Twink Frey
Founder and Chair
Mary Caroline "Twink" Frey has long been a philanthropic leader and dedicated advocate, especially for women and children. She began her professional career changing young lives as an elementary teacher, where she spent 25 years in a variety of settings. However, her desire to strengthen and educate our community extends beyond the traditional classroom setting.
In her own words, she describes why she chose to establish Nokomis Foundation, designed to create stronger voices for women and girls: "When I was growing up, I had no voice. Later as a teacher of young girls, I found myself urging them to speak up, express themselves, shout and sing. Sometimes I was successful; too often, I was not."
As a survivor, Twink carries a deep, heartfelt empathy for those learning to live with cancer. In the spring of 1995 when she heard of the first Gilda's Club opening in New York City, she immediately recognized the importance of an organization designed to provide social and emotional support during a cancer journey. She recruited two other community advocates to join her in establishing a Gilda's Club in Grand Rapids. Six years later, her dream became a reality. As the largest and busiest of North American clubs, Gilda's Club Grand Rapids is a national model and serves more than 1,600 visitors each month.
Twink has served as a leader on the boards of Michigan's Children, Council of Michigan Foundations, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Women's History Council (founding member), and the Center for Education of Women at the University of Michigan. She is currently busy working to establish a Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Grand Rapids and serves on the President's Council for the University of Michigan.