Donor Spotlight: Mary Jane Madden

Throughout her career, Mary Jane Madden of Saint Paul, Minnesota, has seen what happens when people recognize their own strengths and have the support to put them to work in their communities.

That experience is at the heart of her support of Sisters Rising Worldwide (SRW). A newer donor to the organization, Mary Jane brings a lifelong commitment to service and a deep appreciation for the Sisters’ approach: listen, build trust, and support solutions led by people who know their communities best.

Mary Jane’s relationship with the Sisters began when she attended Catholic schools, where she learned to give back and be grateful for what she received. Her grandmother also helped shape her understanding of generosity. “My grandmother was a wonderful example of how to care for people without getting in the way,” she recalled.

Those lessons stayed with Mary Jane throughout her career in healthcare administration and education. As a University of Minnesota faculty member, she helped bring healthcare professionals from around the world together to learn from experienced administrators. Her work took her to South Africa and Spain, and a Fulbright fellowship brought her to Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey, where she taught healthcare administration. Her students lacked money for textbooks, and English was not their first language. Mary Jane relied on discussion groups and shared experiences to help students connect what they knew with the challenges they faced in their own communities. “My goal was to help bring out their challenges,” she explained. “It wasn’t a lecture method. It was teaching how this made a difference in their life and the lives they served.”

Mary Jane’s international experiences also showed her how unmet needs can limit a person’s opportunity to learn and thrive. Without enough food or clean water, people have less capacity to concentrate, participate, and use their abilities fully. “The needs are so basic that they can impact your life forever,” Mary Jane shared. “It isn’t about one person learning,” she said. “It’s about long-term impact.”

That understanding helps explain why SRW’s mission resonates with her. Supporting the Sisters means helping address immediate needs while strengthening the conditions that allow people to build their futures. “When Sisters provide the basics, there is hope for other things to happen,” she said. “The Sisters’ work is not broadcasted widely, but it makes a huge difference.”

Mary Jane has known Sister Irene O’Neill for many years through their work in education. About five years ago, Mary Jane became Sister Irene’s neighbor and learned more about SRW. Over time, she recognized an approach that reflected her own experience of meaningful change. “Sisters come in at the community level and work from the ground up,” she said. “The Sisters don’t have months of red tape before they can get to work. It’s built on trust.”

That trust, and the opportunity to see results, inspired her to become an SRW donor. She values knowing that her support reaches the people whose needs drew her to the mission. “I know that the money is going to the people who need it and not to bureaucracy,” Mary Jane said. “It is why SRW makes a huge difference.”

Mary Jane especially appreciates hearing directly from the Sisters about the impact of their work and the communities they serve. “It’s a program I believe in and have seen results,” she shared. “I love it when we can hear from the Sisters firsthand.”

Sister Irene is grateful for the perspective and generosity Mary Jane brings to SRW. “I am so fortunate to have Mary Jane as a neighbor and friend,” Sister Irene says. “Her energy and giving spirit enrich our mission. She has spent her life helping people recognize their strengths and use them to serve others. It means so much to have her standing alongside the Sisters as they do that same work around the world.”

Mary Jane encourages others to take time to listen and discover what Sisters Rising Worldwide is making possible. “Listen to the work and what people are saying about it,” she encouraged. “You can see it firsthand from the Sisters’ results.”

We are grateful to Mary Jane for sharing her story and becoming part of this work. Like Mary Jane, you can help Sisters build on the strengths within their communities. Visit SRW’s project page and consider supporting a Sister-led project that speaks to you.