Board of Directors

Managed by a Founding Director, and guided by our Board of Directors, possibilities is a volunteer led non-profit organization. Together, our Founding Director and Board of Directors determine the needs within local communities, and opportunities where our support can make an impact on individual's lives. Requests for support can be found on our website and submitted at any time during the calendar year. Requests will be reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Board of Directors and applicants will be notified via mail of the status of their request.

For more information or if you are interested in joining our board, please view our Board of Directors Application Form and our Board of Directors Job Description.

Carrie McMahon

Non-Profit Management Professional;
Founding Director and President

Carrie has served in non-profit as a fundraiser, manager and director since graduating from Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1995. Originally, Carrie's goal was to be a television news reporter/anchor. As an intern at an ABC Affiliate, she quickly learned that reporting tragedy was often what the news was all about, and not something that she could see fulfilling her as a career choice. With a passion for making a difference and contributing to a positive change in others, Carrie sought out employment opportunities in non-profit and began a career in 1995 with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since then, she spent eleven years with the March of Dimes Foundation, and worked as a fundraiser and Manager in two non-profit hospitals, as well as managing a fundraising team for the American Heart Association. In 2012, Carrie completed and submitted an application to the Internal Revenue Service for recognition of exemption, 501c3 status, for The Foundation of Possibilities, a non-profit organization that was a longtime dream of hers. In October of 2013, the IRS granted approval and The Foundation of Possibilities was born.

Judith A. Carey, RSM, PhD

Facilitator/Organizational Consultant
Chair, Board of Directors

A member of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Judy is a Facilitator/Organizational Consultant. She is recently retired as the Vice President of Mission Integration at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, CT. She was the President of the Connecticut Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy, in West Hartford. She was also Vice President and Director of Corporate Ministry for the Sisters of Mercy. At the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Sister Judy has served as Director of the Gengras Center, as Associate Professor and as Chairperson of the Special Education Department.

Sister Judy's professional career of 48 years has spanned elementary education, special education, healthcare and a consulting practice. In all of these, she functioned as a teacher, consultant facilitator, mentor, motivator and leader with the majority of these roles including management responsibilities.

Sister Judy received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Diocesan Teachers' College in Madison, Connecticut. She received a Master's Degree in Special Education from Saint Joseph College, a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut, and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Saint Joseph College.

Lorraine La Vigne, RSM, MA

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (retired, 2020)
Phone: 860 539-1022
llavigne@sistersofmercy.org

A member of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Lorraine La Vigne is retired as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Prior to this she has served as the Director of several non-profit counseling agencies in the Greater Hartford area. She has also developed and presented workshops focused on personal growth, transformation, adult development relationship building and second half of life. Sister Lorraine has served on several boards, as well as, conducted education and formation programs for non profit Boards of Directors.

Sister Lorraine received her Bachelor Degree in elementary education from Diocesan Teacher College in Madison, Connecticut. She received a Masters in Education from Boston College and a Masters in Counseling from St Joseph University in West Hartford, CT.

Rick McMahon, CFP®, APMA®, ChFC®, CFS®, CLU®

Private Wealth Advisor; Managing Director
McMahon & Associates, A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 

McMahon and Associates was founded with the goal of assisting clients in the planning for their financial goals and dreams. Rick provides a personalized service and has earned an excellent reputation for ensuring each client receives the assistance needed. Rick strives to help individuals and families plan for financial stability and security so they can achieve their financial independence.  Rick is an avid golfer and enjoys reading and coaching youth athletics in his hometown of Marlborough.

Steve Parker, Account Manager, Connecticut Radio Network (CRN Radio)

CRN International is a leading, full-service radio marketing company recognized for innovation, effectively using radio in non-traditional ways, and delivering measurable results for its listeners and business partners.  In addition to his passion for radio, Steve gives so much of his time to various nonprofit organizations, including on the Board of Directors for The Rob Branham Foundation, an organization founded in memory of his dear friend and colleague, Rob Branham.  He has a passion for pets, and the nonprofits representing their best interest as well.

Angela G. Pinkerton

Practice Manager, Heart and Vascular Institute
Hartford Healthcare

Angela is an active leader who promotes health and well-being in our community and beyond. She has spent more than 40 years at Hartford Healthcare, where she is currently a Practice Manager in the Heart and Vascular Institute, focusing on cardiac and transplant surgery. She is also a member of the Board of Directors at Alicia’s Angels, Inc., a non-profit organization that creates homelike living spaces in hospitals - spaces that allow families who are addressing critical infant care needs, and who will likely never be able leave the hospital, to spend quality time as a family in a non-medical setting.

Angela brings strong depth of commitment, healthcare knowledge and compassion to the Foundation of Possibilities. In her downtime, Angela stays active and heart healthy with her favorite hobby, Reformer Pilates.