Who’s who at The Friends Project?
The Friends Project Staff - Bryan, Ben, Holly, Wayne
The Friends Project Staff – Heidi and Amanda
The Friends Project Staff – Kelly and Judy
Heidi Chase, Executive Director
Heidi began The Friends Project with the Portsmouth School Department and a group of parents in 2000. She has a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of New Hampshire. Upon completing her Masters Degree, she worked for the Institute on Disability on a grant that placed her in the Portsmouth School System. After completion of the grant, the Portsmouth School Department hired Heidi to work with high-risk youth. During this time, Heidi started The Friends Project. Heidi enjoys time with her family and friends and has a passion for mountain bike riding, horses, and the outdoors.
Contact Heidi at 603-436-7100 ext. 2919
Amanda Fawcett, Program Director
Amanda participated in The Friends Project for all four years of high school. After graduating from Portsmouth High in 2004, Amanda went to The University of Maine in Farmington for Early Childhood Special Education. She has been working for The Friends Project since returning to Portsmouth. She loves staffing programs, especially Dancer-cize. Amanda loves the beach, vacations, music and spending quality time with her friends
Judy Brown, Activity Director
Judy has worked with Special Education students for the Portsmouth School Department for 24 years . She has been involved with The Friends Project for 8 years. Judy is involved with Dancer-cize, Games Club, and Bowling and she runs our craft program on Friday nights. Judy has been Commander of the DAVA for 5 years and is Sr. Vice Commander for the State of N.H. She enjoys volunteering her time when she is not working. Judy also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and her husband, Ed.
Wayne Moulton, Staff
Wayne started volunteering for The Friends Project as a high school student. Upon graduating from Portsmouth High in 2004, he started staffing Friday Night Socials on a regular basis. Wayne also works for New Heights as an Intentional Gaming Coordinator. Wayne loves games and brings this passion to Friday Night Socials.
Bryan Rogers, Staff
Bryan is a lifelong resident of Portsmouth. He graduated from Portsmouth high School in 2003 and went on to study at UNH. Bryan graduated from UNH in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Recreation Management and Policy in Program Administration with a Minor in Youth and Adolescent Development. He is currently a Student Academic Services Paraprofessional at PHS, where he has been employed since 2007. At PHS, Bryan is the Freshman Boys Basketball Head Coach and an Assistant Track and Field Coach, as well as the Local Program Coordinator of Team Portsmouth, the local program affiliate of Special Olympics New Hampshire. Bryan has worked with The Friends Project since the fall of 2003, and he has loved every minute of it! In his spare time, he loves to work out, play basketball, collect sneakers, and spend time with family and friends.
Casey McDaniel, Staff
Casey McDaniel is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. She has her B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of New Hampshire. Casey did her internship at Northeast Rehab Hospital in Salem, NH. She is a volunteer and will be filling in as supervisor of TR students at The Kremples Brain Injury Center. Casey loves basketball, especially when she playing with Friends Project participants. Casey has been part of The Friends Project for the past year and it has been such a rewarding experience. If Casey can make someone smile each day she is happy.
Holly Elwell, Staff
Holly graduated from Endicott College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She has worked for Living Innovations for four years and for The Friends Project for two years. Holly enjoys getting to spend her days working with some amazing individuals. She also loves spending time with her family, friends, and boyfriend as well as living on the beautiful seacoast.
Kelly Ryan, Staff
Kelly will graduate in spring 2011 with a degree in Recreation Management and Policy, Therapeutic Recreation Track. Kelly got involved with the Friends Class through one of her classes at the University of New Hampshire. She enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family, and is always up for a new adventure or experience.
Ben Chase, Staff
Ben is a student at UNH studying Social Work and Spanish. He hopes to fight global poverty and injustice after he graduates. On campus, he is a member of Oxfam UNH. He also spends a lot of time at the rock climbing wall and playing ping pong. Additionally, he loves to run and mountain bike. He is gluten- and lactose-intolerant, making his eating situation rather difficult. To sustain himself with his dietary situation, he eats mostly rice and beans. He has been volunteering at Friday Night Socials since he was a freshman in high school and loves working with The Friends Project.
Ryan Leavitt, Staff
Ryan volunteered for The Friends Project for all four years of high school. Upon graduating in 2009, Ryan started working part-time for The Friends Project. Ryan helps out with basketball and Friday Night Socials.
