Who We Are

Our Mission

Everyday Deeds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that wants to make it easier to connect volunteers and donors with local community organizations. ​​Our community events strengthen connections within the teams that participate with their local communities in meaningful and impactful ways. We welcome families, groups and individuals of all abilities and identities.

Our story

Renée Chan was inspired to create Everyday Deeds when her family couldn't find an organization to connect them with local families during Thanksgiving. As a kid, Renée’s husband, Patrick Mitchell, delivered baskets of food to families in need during the holidays when he was in high school and the experience stuck with him. Renée’s family was hoping to do the same, but couldn’t find a local organization that could help them deliver food to families.

Renée reached out to Union, a local church in Boston’s South End, which connected her with local families. From there, she was able to source food for the baskets, put them together with the help of volunteers and deliver them on Thanksgiving. That experience helped her to realize three things:

  • Anyone can help local families while also supporting area farms and other producers, which provide fresh, organic food for the baskets.

  • Making an impact doesn’t require a huge donation and can be done effectively if you work with the right partners.

  • Many families and teams want to volunteer together and there is a need to create access to those types of opportunities.

Renée started Everyday Deeds to connect families, individuals and groups with local organizations in order to strengthen community ties in Boston and to make it easier for people to perform acts of kindness and love, together.

“I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

—Lord of the Rings

 Board of Directors

Everyday Deeds is managed by a volunteer board of directors who meet regularly to set the organization’s goals and objectives, coordinate events and recruit more community partners to support ongoing projects.

  • Renée Chan

    Renée Chan, Founder

    Renée Chan is dedicated to a variety of local initiatives focused on children and education. She is currently on the Board of Directors at More Than Words and the Atrium School Board of Trustees. Renée has also worked with Union Church, McKinley South End Academy and Torit Montessori to support educational and family initiatives.

    For nearly 10 years, Renée was a management consultant at Fidelity Investments and IBM, focusing on strategy development, process improvements and new business development across financial services sectors.

    Renée received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College, a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a MBA from the University of Chicago. She was also a Fulbright Scholar in Japan. She is a long-time resident of the South End where she lives with her husband and two children.

  • Kathryn Banerji

    Kathryn Banerji, Treasurer

    Kathryn Banerji works as an Advisor at Press Ganey where she collaborates with hospitals to improve the overall patient experience by impacting outcomes, culture and caregiver engagement. Having focused her career on the business side of health care delivery, she enjoys making a difference in the lives of patients and caregivers.

    Previously, Kathryn worked as a consultant, providing strategic planning advice in areas such as health care facility growth, acquisitions, physician recruitment and ACO development. Kathryn obtained her MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and her bachelor’s in economics and sociology from the University of Virginia.

    Kathryn has volunteered with the Junior League of Boston, and led the community outreach program for the UVA Club of Boston. She lives in Charlestown with her husband and their dog Scout.

  • Sophia Kryder

    Sophia Kryder, Secretary

    Sophia has worked as a Mother for eleven years. She also works as a Teaching Artist for ArtsEmerson. She has worked in individual outpatient mental health care as a psychotherapist, practiced triage social services in underfunded contexts as an LCSW, taught high school AP English and toured the country in live theater.

    Sophia received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge where she read English Literature. She has an MFA in Acting from the Moscow Art Theatre School. She has a master’s in English Literature and Language from Columbia University and a Clinical MSW degree from NYU.

    Sophia lives in Charlestown with her husband, three children and two sweet, but peculiar, cats.

Ready to plan your Everyday Deeds?