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Character, not circumstance, matters

Kristen Haffenreffer is a co-founder of Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education and was the organization's first executive director. After a four-year hiatus, in August she rejoined RISE as executive director. She is on the board of the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation and the Haffenreffer Family Fund. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
Kristen Haffenreffer is a co-founder of Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education and was the organization's first executive director. After a four-year hiatus, in August she rejoined RISE as executive director. She is on the board of the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation and the Haffenreffer Family Fund. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

When I tell people what I do, I get one of two responses. Either, “That is so inspiring!” Or, “It must be depressing to work with those families.” This is addressed to the folks who believe the latter. Alexa (not her real name) is 25 today. She became involved with RISE when she was 8.

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