Project Bread Welcomes Heather Trafton to New Advisory Council

NEWTON, Mass. – Project Bread, the state’s leading anti-hunger organization spearheading Massachusetts’ COVID-19 hunger relief efforts, is pleased to welcome Heather Trafton, Chief Operating Officer at MassAdvantage, to the nonprofit’s new Advisory Council.

Project Bread’s Advisory Council, separate from the nonprofit’s Board of Directors, is a group of professionals who will leverage their personal and professional networks to increase the organizations impact and reach. As an inaugural Advisory Council member, Trafton will serve as an ambassador and fundraiser for the nonprofit, helping to provide counsel to Project Bread CEO Erin McAleer on key strategic issues and policy matters.

“Project Bread’s pursuit of bold, systemic solutions to the problem of hunger will benefit greatly from the leadership and passion of our new Advisory Council,” says McAleer. “Members bring a variety of perspectives and experiences that ensure a fresh perspective on ways to further our mission. I’m so grateful for these new relationships built on the desire to end hunger in Massachusetts. It’s precisely this combination of leadership, passion, and a real desire to solve hunger that we chose Trafton to help us continue to fulfill our mission.”

Trafton, 48, of Newton, brings more than a decade of experience in large complex health systems and healthcare technology and direct patient care. At MassAdvantage, a new Medicare Advantage plan in Massachusetts, she was recruited for this exciting opportunity based on previous success and experience leading rapid growth in healthcare operations with a focus on improving health outcomes, reducing costs and optimizing patient experience in navigating the healthcare system. Previously, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Arcadia and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Steward Health Care Network. As a former Physician Assistant, who practiced for 14 years prior to transitioning to healthcare administration in both medical and surgical subspecialties, she has a deep understanding of the intersection between hunger and improving patient outcomes. Trafton holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Bridgewater State University, a M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies from Northeastern University, and an MBA in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare from George Washington University.

“I made the decision to get involved with Project Bread during COVID when I saw the nonprofit’s incredible response during the pandemic,” says Trafton, who previously worked alongside McAleer when she served as President and Legislative Chair for a local lobbyist organization representing Physician Assistants. “The COVID-19 crisis highlighted what the school system provided children beyond education. I look forward to supporting Erin and the team in any way that I can bringing my experience, resources and connections help Project Bread to fight food insecurity in Massachusetts with a focus on stainable solutions.”

While there is no governing function of this group, members commit to giving a minimum annual contribution of $2,500, raised through individual donations, peer-to-peer fundraising through Project Bread’s annual Walk for Hunger and securing financial support from existing and new corporate and philanthropic partners, and work to ensure Project Bread is able to help get food in the hands of as many people in need as possible across the state.

Trafton joins 11 additional members of Project Bread’s inaugural Advisory Council, including: Saadia Ali, a political science major at Boston University and aspiring law student, Becky Epstein, Chair of Corporate Charitable Giving Odysseys Unlimited, Gary Evee, Founder and CEO Evee Consulting Group, Meg Meaney, Vice President of Marketing Operations at Acoustic, LLC, Meaghan Switzer, Assurance Senior Manager at RSM US LLP, Graham Gardner, Co-founder and CEO Kyruus, Hannah Grove, a Fortune 500 C-suite Executive, Clare Reilly, Co-Founder Women SOAR Giving Circle, Aisha James, Primary Care Physician Mass General Hospital, and Sonya Khan, Director of Clinical Services at Lowell Community Health Center.

People experiencing food insecurity should call into Project Bread’s toll-free FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333), which provides confidential assistance to connect with food resources, including SNAP benefits, in 180 languages and for the hearing impaired. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org/get-help.

About Project Bread

Project Bread is the leading statewide anti-hunger organization in Massachusetts. Beginning in 1969 with the first Walk for Hunger, the nonprofit focuses on driving systemic change to ensure people of all ages have reliable access to healthy food. Project Bread works collaboratively across sectors to create innovative solutions to end hunger and improve lives across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit: www.projectbread.org.