Welcome to America Project

The Tempe-based Welcome to America Project is proud to celebrate 20 years of creating meaningful interactions and providing needed resources to refugees becoming our new Phoenix neighbors. In that time, the organization has welcomed more than 15,000 refugees from more than 40 countries, helping them find community and flourish. In the coming year, they will assist more than 2,000 incoming Afghan refugees.

The Welcome to America Project has been led successfully for the last several years by Agency Director Mike Sullivan. Sullivan helped the nonprofit move from first impressions with refugees to ongoing interactions through language classes and career readiness, in addition to its long-time role in providing household goods, bicycles and technology resources. Under his direction, The Welcome to America Project created new partnerships to share musical instruments and soccer equipment.

Sullivan is now passing the torch to Kate Thoene, the organization’s new CEO. Previously executive director of Waste Not, a food rescue organization, Thoene brings more than 20 years of fundraising, collaboration, and effective nonprofit leadership experience to help the Welcome to America Project increase their community impact for years to come. Since joining the organization last fall as its chief strategy officer, Thoene has already improved its internal systems and developed a strategy to build a stronger, sustainable foundation for the next 20 years.

Thoene commented, “I am thrilled to be joining The Welcome to America Project team. The talented Board of Directors, committed staff, community support and tremendous need for refugee services uniquely positions the agency for growth and increased community impact, which is exactly the kind of work I truly enjoy!”

Before joining The Welcome to America Project, Thoene also worked at local nonprofits including SARRC, UMOM and St. Mary’s Food Bank.

The Welcome to America Project provides transportation, technology, and transformational resources to enhance success, so refugees do not just resettle in our country, they find community and flourish. We create impacts that last a lifetime for the refugees as well as the volunteers who serve them. To donate or volunteer visit www.WTAP.org.