In 2001, Mary Anne began the role that would define the next twenty years of her professional life. Joe Lurie, PBF’s founder, hired Mary Anne as PBF’s first full-time Executive Director and under her leadership PBF experienced a more than five-fold increase in fellowships, expanded the National Law Students Workers' Rights Conference, and developed regional workshops held at law schools nationwide. Mary Anne’s impact, however, could be seen well beyond organizational growth. In Mary Anne, Joe found a kindred spirit and he regarded her as his “personal hero” for her ability to turn vision into reality through hard work and a committed heart. Alongside Joe and other Board members, a talented and devoted staff, and gifted attorneys from countless mentor organizations, Mary Anne built PBF into a strong, viable organization with a national reach, well-positioned to continue its vital work into the future. The significant number of PBF alumni who have gone on to pursue careers advocating for workers’ rights is a fitting legacy for her efforts. Upon her retirement, the PBF Board of Directors enshrined the Mary Anne Moffa Fellowship in her honor. Granted each year, this fellowship recognizes an outstanding student whose record of activism on behalf of working people indicates that their future career will honor Mary Anne’s name. The incredible life that Mary Anne led reflected her steadfast commitment to give to others. Mary Anne loved PBF and gave her full self to its mission, but more than anything, she adored the people. She was an advocate, friend, and worked tirelessly on behalf of the next generation of labor law advocates and others over the scope of her long career in service. She will be missed. Mary Anne Moffa (1950 – 2023) was the heart and soul of the Peggy Browning Fund for over two decades. Under her guidance over 1,200 law students took their first step into workplace justice lawyering, and her boundless energy built a national network of attorneys and law students who lift up one another. It is with deep gratitude that the Peggy Browning Fund honors the life of Mary Anne, who passed away in early May of this year. Mary Anne was a life-long learner dedicated to advancing communities around her. The high school valedictorian of Bishop McDevitt in 1967, Mary Anne received her bachelor's degree in history from Chestnut Hill College in 1971. She later earned her master's degree from Temple University. Throughout her entire career Mary Anne was a caring, kind, and patient advocate for people from many different walks of life. Beginning at the Philadelphia Housing Authority as a Tenant Services Representative, she later worked at Einstein Community Mental Health’s Consultation and Education Department. Between 1979 to 1985, Mary Anne served as the Director of the Consultation & Education Unit, Acting Executive Director, and finally as Assistant Executive Director at CO-MHAR, Inc., a community mental health center in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood. During this time, she also worked as an executive with Kensington Management Services, a subsidiary of CO-MHAR, developing inpatient programs and other auxiliary services. In 1985, Mary Anne started working for The Northwest Center, eventually becoming the Executive Director of the center's Child & Adolescent Residential Treatment Programs, where she was recognized for her state-of-the-art programming serving youth living with mental health issues. “THIS WAS MORE THAN A JOB TO ME. IT WAS A CALLING.” In Memory of Mary Anne Moffa
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzA2NDY0