In any organization, there are individuals who play a quiet role in keeping things together, working diligently to organize, communicate, and keep everyone on track. For Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana (NWI), that person is Alicia Stodden.
Stodden joined the Big Shoulders Fund NWI team in October 2024 as the organization’s administrative assistant and event coordinator. In her role, she manages the day-to-day operations of the office, coordinates schedules, and helps organize events that both
fundraise and drive engagement with the organization’s mission – to support schools that provide a quality, values-based education for the children of\Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Though she was new to the nonprofit world, Executive Director Dan Kozlowski knew she would play a vital role with the team.
“He told me, ‘You’re going to be the glue that holds everybody together,’” Stodden said.
“At first, I was a little apprehensive. I thought, ‘Is this really something I can be?’
However quickly, I could see how everything comes together and how I’ve settled into a behind-the-scenes role, where I keep everything connected and running smoothly.”
She established her ability to handle any situation with professionalism and grace during 13 years in a very different field. Prior to joining Big Shoulders Fund, Stodden served as a funeral director at her family’s funeral home.
“That role required honesty, professionalism, attention to detail, and compassion,” she said. “That ability to be open and listen to others helped my transition here.”
Stodden’s journey to Big Shoulders Fund started when her grade-school friend, Jessica Gonzalez, joined the organization and told her about how it helps schools and students in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Inspired, she looked deeper into the organization’s purpose and mission. In doing so, she found a quote from Beth White of the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation, a major philanthropic force around the Region and supporter of the Big Shoulders Fund.
“She said that ‘Education is an equalizer that is paramount to making the world a better place,’” Stodden said. “I found that so compelling that I had to write it down, and I saw that Big Shoulders Fund is a gateway to intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth. It’s important to me that we help students access a quality education that they might not otherwise receive.”
One of Stodden’s key responsibilities is to help coordinate Lend a Shoulder Day, which is Big Shoulders Fund’s’ marquee event. It gives participants a chance to visit various schools around Chicago and Northwest Indiana, where they can interact with students and participate in programming. It gives guests first-hand exposure to the impact the organization makes on the community.
“It’s fun to go back into schools after being away for so long, and to get back into the atmosphere where children are so creative and curious,” Stodden said. “It really helps us go back to our roots and remind us of our own childhood, which is important to understanding why we need to support these students now.”
Everyone on the Big Shoulders Fund NWI team shares that understanding, and Stodden notes that the culture at the office has been a perfect fit.
“The people here are so warm, welcoming, and inviting,” she said. “They embrace everybody. It truly feels like we’re one big family. Everyone gets along, we have a common cause, and we all work together to reach that goal.”
For more information about Big Shoulders Fund NWI and how you can help Region students and educators, visit bigshouldersfund.org/nwi.
