Meet Ali Baltrusaitis:

Originally from Long Beach, New York, Ali attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she earned a BA in Business Administration and Marketing, with a minor inAli had her start in fundraising at the University of Massachusetts and The Lustgarten Foundation. Ali now joins CMMB as our Partnerships Coordinator. Economics from the Isenberg School of Management. Ali had her start in fundraising as a student fundraiser at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Annual Fund and also served as VP of Events for Isenberg Business Club for three and a half years. Later, she joined a Long Island based non-profit, The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer, for three years in the role of Fundraising Operations Coordinator. Ali now joins the CMMB family as our Partnerships Coordinator.

We sat down with Ali recently to dig a little deeper. Read on to find out who she would most like to be stuck in an elevator with!

What motivates you? In all aspects of my life – relationships, career and community – I am motivated by a desire to better the lives of others. This was instilled in me from a young age and has followed me through into my adulthood. Just knowing that I am involved in work that improves the lives of others is like icing on the cake for me.

If you were stuck in an elevator with someone, who would you like it to be and why?  Probably Queen Elizabeth II. She has been the head of the British Commonwealth since 1952! I have always had an interest in the history of monarchies, royal successions, and the different reigns, but I am particularly drawn to her history. Perhaps it is because she wasn’t inline to inherit the throne but instead arrived there by default – and has been in the position for over 60 years! She would certainly have a lot to talk about, so there is no chance of being bored as we wait for the elevator repair man! I have a lot of questions about historical events, many of which she has had first hand experience in.

Ali had her start in fundraising at the University of Massachusetts and The Lustgarten Foundation. Ali now joins CMMB as our Partnerships Coordinator.

Source: Apic/Getty Images

What book would you recommend others read? The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Do you have any favorite TED Talks, or one that particularly inspired you? One of my favorites is What Does it Mean to be a Citizen of the World? given by Huge Evans. Huge is a humanitarian who created an online community with millions of followers called Global Citizen. It is all driven to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.

What is your hope for the future? In the words of Sandra Bullock in the film Miss Congeniality, “World Peace.” 

Is there anything else you would love to do? I would love to be involved in interior design, to be able to create aesthetically pleasing spaces.

If you were a fruit, which would you be and why? On a fun note, I would choose to be an orange. That would mean I would always have a tan, albeit with an orange glow. I would get to live somewhere tropical and sunny, I’d grow from a tree, which would finally allow me to be taller than others with a great vantage point. Finally of course, I would always have a naturally sweet perfume scent!

Favorite quote: “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, “I’m possible!” – Audrey Hepburn

Ali, we are excited that you have joined the CMMB family and look forward to your contributions towards delivering healthier lives worldwide.

Learn more about our career and volunteer opportunities with CMMB.