Fran Froehlich has been a consistent and tenacious voice for social justice for well over 30 years. She has been an educator, an administrator, an organizer, a fundraiser and an outspoken advocate for social change since the mid-60’s.

Fran was born and raised in Brooklyn, and received her B. A. in Biology from St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana in 1964. She was a member of the Sisters of Providence from 1964 to 1986, and during that time taught elementary and junior high school as well as completing an M. A. in Humanities at Manhattanville College.

In the mid 70’s Fran came to Boston as the Director of Religious Education at St. Jerome’s Parish in Arlington. While there, she met Kip Tiernan and in 1980 they co-founded The Poor People’s United Fund, creating a team that has endured and prevailed for well over 25 years. They went on to co-found Community Works in 1982. Fran became the Interim Director during 1993 and 1994 and in 1999 she became the Director. From 1988 to 1990 Kip and Fran were fellows at the Bunting Institute at Radcliffe College and from 1993 through 2002 they taught a class in Ethical and Moral Principles and Social Policy at UMASS, Boston.

Fran has been the recipient of numerous awards for community service and social justice and has served on the Board of Directors of many non-profit organizations. Today, Fran continues to serve as Director of Community Works, is Co-Director of the Poor People’s United Fund and is a founding member of the Ethical Policy Project.