Log in
Wilfrid Laurier University
MSW-Social Work- Wilfrid Laurier University 1992
Community Outreach; Program Development; Social Services; Leadership Development; Non-Profit; Community Development; Fundraising; Community Organization; Teaching; Program Evaluation
Maria de Boer is the Executive Director of Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR,) a non-profit organization founded in 1980 by the parents of children with physical and mental disabilities to provide a nurturing community and friendship in the Waterloo Region. The "Extend-A-Family" program matches supported families with other volunteer families in the region. The organization prides itself on their mission statement "Building COMMUNITY, Choosing DIGNITY, Nurturing BELONGING". Their various programs offer services to meet the needs of individuals and families in their community. As the Executive Director, Maria is responsible for overseeing 45 full-time employees, approximately 200-300 part-time employees, and the various operations and developmental programs within the organization. As a dedicated activist, Maria is passionate about people and seeks out possibilities for making positive change in the lives of others. She approaches her work with a mind for inclusion forming and facilitating relationships between all people regardless of the personal differences or disabilities. She has a Masters degree in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, which she earned in 1992. She is the mother of four whose pastimes include theater, reading, traveling and spending time with her four grandchildren.
