Samaritans Chief Executive Officer & President Kathleen C. Marchi has been recognized with the Excellence Award in Leadership, as part of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network’s 2025 Nonprofit Excellence Awards.
The ceremony, held on June 18 at the New England Aquarium, honored nonprofit organizations and employees exemplifying the most innovative, creative, and effective work being done throughout the Commonwealth.
The Excellence Award in Leadership recognizes a nonprofit chief or senior executive who has an extraordinary record of organizational results and exemplifies strategic vision, passion, integrity, innovation, perseverance, and a collaborative spirit.
“Thank you to the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network for supporting nonprofit organizations, and for recognizing the inspiring work so many people are doing across the Commonwealth,” says Kathy. “This award is the result of a tremendous team effort among the Samaritans staff, Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and countless volunteers and part-time staff. I am so fortunate to work with a group of kind, caring, selfless people dedicated to saving lives.”
Kathy joined Samaritans in December 2019, but her passion for—and dedication to—suicide prevention began in 2014, when her town experienced three teenage suicide deaths in a short span. One of the organizations the town turned to for help was Samaritans. Knowing firsthand the toll that suicide loss can have on communities has fueled Kathy ever since.
Under Kathy’s leadership, the Samaritans budget has more than doubled, the size of the full-time staff has increased from 22 to 34, state funding has increased, and Samaritans has become a part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Since its inception in 2022, Hey Sam—the only peer-to-peer youth textline for mental health in Massachusetts—has answered more than 10,000 conversations. Suicide Grief Support Services and Community Education & Outreach have grown considerably under Kathy, while the organization has introduced new programs like the Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA) support group.
This award is the result of a tremendous team effort among the Samaritans staff, Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and countless volunteers and part-time staff. I am so fortunate to work with a group of kind, caring, selfless people dedicated to saving lives.
Kathy spearheaded the development and implementation of Samaritans’ extensive strategic plan, setting a bold vision for the future of the organization. To support the objectives outlined in the plan, Kathy led the creation of a multi-year, comprehensive fundraising campaign called Every Conversation Counts, a campaign to create a world without suicide, where everyone has someone to talk to. Among the needs and goals identified, the campaign aims to reach more people in need, improve Samaritans through innovation, and strengthen the organization’s team and impact.
Kathy has been instrumental in finding innovative ways to reach people at risk for suicide. In March 2024, Samaritans expanded its partnership with Keolis Commuter Services to provide mental health and suicide prevention training to Commuter Rail frontline personnel. To launch Hey Sam, Kathy worked extensively with Senator Rebecca Rausch to secure state funding.
Kathy embodies the empathy and courage that are essential to suicide prevention work, leading with transparency and incorporating policies that support mental health among employees. A vocal advocate for suicide prevention awareness, she talks about the importance of this work in media appearances, meets with lawmakers to encourage funding across Massachusetts, and has spoken out on issues that impact mental health.
“At Samaritans, we know that suicide prevention must go beyond crisis intervention,” says Kathy. “Social services like housing and food assistance, job training, and health care programs are instrumental in creating a society where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Suicide prevention is something we can all participate in — your words and your empathy could be the lifeline someone desperately needs. As we often say at Samaritans: a conversation can save a life.”
