Our Founder
Candice Hartford
CEO/FOUNDER
Raising Harts was created on behalf of Candice's Autistic twin boys, Keaton & Grady, and their sister, Isla. She created Raising Harts in 2022 so that families of Autistic children could make connections in a safe, non-judgmental environment. It's her goal to build community, empower parents on this journey and create inclusive places where kids can just be themselves.
When she's not running Raising Harts, you can find her in the NICU at Mass General Hospital. Candice earned her Bachelors of Science in nursing at San Diego State and has been a registered nurse for more than 20 years, advocating for all families. Candice hails from LA, but now calls Cohasset home.
Kenneth Hartford
FOUNDER
Kenny is the second half of the dynamic Hartford duo, Founder of Raising Harts and father to Keaton, Grady, and Isla.
Brie Casey
COO
Brie was inspired to join the Raising Harts team while learning to navigate the world of neurodiversity with her young children. She is a seasoned educator with more than 15 years of experience working in both general and special education settings. Brie obtained her Master's Degree in Special Education as well as a BCBA licensure from Simmons College. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral degree from Northeastern University in the area of education and transformative leadership. She lives in Cohasset, MA with her husband and three children.
Adrien Asaff, M.A., L.M.H.C
DIRECTOR OF THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS
Adrien is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has a clinical mental health degree with a school and community specialization. She was a therapeutic teacher and clinician at Community Therapeutic Day School in Lexington, MA.Her experience in home and in a school setting with neurodiverse and Autistic children is extensive. She currently lives in Scituate with her husband and their two children.
Kristin Armstrong
DIRECTOR OF GRANTS & SPONSORSHIP
Alongside her Master’s Degree in Public Health, Kristin has expertise in health education, grant writing, budgets and planning. She is a pro at fostering relationships with constituents and donors. Kristin has also helped run camps for children with complex medical needs, and has worked in nonprofit, government and hospital settings. She currently lives in Cohasset with her family and her youngest child is autistic. She loves working with families and building community.
Stephanie Shore
MARKETING
Stephanie has spent 20+ years scaling emerging brands to great heights. She's held executive leadership roles for some of the world's hottest brands from Zipcar to MOO to the McBride Sisters. She began her marketing career at Boston.com after studying marketing in college. She has advised companies across a wide range of industries (Tech, CPG, Wine & Spirits, Design, Manufacturing, Non-Profit and the Sharing Economy) and stages (Series A to public),. Stephanie and her family live in Marshfield.
Kate Sargent MS, LMHC, LABA
ADVISOR
Kate is the founder of Sargent Child and Family Services, and has been working with children and families for more than 20 years as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, a Graduate Certificate in Early Intervention, and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is currently a doctoral student in the Counseling and Psychology program at Lesley University. Kate lives in Duxbury with her husband and son.
Lauren Davides
ADVISOR
Lauren is a Certified Public Accountant with a double major in accounting and finance and has worked in the financial services industry for more than 20 years. She's supported many non-profit organizations, and was part of the team that started Girls on the Run Greater Boston. She held almost every role at GOTR from daily operations to Board President. Lauren lives in Hingham with her two boys.
Anna M. Rodrigues
FINANCE
Anna graduated from Bentley College with a Bachelors Degree in Finance. She has been in the financial services industry for more than 35 years and is currently employed by BNY Mellon as a Vice President of Financial Reporting. As a neighbor of the Founders of Raising Harts, she has seen firsthand the impact that Raising Harts has had on families with Autistic and Neurodiverse children and is thrilled to be a part of such an incredible organization.
