A Time of Transition – Sue Gabriel Steps Down as Executive Director

Dear Friends:

With immense gratitude for her years of dedicated service to Beverly Bootstraps, I share the news that Sue Gabriel has decided to step down as Executive Director of Beverly Bootstraps, effective March 28, 2025.

While she will be deeply missed, we also take this opportunity to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments she has achieved during her nearly 17 years with the organization. Without her expertise, strategic thinking, intelligence, and compassion, Beverly Bootstraps would not be the organization it is today.

Under Sue’s leadership, Beverly Bootstraps has grown from a grassroots organization in the basement of the First Baptist Church to one of the leading social services organizations on the North Shore—now serving over 6,000 community members. Steady at the helm, Sue successfully guided the organization through an economic recession, the Covid-19 pandemic, and most recently the largest growth in need experienced by our community in nearly two decades. During her tenure, she has overseen our expansion to serve new communities and the growth of programs offered to include rental and utility assistance, adult education (High School Equivalency, ESOL and College Readiness), free income tax preparation and our beloved Thanksgiving, Back-to-School Backpack and Winter Wishes holiday gift programs in addition to our Food Assistance programs. Through Sue’s thoughtful and compassionate leadership, Beverly Bootstraps has become a beacon of hope to thousands of community members in need. Her unwavering dedication and vision have left a lasting legacy, ensuring that Beverly Bootstraps will continue to be a source of support and empowerment for generations to come.

While saying goodbye is never easy, the Board of Directors express their immense appreciation for Sue and her nearly 17 years with the organization. With the support of a dedicated staff team who are committed to advancing the mission of Beverly Bootstraps, we look forward to building on Sue’s legacy to ensure that the organization continues to be that source of support and empowerment for generations of community members to come.

In a time of unprecedented need where we have seen the number of visits to our food pantry double and the number of individuals seeking support grow dramatically, we also look to your continued support as we embark on this leadership transition. 

Our Board of Directors have already begun the search for a new Executive Director to lead the organization into its next chapter, building on the progress and growth established during Sue’s tenure. As we progress through the transition process, my fellow Board members and our amazing staff will work to ensure a smooth transition and plan to keep the community informed about our progress. 

We wish Sue the best in the next chapter of her journey and know that she will always remain a cherished member of the Beverly Bootstraps family.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Schlein Kramer
President, Beverly Bootstraps Board of Directors