North Central resident Kate Thoene has been named CEO of the Welcome to America Project.
The Tempe-based organization is celebrating 20 years of creating meaningful interactions and providing needed resources to refugees becoming new Phoenix neighbors. In that time, the organization has welcomed more than 15,000 refugees from more than 40 countries, helping them find community and flourish. In the coming year, they will assist more than 2,000 incoming Afghan refugees.
Thoene was previously executive director of Waste Not, a food rescue organization, and brings more than 20 years of fundraising, collaboration and nonprofit leadership experience to help the Welcome to America Project increase their community impact for years to come. She takes on the role of CEO after the departure of Agency Director Mike Sullivan.