: [email protected]
Cara Paolicelli
Bakery Development Coordinator
Cara was placed at The Friendship Circle through an Americorps program called Pittsburgh Public Allies, which is sponsored by CORO Pittsburgh. She is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in May of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Therapy. Cara is very passionate about working with people of all abilities, and is motivated to work toward decreasing stigmas and advocating for inclusion in her community! Cara loves to eat sweets, shop at Tj Maxx, and hang out with her friends! She is planning on getting her Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She is looking forward to what is to come while she is the Office Assistant Coordinator at The Friendship Circle!
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]
Paige Eddy
Adult and Partnership Coordinator
Paige recently moved to the great city of Pittsburgh from her hometown of Mount Laurel, NJ. In August of 2018, she graduated from Temple University with her Master’s Degree in Recreational Therapy. After interning for Baltimore City Recreation and Parks and co-leading a recreational group for Temple students with autism, she felt inspired to continue work in an inclusive community setting. Paige believes that people of all abilities should be brought together in their community through fun times and friendship.
Email: [email protected]
Megan Markovitz
Friends on the Town Coordinator
Megan joined the Friendship Circle in April of 2023. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Boston University, a M.A. in Community Psychology from Point Park University, and over ten years of experience working in youth/young adult programming (she started when she was 13!). Megan is passionate about equitable vocation and education opportunities and giving young adults the tools to independently succeed. She is excited to create safe spaces for friendships to thrive and to collaborate with leaders in the FC member community to bring fun, meaningful programming to Friends on the Town!
Email: [email protected]
Alyssa Fife
Program Manager
Alyssa joined the Friendship Circle in the fall of 2019. She grew up in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, and then attended the University of Pittsburgh where she got her Masters in Applied Developmental Psychology. She has worked in a variety of settings with children and families, most recently working with toddlers in early childhood education. Alyssa is passionate about working with people of all ages and abilities, especially within the Pittsburgh community, and is excited to be a part of the Friendship Circle team!
Email: [email protected]
Grace Whited
Program and Engagement Coordinator
Grace joined the Friendship Circle in September of 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 Coordinator
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]
Amie Li
J. Murray Egan Fellow
Amie joined the Friendship Circle in September 2023 as part of the PULSE program, a year-long service opportunity. She was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and graduated from New York University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Amie is passionate about working with children and teenagers and cares deeply about diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is excited to be a part of the Friendship Circle’s team and to serve the FC community!
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 Coordinator
I grew up in Squirrel Hill and attended Winchester Thurston High School. I went to Hiram College in Ohio and studied Sociology, Psychology, and Education, and also played on the Women’s Lacrosse team! I then moved to Washington, DC to attend graduate school at George Washington University and got my Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration. I then moved to the Piedmont region of Italy and taught ESL to high school students! I now live in the Strip District with my rescue dog, King, a 105 lb Leonberger mix. FC has been a part of this community for so many years and I’ve always admired everything it stands for, and I’m so excited to be a part of that!
Email: [email protected]
Ayala Rosenthal
Teen Member Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator
Ayala joined the Friendship Circle team in August of 2021. She grew up in Squirrel Hill and graduated from Yeshiva Girls High School in 2019. She is currently a student at Touro College, completing her Bachelor’s in Psychology. Ayala was a member at The Friendship Circle throughout her highschool years and was involved with leadership and advocacy within, and outside of, the organization. She is passionate about inclusion, mental health advocacy and empowering youth to take action and make change! Ayala is excited to be back as a staff member and continue to make close and meaningful friendships with our teen members and the greater FC community!
Email: [email protected]
Lucy Sommer
Host Committee Coordinator
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]
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
Professional AdvisorDr. Laura Marshak ChairGeri Cohen Recht Vice ChairDavid Goldberg Immediate Past ChairAlan Gordon TreasurerDavid Khani Vice-TreasurerJoe Reschini SecretaryMollie Hanna Lang |
DirectorsRuth Ann Crawford Lenny Davis Elyse Eichner Debbie Graver Karen Oosterhous Rachel Petrucelli Andrew Rabin Stacey Seewald Jeffrey Steiner Carol Tabas Dr. Laura Voigt
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