Five Frogs announces new executive director, Tricia Hyacinth!

The Five Frogs board of directors is pleased to announce that it has named Tricia Hyacinth as its first Executive Director effective March 2021. Tricia is an LDR alumna committed to social justice and equity, and brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors.

“Our board of directors is thrilled that Tricia will lead the next chapter of the organization’s growth,” said board president and founder, Meghan Lowney. “Tricia has been an active member of the Five Frogs network and really values our community. She possesses the passion and the experience to develop a powerful movement of diverse leaders. She will build on our strengths and grow Five Frogs into an even more effective, sustainable organization.”

Tricia comes to the role following nine years with Fairfield County’s Community Foundation where she most recently was Sr. Director of the Fund for Women & Girls. There, Tricia oversaw the Fund’s grantmaking portfolio, annual fundraiser, thought leadership initiatives that advance gender equity, and grew the Fund’s visibility. Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Tricia served as Program Manager of Community Engagement at Hands On Hartford, an affiliate of the national Hands On Network. She has extensive experience engaging and managing volunteers and executing large-scale service projects. In May 2018, Tricia was awarded the Excellence in Public Service Award for her contribution in the area of philanthropy on behalf of the Milford Connecticut Chapter of Links, Inc. She holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and enjoys travel and organic gardening. Tricia also serves on the board of Bridgeport based OPTIMUS Health Care

Tricia sees this opportunity as a moment of great promise. “I am thrilled to join Five Frogs as its first executive director during a time when the work we do matters so much,” she said. “The twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism, borne of structural and institutional inequities, have affected all of us deeply. These are challenging times that call for us to innovate and collaborate in new ways. I have always viewed my work through a lens of equity, social justice, and inclusion. I’m honored to have the opportunity to guide the organization’s growth and help its powerful network of leaders to build a movement for an equitable Connecticut.”

Tricia’s appointment concludes a five-month search process led by the board of directors. “It was evident to the hiring committee that Tricia’s commitment to racial equity and experience bringing people together to effect change would align very well with our approach,” Meghan said. “As we look to the future, we are excited about Tricia’s brave, bold leadership, the learning journey and the ripple effect of all the good work we do together.”

Please join the board of directors of Five Frogs in welcoming Tricia to this new role! Tricia is interested in connecting with the Five Frogs community! Please reach out to her directly at tricia@fivefrogsct.org or tweet a welcome message to our new, fearless leader @frogs_inc.