07/02/2006

Record-Eagle/Douglas Tesner
Martie Manty has been named executive director of the Father Fred Foundation.

Father Fred has a new director

Martie Manty has over 30 years of human service experience

By Tom Carr

tcarr@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Martie Manty is the new executive director of the Father Fred Foundation and will oversee the nonprofit's $1.9 million capital campaign, the refurbishing of two new buildings and increased coordination with other charities.

"This is a great position to be in," Manty said. "The services Father Fred provides are essential in our community. Some of these services are unique and the need continues to grow."

Manty, 58, lived in Vermont for nearly three years and coordinated a county-run counseling service.

Father Fred operates a food pantry and provides clothing, furniture, transportation and assistance with prescriptions or utilities, and is in the midst of a fundraising campaign. The funds will retire debt on two recently acquired buildings near its headquarters on Hastings Street and pay for remodeling.

One building will house the pantry and other client services. The other is the current Angel Care day care building and will provide free space to St. Michael's Lutheran Church to operate an infant and preschool day care center.

Manty was one of about 50 applicants and her name "rose to the top" because of her "personal commitment to the mission" and her experience, board president Jamie Marsh said.

"We're very excited about her capabilities and experience she brings to the foundation to lead us on to the next level," board member Arnold Ochs said.

Manty lived in Traverse City since 1976 prior to her move to Vermont and has more than 30 years of nonprofit experience in human services, including Community Mental Health work during the early years of the Traverse City state hospital downsizing and closure.

At that time, she worked with the foundation often to help meet the needs of state hospital residents who were being discharged.

Manty also worked for 19 years at Catholic Human Services, where she was the first coordinator of the Senior Companion Program and later worked to expand substance abuse prevention and positive youth development programs.

The late Rev. Edwin "Father Fred" Frederick started the foundation in 1990. It serves between 50-100 people per day, targeting the needy in Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse counties.