It is with deep gratitude and genuine excitement that I introduce myself as the new Chief Development Officer at Wayside Recovery. Stepping into this role feels like more than just the next step in my professional journey—it feels like a calling rooted in personal experience, passion, and purpose.
Wayside’s mission—to break the cycle of addiction and trauma for women, children, and families—resonates with me on a deeply personal level. I come from a family where mental health challenges and substance use disorders were part of our story. I’ve seen the pain and isolation that addiction can cause, but I’ve also seen the resilience, the healing, and the profound transformation that recovery makes possible. Being part of an organization that helps facilitate that kind of life-changing journey for women children and families is both humbling and inspiring.
Wayside’s legacy of supporting women through trauma-informed, evidence-based care, all while recognizing the importance of culturally responsive and gender-specific services, is something I deeply admire. As someone who has spent my career raising funds and awareness for causes I believe in, I am honored to now serve in this role—connecting more people to our mission, growing the impact of our work, and ensuring the women, children and families we serve have access to the support they need to recover and thrive.
In the coming months, I am eager to get to know our community of supporters, advocates, and champions. You are an essential part of the heartbeat of this organization, and I’m excited to listen, learn, and collaborate with you. Whether you’ve supported Wayside for years or are just beginning to learn about us, I look forward to building meaningful relationships and helping each of you see the impact of your generosity and involvement.
I am especially excited about expanding our reach and growing awareness of the incredible work happening at Wayside. The stories of healing, strength, and resilience that unfold here every day deserve to be told—and shared widely. As we work to raise the profile of our programs and the people we serve, we will also create new opportunities to bring others into this life-saving, life-affirming work.
In my first few weeks, I’ve already witnessed the passion and commitment of the staff, the power of the programs, and the unwavering dedication of our supporters. I am honored to be a part of this team, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together.
From my heart to yours, thank you for being part of this mission. I can’t wait to connect with you, learn from you, and partner with you to help even more women, children and families find hope, healing, and lasting recovery.
With gratitude and hope,
Katee Crawford
Chief Development Officer
Wayside Recovery