BELLOWS FALLS — Parks Place Community Resource Center of Bellows Falls, a nonprofit agency dedicated to connecting individuals and families to the resources, information and education critical to strengthening their lives, recently hired Margaret Grisczenkow as its development director.
Founded in 1995 and currently serving more than 3,500 people annually, Parks Place houses 35 social and human service agencies under one roof, making it easy for persons in need to access programs and get immediate support.
The agency's new Development Director possesses more than a dozen years of experience working in the world of fundraising and development. An honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Grisczenkow received her bachelor's degree in 1998 in Sociology, concentrating her studies in the structures of opportunity and inequality and social psychology.
Inspired by her mother's commitment to social justice and very interested in civil rights law upon graduation, she pursued employment with the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, an agency that opened its doors in 1969 as one of eight local affiliates of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which was established in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy.
Hired as Development Assistant, Grisczenkow ultimately became the development director where she managed annual giving, grants, special events, communications and public relations. She said her proudest accomplishments during her tenure were her work to expand the scope of the agency's disabilities rights project internationally, and the launching of the agency web site.
Following her five plus years at the Law Center, Grisczenkow worked as a consultant, aiding area nonprofits to procure grant monies from private, state and federal sources. While at Parks Place, she plans to concentrate on increasing foundation revenues, establishing an annual, signature event and strengthening overall programming through improved evaluation and assessment.
Grisczenkow was born in Philadelphia, and was a long-time resident of New Jersey. She moved to Vermont in August 2009 with her family. During her first year here, she homeschooled her children and worked for the Journey School, a local, homeschooling co-op, that they attended. She presently lives in Chester with her husband, four daughters and nephew.
More information about Parks Place and the programs it offers can be found at www.parksplacevt.org.