New Executive Director Marie Henderson joins Interfaith Works' Senior Staff at headquarters.
After an extensive and exhaustive search process, Interfaith Works is proud and excited to announce Marie Henderson as the organization’s new Executive Director. Marie will succeed Interim Executive Director Barbara Garlock, who will remain involved with the agency in a volunteer capacity after 7 years of steadfast service. Today is Marie’s first day on the job.
“I am humbled to be joining Interfaith Works and working with all its partners in the community to further its mission of pursuing social justice for all of Montgomery County’s most vulnerable residents,” says Henderson. “With such a committed staff and an incredible volunteer base, I am confident that I will settle in very quickly and get to work addressing the growing need for services in the wake of this economic recession.”
Prior to coming to Interfaith Works, Marie worked for 13 years with Food & Friends, a Washington DC nonprofit that provides meals to individuals that are diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Henderson began her tenure at Food & Friends as a Client Services Assistant where she introduced clients to the organization’s programs, and eventually worked her way up to serve as its Director of Programs.
She will be replacing Interim Executive Director Barbara Garlock, who filled the position after former Executive Director Becky Wagner took a leave of absence to run for Montgomery County Council in June 2010. Prior to becoming Interim Executive Director, Garlock served as Director of Development.
“It has been a great honor to work with so many people who are committed to the cause of social justice here in Montgomery County,” said Garlock. “Marie’s fresh perspective, new energy and years of experience will allow her to hit the ground running and take this agency to an even higher level of service. Under her leadership and with the help of our professional staff and committed Board, I know that Interfaith Works and the people that we serve will be in good hands.”
Since its founding in 1972, Interfaith Works has had three Executive Directors, who have each built upon the successes of their predecessors. Under their collective leadership, the organization has grown to represent more than 165 congregations, with annual cash revenues of more than $4.5 million – allowing it to serve 35,000 neighbors in need while maintaining an overhead of less than 5%.
In moving forward, Henderson’s main goals include strengthening the agency’s ability to provide service support as well as expand upon the organization’s work as “the voice of the vulnerable” through its work with various coalitions in the county and throughout Maryland.
Henderson’s arrival comes at a busy time for Interfaith Works in the community, as the organization gets ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. In addition, this year, the organization will celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Friends in Action program, which recruits and trains teams of volunteer mentors, whose common interest is to provide support to needy families in our community.
