Kim Ruscitti, associate director of communications, has worked for The New England Center for Children (NECC) for nearly three years. She was nominated by a colleague because she “has been an integral part of the Development and Communications Team, managing multiple responsibilities relating to marketing and communications, including NECC publications, media relations, social media channels, NECC’s website, marketing materials, and so much more. More recently, she has added to her workload the oversight of NECC’s Boston Marathon and Falmouth Road Race teams, not only managing the relationship with the Boston Athletic Association and the ASICS Falmouth Road Race but also coordinating the runners and supporting them fully through their fundraising journeys. As if that wasn’t enough, she voluntarily leads the Working Caregivers ERG, something that is important to her and many staff personally. Her dedication to NECC’s mission was amplified this summer when a member of the Falmouth team had to drop out four weeks before the race. She personally took over that bib, began training for the seven-mile race, and has raised nearly $1,500 for NECC.”
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is being able to work with so many different people and departments on a daily basis. My job responsibilities include creating content that helps promote and raise awareness of how great NECC is, and each day there’s something new to work on. I especially enjoy working with the Team NECC runners – their commitment to training and raising money for NECC is truly admirable! Also, the Development team is the best, and they make coming to work each day easy.
What is something you would like people to know about working in the Development office?
Our team is small but mighty! We handle a lot of behind-the-scenes work that you might now know about such as fundraising for the Annual Fund (including writing grant proposals), organizing and executing fundraising events (such as the Children of Promise Gala, NECC 5K Walk/Run for Autism, Dunkin’ Golf Classic, and Annual NECC Art Show), gift processing, building community partnerships and relationships with potential donors, marketing (including signage, collateral, and advertising), social media, public relations, internal communications (like NECC News and the TV monitors), website, graphic design, and photography.
Why NECC?
I am a very mission-driven person and throughout my career, I have always gravitated toward working with non-profit organizations with admirable missions. Prior to coming to NECC, I worked for Assumption University and was introduced to NECC when Assumption awarded Vinnie Strully with an honorary degree at its commencement in 2021 (that was also when I met my now boss Jared Bouzan!). The more I learned about NECC, the more I hoped a job would pop up for me here, and as fate would have it, I was hired a few months later! I am so proud to say I work for NECC because of the amazing work that happens around me each day.
What does it mean to you to be able to represent Team NECC in this weekend’s Falmouth Road Race?
This will be my seventh Falmouth Road Race, and my second running with Team NECC (I have also run for Tedy’s Team and the Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH and ran with NECC in 2022). I love running (though I am not very fast), and Falmouth is one of the best races. I love sharing my experiences with the runners and watching them meet their goals. I am looking forward to running the race again alongside some awesome NECC staff, two parents and a sister of NECC students, and a couple of NECC friends! I’m also looking forward to showing off our brand new blue team race singlets!
You are a co-lead for the Working Caregivers ERG. Why is it important to take on this role and lead this ERG?
When the ERGs were first formed, I knew I wanted to be involved in the Working Caregivers ERG in a meaningful way. At the time, I was helping my mom care for my dad while also being a mom to a toddler. I feel like working caregivers juggle so much behind the scenes that it is hard for it not to spill into your work life. We need this group so that working caregivers have the support system they need to succeed both personally and professionally.
What is something about you that your colleagues might be surprised to learn?
After graduating college, I worked for ESPN for a couple of years.
Who is someone you look up to?
I have always looked up to both of my parents. They worked hard to give us a great childhood filled with love and adventures. My dad recently passed away after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s, but my mom was by his side every moment, sacrificing so much to be his caregiver. I have never met such a selfless human being, and I hope one day to be as brave as both of my parents.
What is your life philosophy or motto you like to live by?
When I moved to Chicago in my 20s, it was the boldest thing I had ever done. So much so that the next day I wanted to move back home. There was a magnet on the fridge of my new apartment with this Eleanor Roosevelt quote — “Do something every day that scares you.”— and I decided to make it my life philosophy and do things that scared me, which included staying in Chicago. I moved back to Massachusetts five years later with new friends, experiences, and memories. From that day on, I always try to make Eleanor (and myself) proud.