Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island Announces CEO Transition
BOSTON — Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, announced that Charlotte Beattie will be stepping down as its CEO on Sept. 7, after 21 years of transformative leadership during which the organization became one of the leading chapters in the Make-A-Wish network. Beattie originally had planned to depart in May but stayed on through the end of the fiscal year to help the organization navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I feel privileged to have served in this capacity for more than two decades and to play a role in growing our impact to create joy-filled wishes for so many courageous children,” said Beattie. “My involvement with our organization has been one of the greatest joys and honors of my life, working alongside so many amazing staff, board members, donors, volunteers and Make-A-Wish colleagues across the country to advance this great mission. And, most importantly, the children and families I have met and come to know over the years — are truly an inspiration, and I will continue to treasure those relationship and memories.”
During Beattie’s tenure, the organization has grown from granting less than 100 wishes to more than 400 annually, extended the chapter’s reach to serve children in Rhode Island, and significantly expanded donor base and financial support. The organization has now fulfilled more than 8,500 wishes since the program began locally in 1987.
“Charlotte has played a key role in the tremendous evolution and success of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said Kim McCaslin, Chair of the Board of Directors. “We are grateful to Charlotte for her incredible leadership and tireless dedication to create impactful wishes and moments of hope and inspiration for so many children,”
After an extensive search led by the Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Board of Directors, Sean Holleran accepted the position of CEO and will begin Sept. 8, 2020. Holleran joins Make-A-Wish with over 25 years of nonprofit experience with City Year. Most recently, Holleran served as City Year’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, where he worked to transform and scale City Year’s operating model across recruitment, fundraising, and human resources and deployment.