Get to know us
Kate Sanetra-Butler, Founder and Executive Director
Kate believes that women around the world are the most powerful, yet largely untapped, resource in the fight to break the cycle of poverty that entraps families and communities from generation to generation.
She founded and runs Dignity Matters to help ensure that homeless and disadvantaged women and girls in New England have access feminine hygiene products and underwear, in order for them to stay healthy and live with basic dignity.
She holds a M.A. from University of Sydney (Australia) in art history, a M.A. and B.A. from the University of Physical Education (Poland) in International Tourism Management. Additionally, she holds a B.A in English Language from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (Poland), and CPE from Cambridge University (UK).
Passion for business and meeting people of different cultures led Kate to a decade-long period of work and travel around the world, including living on three continents. She spent most of her career in Professional Services partnering with C-level executives in sales, communications and finance functions across the EMEA, APAC, and ANZ regions.
She lives in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, together with her husband, two children, two dogs and two cats.
Consuelo Del Castillo, Board Member and Treasurer
Consuelo is very excited and honored to serve as Board Member and Treasurer for Dignity Matters.
Consuelo is originally from Italy. She got her undergraduate degree in business and finance at Bocconi University, Milan. She then obtained an MBA from Hult International Business School (former Arthur D. Little School of Management), Cambridge, MA. Consuelo brings 20+ years of experience in finance and treasury and is thrilled to be able to offer her support to Dignity matters.
Consuelo lives in Belmont, MA with her family and their cat.
Jennifer Schiller, Board Member and Secretary
Jennifer is grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the Dignity Matters Board. She believes deeply in the mission of the organization as evidenced by her commitment to assisting women at a regional prison and patrons at a local food bank.
Following a successful career in investment banking, non-profit fundraising, communications, and raising 3 children, Jennifer enjoys contributing to a variety of non-profit efforts. She is committed to her local community through volunteer roles at her Catholic church and town food pantry. She recently chaired a silent auction for her parish’s 150th Anniversary Gala, which raised funds for teen mission trips to disaster-struck areas of the United States. She has served in various leadership roles for the Archdiocese of Boston, starting a women’s faith enrichment ministry program for multiple parishes, and most notably leading an annual conference for women.
In her most recent professional role, Jennifer was The Director of Institutional Advancement for an independent private girls school in the Boston area for 10 years. In this role, she led successful Annual Fund campaigns raising record constituency and dollar participation. In collaboration with the Board of Trustees, she coordinated a major Capital Campaign for the building of a new Arts & Athletics Center to benefit all students. She also oversaw numerous strategic fundraising events of scale, working successfully with volunteer teams, in support of the school’s vision and mission.
Jennifer holds a B.A. from Loyola University Maryland in Business and Finance. She writes a blog on choosing joy (www.choosejoylife.com) and is an avid reader, trail walker, and lover of her large family. Jennifer lives in Holliston with her husband Peter and has three grown children, Grace, Emma and Andrew who are also involved with Dignity Matters. Her small dog Hannah is her daily walking companion.
Laurie Mills, Board Member
Laurie was born and raised in Plymouth, MA and currently lives in Medfield with her husband, her son and daughter and a giant St. Bernard. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Laurie spent 20 years at Fidelity Investments in various senior marketing, sales and management roles.
Laurie has been involved with Cradles to Crayons for the past 8 years and since October 2017, she is managing Dignity Matters’ Medfield Chapter and serves as a Board Member.
Laurie, having a teenage daughter of her own, could not imagine her missing 3 or 4 days of school each month because she did not have access to menstrual products. Since the start of the Medfield Chapter Laurie received overwhelming support for the program creating one of the biggest chapters of the organization and helping many other chapter leaders engage their community and raise awareness of Dignity Matters mission.
Donna Fernandes, Board Member
Donna Fernandes is a longtime friend of the nonprofit community. Working for top companies across multiple industries in New England, Donna has been an influential leader for over three decades. She is an advocate for children and education, volunteering with several community-based organizations through board membership, sponsorship, and fundraising events. Donna knows that through community involvement and support, we can create a better place for all stakeholders in a community.
Donna is a gifted senior leader in human resources management. Her concern for her colleagues on both a professional and personal level differentiates Donna in her work. It is this same concern for the whole person that Donna brings to her role as a Board Member at Dignity Matters. She is a hands-on volunteer who has dedicated many hours to help organizations deliver on mission-driven and financial goals.
Donna graduated from Central Connecticut State University and is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional. She is proud to be on the Board of Dignity Matters.
Anne Ruggles, Board Member
Anne is excited to serve on Dignity Matter’s Board and support its mission. Having worked with educational and civic organizations, including a successful career in college and high school admissions, she brings over thirty years of leadership experience. Anne served on The Winsor School’s Board of Trustees, including terms as Board Vice-Chair as well as Chair of the Committee on Trustees. She also directed the Princeton/Snowden & Friends Mentoring Program and served two terms on her church’s vestry.
Furthermore, Anne is dedicated to teaching and mentoring. She taught English both in Japan and at home to non-native speakers. She looks forward to using her organizational and interpersonal skills to help Dignity Matters.
She grew up in Newton and attended The Winsor School before earning a BA from Princeton University. She lives in Weston with her husband, Rudy, and has two adult children.
Corrie Dretler, Advisory Board Member
Corrie is passionate about facilitating relationships between individuals committed to lifting the human experience. As a development/fundraising professional and volunteer, she has helped universities, mentoring programs, political campaigns, public television/radio, and other non-profits recruit volunteers and reach their fundraising goals.
She is currently a Learning Officer at YPO – the premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world. She also serves as a Board Member and development advisor with an NGO Friends of Thai Daughters. As a member of the Wayland Youth Advisory Committee, she advises and oversees the Wayland Youth and Family Services and Wayland Cares. She volunteers to provide English language tutoring to adults coaches with Wayland Youth Soccer.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, and a graduate of Florida State University, she now resides in Wayland, MA with her husband, their three children, and golden retriever.
Benjamin Kahrl, Advisory Board Member
As the grandson of Pathfinder International founders Clarence and Sarah Gamble, Ben Kahrl has passion for reproductive health and rights in his bones. He has followed the organization his entire life. Todays he serves on the board of directors of Pathfinder, Dignity Matters and The Okoa Project. For more than 20 years, Ben taught high school history throughout Massachusetts—from Plymouth South High School to Dartmouth High School to Brookline High School.
After more than two decades of teaching, Ben is now fully invested in the world of global health, including the movement to eradicate period poverty – the main mission of Dignity Matters.
He recently joined the board of Dignity Matters, where he provides leadership and guidance to the organization.
Ben graduated from Harvard with a AB in history, from Ohio State University with a MA in history, and then received his EdM from Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
Patricia Riseman, Advisory Board Member
Pat has supported women, family and social justice issues for 50 years both personally and professionally. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, she has worked in child welfare, outpatient community mental health, parent education and preschool consultation as well as 30 years in private practice providing therapy for children, adolescents, individual adults, and couples. Her volunteer actives have focused on hunger and homelessness especially as related to mental illness and women’s empowerment issues.
Pat received her M.A. in Social Work from Columbia University and Simmons School of Social Work. She has lived in Wayland for 48 years with her husband Paul, raised 2 sons, and is now a proud grandma of 3 grand girls, and 2 grand dogs.
Our Team
Meryl Glassman, Development Director
Meryl Glassman brings nearly 20 years of fundraising and development experience to Dignity Matters. She has chosen to work with organizations that focus on equity in health and the arts, including Partners In Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and The Young@Heart Chorus.
Meryl became aware of Dignity Matters after serving on the boards of The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club and The Wellesley Mother Forum. She is committed to helping women achieve their full potential through equitable access to school and professional opportunities, both locally and around the globe.
Meryl holds a BA in Psychology and Biology from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. She lives in Wellesley with her husband and two children.
Maureen Winkler-Belger, Foundation Relations Officer
Maureen lives in Hopkinton and first heard about Dignity Matters from her friend and chapter leader Nancy. As the mother of three teenage girls, Maureen could not imagine any of them not having the feminine protection products or bras that they need. Thus began Maureen’s work in 2017 organizing collection drives and working in the factory in Framingham. Given her previous experience in grant awarding and writing, after 2 successful years of volunteering, Maureen became Dignity Matters’ grant writer.
Maureen is also working with the Hopkinton Center for the Arts as a grant writer. Maureen was on the Hopkinton Education Foundation board for 10 years serving in fundraising and grant capacities. Prior to moving to MA with her husband and children, Maureen lived in NY and worked in the commercial insurance industry in NYC as well as teaching insurance at both St. John’s University and Hofstra University. She has a BS in Mathematics from Fairfield University and is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter.
Andrea Schneider, Distribution Manager
Andrea graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a B.A. in Art History, and worked in advertising in both Boston and San Francisco for twelve years. Most recently she took a role of the Community Outreach Director at the Wellesley Mothers Forum – an organization she has been volunteering for years. This role confirmed her passion for helping woman and families in need.
When Andrea first learned about Dignity Matters she was shocked to hear about the limited access homeless women had to sanitary items. After organizing multiple successful collection drives Andrea decided to become our Wellesley Chapter Leader to help more. After 2 years Andrea took an even bigger role becoming Dignity Matters’ Distribution Manager.
Andrea lives in Wellesley with her husband, son and daughter.
Lora Venesy, Warehouse and Volunteers Coordinator
Lora began working in reproductive health over 20 years ago, where she has helped people access care and has seen the devastating effects of period poverty. It’s been her mission to provide direct service, education and management within health care settings, non-profit organizations, schools and faith communities. As the Director of Adolescent Health and Family Planning at the Cambridge Health Alliance, Lora ensured free care and educational programming through state and federal grants and has provided health instruction to grades k-12 in various settings.
For Lora, education and volunteering are so interconnected, motivating people to make the world a better place. She has run several volunteer programs, and in 2012, she developed a women’s advocacy group that promotes action and volunteerism through raising awareness about issues facing women. She was so excited to learn about Dignity Matters and join the team to continue helping people access basic
needs.
Lora holds a BA in Fine Arts and Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University. She lives in Concord with her husband, 2 daughters, 2 dogs and a cat.
Laurien Bean, Chapter Leader – Westwood, MA
Laurien was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was here she graduated as a veterinarian, met her husband and started a family. In 2015, she relocated to the USA, choosing to settle in Westwood, MA where she currently lives with her husband, 3 young boys, and 2 dogs.
Laurien has a deep love and compassion for people, with women in particular. Currently a stay-at-home-mom, Laurien has enjoyed the opportunity to get involved in her community. She is a member of the Westwood Young Women’s Club and the MOMS group of Westwood, and in 2017 became the Westwood chapter leader for Dignity Matters.
Alisson Kates, Chapter Leader – Wayland, MA
Allison feels strongly that all people deserve a chance at a better life and has spent the last several years volunteering with different organizations to help those in need. She serves as a Vice President on the Executive Committee of Jewish Family Service of Metro-West, and she is an ambassador to Wayland for Cradles to Crayons.
Most recently, Allison was the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Wayland Child and Parents Association and she organizes an annual fundraiser at her older son’s school and co-chairs The Parent Organization at her younger son’s preschool. She also serves on the Early Childhood Advisory Board, aimed at ensuring that the social-emotional needs of young children are met. Allison is excited to be involved with Dignity Matters as Wayland Chapter Leader and she strongly believes in its mission. Allison is a former School Psychologist who holds a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University and an M.Ed. and CAGS from UMass Boston.
Allison lives in Wayland with her husband and their two sons.
Allison Leibowitz, Chapter Leader – Hudson, MA
Allison has lived in Hudson, Massachusetts with her husband and three daughters since 2000, aside from a 5-year relocation to West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a certified Project Manager and has worked for Fresenius Medical Care in Waltham since 2012. Allison serves as Community Service chair for the Fresenius Women’s Employee Resource Group and learned about Dignity Matters while exploring community service outreach for her fellow employees. She led a successful Drive in January of 2019 at Fresenius and was so moved by the mission of Dignity Matters, she decided to begin a chapter in her town. Allison also leads annual walking teams and fundraising for the National Kidney Foundation at her company and has been a Girl Scout Volunteer with her daughters’ troops going on 18 years. She is hoping to bring awareness to her beloved Hudson community and grow support to help local women in need.
Liz Henderson, Co-Chapter Leader – Natick, MA
Liz is originally from Scotland and graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry and a MSc in Quality Management from the University of Paisley. She worked as university administrator before moving to the USA in 2002. She lived in South Bend for 15 years. During her time in Indiana, she was a President of PTO for 2 years and she also worked for the fair trade store Ten Thousand Villages.
She moved to Massachusetts in 2017 continuing works for in Ten Thousand Villages in Boston and also in the library of the local elementary school. However, she wanted to become more involved in a non profit focusing on local women. That’s when she read an article about Dignity Matters in the newspaper. Growing up in Scotland, she had never heard of period poverty before. Access to sanitary products was just something she had taken for granted and was shocked to see the problem existed here in the States. She immediately knew that her work for Dignity Matters would help improve the lives of many underserved women/girls in MA.
She is excited for her new role as Chapter Leader in Natick. She is now an empty nester and lives in Natick with her husband and her dog Millie.
Charlotte Hogan, Chapter Leader – Sharon, MA
Charlotte lives in Sharon, MA with her husband, four children, and rescue dog and cat. She is a former elementary school teacher who graduated from Stonehill College and Leslie University with a B.S. in Early/Elementary Ed, and an M.Ed in Special Ed. She has spent years volunteering in her children’s schools and serving on various boards and committees in town supporting Education and the Arts. ” When I first heard about Dignity Matters in November 2017 I knew I wanted to support this incredible organization. Having two daughters it broke my heart to think about girls missing school due to lack of basic feminine hygiene supplies”. Charlotte held her first collection party in January 2018 and quickly decided to become the Sharon Chapter Leader.
Christine Dumouchel, Chapter Leader – Mansfield, MA
Christine settled in Mansfield in the early 90’s with her husband, Dave. While raising their 3 children, Christine was involved in many volunteering facets of pre-school and in the Mansfield Public Schools. She also spent many years volunteering in town as a member of the Mansfield Cultural Council, in her Church, and with the Make-a-wish Foundation of MA as a “wish-grantor.” Now that the children are older, Christine is focused on building her 2nd career in the banking industry. She enjoys volunteering as a “baby cuddler” at MGH in Boston, serves as a member of Pediatric Specialists Parent Advisory Council, and has recently taken on the role of Chapter Leader in the newly established Mansfield Chapter of Dignity Matters. She hopes to broaden awareness of this overwhelming need for personal hygiene products. Spreading the message that “Dignity Matters!” – what greater way exists for women to support women?
Nancy Baker-Fowler, Co-Chapter Leader – Hopkinton, MA
Nancy lives in Hopkinton where she works at the Hopkinton Public Library. She has a BA in Art History from Mount Holyoke College where she learned about the power of sisterhood and women supporting women. While she was a stay at home raising kids, she volunteered in the schools and the library and is the past president of the Friends of the Hopkinton Library. Nancy first helped with a drive for Dignity Matters in April 2017, and is now a chapter leader in Hopkinton. Nancy also also regularly volunteers at Dignity Factory in Framingham and manages shifts with new volunteers. She believes every woman deserves the basic dignity of proper undergarments and menstrual hygiene products.
Mary Krattenmaker, Co-Chapter Leader – Hopkinton, MA
Mary grew up in Short Hills, NJ and now resides in Hopkinton, MA. She graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA with a B.S. in Public Administration. In college she interned on Capital Hill for Senator Bill Bradley of NJ. While at George Mason, she enjoyed taking the bus to a homeless shelter in Washington D.C. to help cook and serve food. During summer Mary worked at the Wall Street Charity Fund. Post graduation she worked at Sallie Mae in Reston VA where she assisted the Community Relations group with charity fundraising events. She visited a Maryland Hospital often where she loved to rock and cuddle babies to comfort them. Mary also worked for Oracle Corporation but in 2003 she decided to stay at home to raise her twins. Over the years, she also has volunteered on the board of the HPTA as a Co-VP at the elementary schools.
Currently, Mary is assisting with admissions for the Ron Burton Training Village. Out to dinner one night with a friend, that friend shared with Mary her volunteer work at Dignity Matters. Mary had to get involved once she heard the mission and needs of disadvantaged women and girls.
Margaret Kennedy, Chapter Leader – Walpole, MA
Peggy lives in Walpole with her husband, three children and mischievous wheaten terrier. Peggy earned her Master’s degree in Special Education. She worked at Regis College as an assistant professor and clinical coordinator in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. Peggy now works at Beth Israel Lahey Health. While Peggy has participated in various volunteer activities in the Walpole school system, the mission of Dignity Matters touched her deeply. Her work in the medical field gives her the unique perspective on how important it is for all people, no matter their circumstances, to live with dignity.
Kayla Buchanan – Craig, Co-Chapter Leader – Framingham, MA
Kayla graduated in 2010 with a BS in Human Development & Family studies from University of Vermont and in 2014 she returned to Massachusetts with her husband to be closer to her family. Kayla works for a non-profit helping people with disabilities live more independently. She is passionate about helping people in the community get the resources and services they need to live better lives. She happened upon Dignity Matters when she was looking for a local volunteer opportunity and fell in love with the organization and all it does for women in need. Kayla currently lives in Framingham with her husband, her son, and a cat.
Judi Locke, Co-Chapter Leader, Framingham, MA
Judi retired from the Framingham Public Schools after teaching for 29 years. It is important to her to give back to others. When she read about Dignity Matters it rattled her to think that students stay home from school, because they do not have what they need and women are unable to purchase feminine hygiene products. Judi knew she needed to be part of this organization to help girls and women feel supported.
Judi also volunteers for Jewish Family Services as a Patient Navigator, and volunteers for Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy as a reading tutor at the Mary Stapleton School in Framingham.
Judi lives in Framingham with her husband where they raised their son and daughter.
Jeanne Norton, Chapter Leader – Wellesley, MA
Jeanne, originally from Long Island, NY, lives in Wellesley, MA. As a mother of 4 daughters, Jeanne was instantly drown to the mission of Dignity Matters. She could not imagine any of her girls going without the common need of Feminine Hygiene supplies. Jeanne has very much enjoyed volunteering in our warehouse for the past year where she will continue to volunteer and is looking forward to her new role as Wellesley’s Chapter Leader. Dignity Does Matter.
Jeanne graduated from Merrimack College ‘92 and worked for many years travel industry. Bedsides Dignity Matters, Jeanne also fundraises for Suicide Prevention.
May Ramos, Chapter Leader – Holliston, MA
May graduated from Emmanuel College with a Business Management Degree. She has worked with people for the past 19 years in a leadership role at Whole Foods Market. Her passion is mentoring, coaching, and helping others grow at work. May has mentored many team members to become successful leaders.
May believes that everyone should have access to all basic needs. She first learned about Dignity Matters on social media. After that she started seeing Dignity Matter donation boxes around the area. May continued to think about how many women do not have the basic day to day needs and the thought did not leave her mind. One day she saw on social media that they were looking for a Chapter Leader in Holliston and May knew she had to get involved.
Laurie Mills, Chapter Leader – Medfield, MA
Dignity Matters’ Board Director (see above) and Medfield Chapter Leader.