Who We Are

When the Trust was organized in 1990 we decided to learn as much as we could about the growing problem of homelessness by focusing on our Connecticut cities and towns. Despite the explosion of private wealth in many sectors, it appeared then (and it still does) that too many individuals and families are without that most basic of necessities - a safe and decent place of their own they can call home. Believing that in a healthy society no one should be left behind, we set out to lend support to programs that would alleviate and reduce the damaging impact of homelessness on children, adults and our communities.

Under the direction of the Trust board, staff members manage a lively interactive funding process with grantees, researchers, funders and governmental agencies. Melville Trust board and staff are actively engaged in site visits, program evaluations, trouble shooting and technical assistance.

The Trust has been defined by the vision and wisdom of its board: the late Frank Melville and his wife Allen Melville, their son Steve, his wife Ruth, and close family friends, John R. Gibb and Ben Maiden.  Shelley Geballe, co-founder of Connecticut Voices for Children and Carla Javits, Executive Director of REDF and formerly Executive Director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing, have been wonderful recents additions to the board. The Trust has also benefited from the enthusiasm and generosity of the late Ruth Berlin and the late Margaret M. Blackwell.

Board Members

Ben Maiden
Allen Melville
Stephen Melville, Chair
Ruth Melville

Shelley Geballe JD, MPH

Carla Javits

Staff

Ann Woodward
Interim Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer 

Ann Woodward joined the Melville Trust in May 2009 as Chief Operating Officer. Her responsibilities include collaboration with the Executive Director and staff in strategic planning, key new initiatives and strategic relationship development; managing and evaluating the Trust's program related and mission related investments; and ensuring ongoing alignment with organizational strategy, budget, financial and regulatory imperatives.

Prior to joining the Trust, Ann served as Mercy Housing's Vice President for National Development Consulting and director of the organization's National Supportive Housing Initiative, with responsibilities including building Mercy Housing's leadership position in ending homelessness through the creation and preservation of permanent supportive housing.

Ann has over twenty-five years of experience in public and nonprofit service systems, including a decade at the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency where she was instrumental in engaging property management professionals in proactive approaches to preserving tenancies for residents at risk of eviction and homelessness. Prior to MHFA she served as an associate director for the City of Boston's Office of Jobs and Community Services, with responsibility for federal and state pass-through funds for community programs in human services, adult literacy, youth and adult job training and a variety of special projects.

Ann has a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelors Degree from Cornell University.

Aimee Hendrigan
Senior Program Officer

Aimee’s responsibilities include analysis and review of grant proposals, program and project monitoring, research on regional and national issues, and strategy development.  She coordinates activities between and among the range of initiatives the Trust has underway with particular emphasis on neighborhood building. 

Aimee has a Masters degree in City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley with a focus on community development. During graduate school she worked at the Fund for the City of New York and Berkeley’s Center for Independent Living. She was formerly a project manager at Santa Barbara County with responsibilities including: community and strategic planning, process improvement, and employee training. Before that Aimee was the Director of Communications at a software company. Aimee received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College.