OARacle Newsletter

Lorraine Partee, who joined OAR in August as manager of fundraising and special events, is diving right into fundraising campaigns and special events, with a goal of adding new events to OAR’s calendar and sponsors for programming. She is eager to use her resourcefulness, experience, and enthusiasm for OAR’s mission to support OAR and the people it serves.

Partee is “especially excited about creating supportive and inclusive spaces for neurodivergent learners, and I aim to reflect that in my approach to fundraising and community outreach.” Her role at OAR focuses on building genuine connections with supporters, ensuring their contributions directly benefit programs for autistic individuals.

She is delighted that OAR staff share her passion for supporting the community, dedicated to achieving organizational goals and carrying out the mission. They have also made Partee welcome, which has made it easy for her to ease into the role and feel comfortable.

Before coming to OAR, Partee worked for more than a decade in special events and fundraising. That experience included working with cancer organizations and fundraising for education, driven by her desire to be a source of positive change and a safe space for others. She was a teacher before that, a role that she says fueled her “passion for ensuring that individuals have safe, accommodating environments where they can learn and grow.”

What motivates Partee most about her OAR role is the chance to make a real impact on people’s lives by helping remove barriers to inclusion. She loves connecting with people who share OAR’s vision and working together to create lasting change. “Combining my passion for advocacy and education with a hands-on approach to supporting the neurodivergent community is incredibly rewarding,” she says.