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Our Team

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Ginger Smith, MSW

Founder & Executive Director

With thirty years of experience in the social services, divided between program development, fundraising, and direct practice, Ginger has the experience, drive, and successful track record to grow SOAR Together to become a leading collaborator in the movement to end epidemic levels of loneliness in Fairfield County.  From her early career as an urban community organizer to Directing the 9/11 Relief Program for The Children’s Aid Society in NYC to decades of fundraising for cancer patients, Ginger has committed her career to building sustainable programs and changing life outcomes. â€‹ 

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An honors graduate of Dartmouth College and All-American athlete in two sports, Ginger received a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University. After many years of triathlon/ultramarathon racing, Ginger posted a final win at the Lake Placid Marathon in June 2022 after a breast cancer diagnosis, hanging up her racing shoes and turning all energies to social connection.  Ginger’s resilience to overcome is a trademark and fierce advocacy alongside and on behalf of those facing life challenges comes from an unbridled place of deep faith.​

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In her words: "I have experienced highs and lows like so many others and implicitly know loneliness and social isolation.  What I also know is that to heal a wound of any size we must have the faith and courage to persevere and keep putting one foot in front of the other. We can tackle this epidemic if we approach it one gesture of kindness, one smile, one connection at a time."

Judith Panthauer, LCSW

Flower Power Program Manger 

Judith Panthauer brings decades of expertise in both social services and floral design to SOAR Together, joining the team in 2024 to help oversee our growing Flower Power program across Fairfield County. 

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Judith was an undergraduate major in psychology and sociology, and from there she earned a Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University. As a clinical social worker, she had a long and meaningful career working with individuals and families in a variety of settings, from mental health centers to schools, and ultimately, into years of private practice.

 

Always a flower enthusiast who surrounds herself with flowers, Judith began taking classes in floral design from  experts in the field which led to recent work in the floral industry in Fairfield County.​  SOAR’s mission to help end loneliness fits perfectly with Judith’s passionate belief in the joy that flowers bring to people and the ways in which creating and gifting bouquets help bring people closer to one another.

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In her words: “This is a dream come true to be part of a program that weaves together my love of flowers and my desire to enrich people’s lives.

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Hilary Aronow

Events & Operations Manager

Hilary is a seasoned retail executive with a strong commitment to building communities through meaningful social connections. Her experience in luxury home goods, fashion, and bridal industries at top retailers like Bloomingdale’s, Scully & Scully, and Farrow & Ball earned her a reputation for leadership and innovation. Known for driving strategic sales growth and cultivating customer experiences, Hilary is equally dedicated to giving back.

 

In addition to her corporate career, Hilary has held key roles in local nonprofit organizations, currently serving as President of the Board of Directors for Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance and on the board of Meals on Wheels managing social media and public relations. Her previous community volunteer roles include the Ridgefield Arts Council, Ridgefield Guild of Artists, as well as various PTA fundraising endeavors

In her words: “I am inspired by SOAR’s mission and truly believe that this is life-saving work. The epidemic of loneliness in the wake of Covid and as a side effect of social media is a challenging but critical issue, and the framework SOAR has put into place is remarkable.”

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