Honoring Rhonda Parker, Development Director

Development Director, Rhonda Parker, is an alumna of Camp Ramah New England and her love of Ramah runs deep. Rhonda became our first development director in December 2008 and transformed philanthropic giving to camp.

When Rhonda began, our annual campaign brought in roughly $300,000 per year, our facility was in need of great repair, and we had never even seriously contemplated a capital campaign. Today, our annual campaign raises over $1.1 million per year, and we completed a major capital campaign in 2017, raising over six million dollars to build the K’far Nivonim, the Bet Am Gadol, the Chadar Ochel and our welcome center. And we have currently raised $4.4 million as part of another six-million-dollar campaign to build a new MARP (health center), Mercaz Omanut (art center), new tennis and sports courts, camper care center and chavaya (staff housing). Rhonda made this happen through her tireless efforts and the relationships she built with our donors, parents and alumni. Rhonda also has successfully written grant requests to major foundations that have provided key funds for our projects.

Rhonda was integral in working with our board development committee to make sure the governance of Ramah New England was top notch. Whether developing new bylaws or improving the volunteer experience, Rhonda’s fingerprints are on almost everything we do. We have a terrific board with a pipeline for new volunteers, succession plans and working committees that help ensure Ramah’s success for the future. She was key in taking us from a mom-and-pop camp to an organization with three summer camps, Camp Ramah Sasson, family camps and year-round programs. Rhonda helped spearhead our rebranding and our new logo and was a huge contributor to our communications throughout the years.

During summers, Rhonda is the ultimate team player. In addition to her development work, Rhonda will literally do anything to help camp succeed. She welcomes clergy from all over our region, oversees all sorts of communications, and often is the one cleaning up the camp for opening, visiting or just regular days. She is a wise counselor on our senior team and adds insights into every facet of camp life.

We hope Rhonda continues to visit camp and enjoy her favorite activities, like the lake swim. We will miss her incredible spirit and energy on our senior team and her wise and experienced counsel. Thank you Rhonda for all you have done for Ramah New England.