Sarah Baldiga, M.S. ’09

MAJOR: Nonprofit Management
PROFESSIONAL: Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rise Above Foundation
VOLUNTEER: Co-facilitator, Lone Rangers Group, MetroWest Nonprofit Network; Board member and Chair, MetroWest Nonprofit Network; Committee Member, Haitian Ministry, St. Gabriel Church, Upton, Mass.

I’m passionate about ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community have equitable access to thrive. Fifteen years ago, I helped start Rise Above Foundation to support local youth in foster care. By providing youth with funds to participate in music lessons, team sports fees, dance lessons, school field trips, prom, camp, and more, Rise Above gives them opportunities that can boost their physical, mental, social, and academic well-being. Since the organization was started, we’ve served more than 14,000 youth in our state who are experiencing foster care and distributed more than $3 million so that youth can participate in the same activities as their peers.

The response we receive from youth, foster parents, social workers, and other advocates motivates me to strive to increase Rise Above’s impact. We hear almost daily that our help made a difference. The degree program at Worcester State gave me a well-rounded knowledge base that was especially critical in starting and running Rise Above, and I was able to build a network of other nonprofit professionals in my fellow students.