Dr. Timothy Flanigan, Founder, President Emeritus
Dr. Flanigan is a member of the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Miriam Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital and Professor of Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He developed the HIV Core Program at the State Prison to provide care for HIV infected individuals and link them to community based resources upon release. He is also associate director of The Miriam/Brown Fogarty Program which trains and mentors overseas investigators in HIV/AIDS.Dr. Flanigan is a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Providence, and serves at both St. Theresa’s and St. Christopher’s Churches in Tiverton, Rhode Island. Dr. Flanigan was the recipient of a community health leadership award from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for the development of outstanding primary care for underserved HIV infected individuals.
In 2005, he received an honorary doctorate from Salve Regina University for his support of educational opportunities for children of incarcerated parents. Dr. Flanigan went to Liberia for two months in the fall of 2014, where he was instrumental in helping to get the Catholic health clinics, health centers, and hospital up and running again in Monrovia. His expertise in infectious diseases and his many trainings, assessments, mentoring, and guidance were essential in the fight against the spread of Ebola.
Eric Mack, President
Catie Benzak, Vice President
Liz Alofsin, Secretary
Heather Lynch, Treasurer
Susie Hill, Co-President

Lori Hogan, Co-President

In September 2021, Susie Hill and Lori Hogan, two of Star Kids’ longtime supporters and board members, assumed the
role of co-presidents of the Newport/Fall River Star Kids Scholarship Program. Susie and Lori are following Ken
Moldow, who served four years as BOD president capably and with singular commitment to our mission and our Star
Kids’ students. Ken continues to serve as an Executive Committee member.
Susie and Lori have each served on our Executive, Governance, Finance and Gala committees. Most recently, Susie has
served as Star Kids’ vice president, and Lori is the current Governance Committee chair. Along with their respective
spouses, they are longtime child sponsors and residents of Aquidneck Island.
Tim Flanigan, Star Kids’ Founder and President Emeritus, said, “Susie and Lori been committed to helping our Star
Kids succeed in life from the very first days of Star Kids. They know the challenges we face as well as the
life-changing impacts our program has, and I am so grateful for their continued leadership in this capacity.”
“I have watched the Star Kids organization evolve in such a positive way over the years, and I’m constantly
impressed by and thankful for the generosity of our local community, even more so during the uncertainty of the
pandemic,” said Lori. “But most of all, I am so proud of our students as they grow and succeed and reach their
goals.”
Susie added, “I have been blessed to be a part of Star Kids for the last 20 years, watching with pure wonder as the
lives of 100’s of children have been changed because of Star Kids and the education we have been able to provide
them. To hear a grandparent that is now parenting their grandchild say, ‘Star Kids saved my grandchild’s life….’
is the reason I have stayed involved for so many years. The generosity and continued support of our sponsors and
donors has been overwhelming, and we are stronger today than we have ever been. I am honored to now serve as
co-president with my friend, Lori Hogan. Star Kids has a very bright future, and Lori and I look forward to working
with our board and staff to lead and further strengthen this organization.”
Star Kids Scholarship Program Board of Directors
Newport/Fall River
Timothy Flanigan, M.D., Founder, President Emeritus
Eric Mack, President
Catie Benzak, Vice President | Heather Lynch, Treasurer | Liz Alofsin, Secretary
James A. Purviance, Founding Member
- Larry Allen
- Cindy Babka
- Jennifer Fulham Carney
- Lauren Dana
- Anne Davidge
- Crista Durand
- Letizia Gambrell-Boone
- Kate Kirby Greenman
- Susie Hill
- Victoria Hill-Duffey
- Lori Hogan
- Michael Jilling
- Maureen Kerrigan
- Lisa Lewis
- Heather Lynch
- Rhonda R. Mitchell
- Jamie Purviance
- Rachael Romanowski
- Lisa Sienkiewicz
- Charles Weeden
- Bob Weston
For upcoming board meeting and program event
dates, click here.
STAFF
Executive Director, Karen Flanagan
Program Director, Lindsey
Haslam
Executive Assistant, Paula
Turcotte
STAFF
Executive Director
Karen Flanagan
Program Director
Lindsey Haslam
Executive Assistant
Paula Turcotte