NOVEMBER 11, 2024, BOSTON, MA — Cradles to Crayons®–Massachusetts announced today the appointment of Alicia Kabir as its new Executive Director. Kabir brings more than 25 years of leadership experience and is a welcome addition to the Massachusetts-based operations for the national nonprofit organization committed to ending Clothing Insecurity for children.
“I am thrilled to step into this role and work alongside such a dedicated team,” said Kabir. “Cradles to Crayons’ commitment to making sure children have the clothing essentials they need has never been more important,” she added. “I look forward to working with Cradles to Crayons’ service partners and stakeholders to drive more meaningful impact in communities across Massachusetts. Together, we will expand our reach to support more families living through crisis, homeless, or low-income situations. These are our most vulnerable populations and those who need us most.”
Kabir joins Cradles to Crayons from her most recent role as CEO at Kesem, a leading national nonprofit organization that supports children affected by a parent’s cancer. There, she championed the belief that every child deserves a joyful childhood and a pathway to a successful future. In her seven-year tenure at Kesem, Kabir spearheaded growth, innovation, and enhanced programmatic support and services for children and families facing a parent’s cancer. Under her leadership, Kesem expanded its geographic footprint by 50% and delivered transformational experiences to more than 65,000 children nationwide.
Kabir’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Cradles to Crayons–Massachusetts as the organization launches its annual Gear Up for Winter initiative across all Cradles to Crayons service areas. In Massachusetts, the seasonal goal is to provide more than 214,000 packages of winter clothing items to children across the Commonwealth—one of its most ambitious goals to date.
Lynn Margherio, Cradles to Crayons’ Founder and CEO, welcomed Kabir to her new role. “Alicia’s passionate commitment to children and proven ability to lead with vision and compassion make her the ideal person to guide Cradles to Crayons–Massachusetts into its next chapter,” Margherio said.
Kabir has extensive experience in both the public corporate sector and nonprofit sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Tufts University. Kabir lives south of Boston with her husband, two high school boys, and dog Maverick. She stepped into the role with Cradles to Crayons on November 11, 2024.
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