For the first time in 23 years, Women Supporting Women has a new Executive Director.

Alaina Van Gelder, who was born and raised in Salisbury, started in her new position with the local breast cancer organization on Monday.

Van Gelder graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Master’s of Science degree at Wilmington University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked nationally with Wells Fargo Insurance Services, among other major corporations, and brings over 15 years of business experience to the position.

Her predecessor, Sue Revelle began the organization in 1993, with two other local women. Revelle will remain an intricate part of the organization by working part-time at the Salisbury office as the mentoring coordinator and working closely with women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.

“I thank Sue, the Board of Directors, our survivors and their loved ones for granting me the opportunity to serve our community in this way,” Van Gelder said. “I look forward to continuing with our mission of offering free services and support to anyone affected by breast cancer and hoping to expand by offering new programs. Women Supporting Women has helped my family tremendously and we will continue to do the great work on which the organization was founded.” Said Revelle: “It has been my honor for the past 23 years to serve the breast cancers survivors on Delmarva along with their families and friends.

“The privilege of providing free services during a challenging time in their lives has given me such fulfillment.  Now I can direct my energy exclusively to mentoring and watch Women Supporting Women continue to grow,” she said.

Women Supporting Women is a local, grass-roots non-profit organization dedicated to providing awareness, education and support to all those who are affected by breast cancer. With no national ties or funding, they rely completely on our community to help provide free services to our neighbors, friends and families right here on Delmarva. To learn more about WSW, visit www.womensupportingwomen.org or www.facebook.com/womensupportingwomendelmarva, or stop by one of the offices. The Salisbury office is located at 1320 Belmont Avenue, next to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and the Ocean City office is located at 12216 Ocean Gtwy, Unit 1500 Ocean City, MD 21842.