A Fond Farewell and a Warm Welcome

This bittersweet change will close out an impressive 19 years with the University of Rochester. Sandy has held multiple positions across the University, including working as an administrator in the Emergency Department, managing the lobby ambassador team, (then under Friends of Strong,) and working for ISD to implement the transition to eRecord.  She returned to Friends of Strong in 2011 as assistant director and became director in 2014 following the death of beloved director Lousie Criticos. Sandy’s role as director has always been and will forever remain close to her heart.

During her time as director, Sandy successfully initiated growth in many areas of Friends of Strong. She oversaw multiple consecutive years raising over a million dollars, helped to improve the volunteer information software system by upgrading to Vsys, created new fundraising and staff engagement events, and increased volunteer participation and overall program expansion. She also helped to transition the gift shop from a U of R entity to a flagship store in the national Cloverkey group. Sandy further developed the existing relationship with Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters and worked to spearhead new partnerships with Advantage Federal Credit Union and the Legacy senior living organization to support the mission of Friends of Strong.

We would not be the organization we are today without her steady hand guiding us through everything we do. 

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve the University of Rochester Medical Center for the past nineteen years, 11 of those  as the director of Friends of Strong. My work with staff, volunteers, patients, and visitors has been some of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I am so excited to have Melanie Thomas carry the torch as she moves into the role of director and look forward to even bigger and better things ahead for Friends of Strong!”

Sandy will transition to remote TAR a few hours per week to act as a resource beginning in July os 2025 through the end of the year.
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Melanie Thomas has been selected as the Director for Friends of Strong, bringing over two decades of dedicated service to the University of Rochester community. 

Beginning at the Simon Business School in 1999 as Operations and Finance Coordinator, Melanie transitioned to Friends of Strong in 2006, where she has been instrumental in managing finances and operations. Her tenure with FOS has been marked by her success in leveraging technology and project management to create significant efficiencies. 

“I am honored to succeed Sandy Arbasak,” says Melanie. “I am eager to build upon Sandy’s legacy and expand our reach throughout Strong Memorial Hospital and its related sites. My priorities will include expanding the volunteer program to better support clinical services, refreshing our fundraising strategies, and implementing innovative technologies to help empower our dedicated team.”

As a Buffalo Bills aficionado, Melanie likes spending her free time watching football on Sundays, cooking, and going to concerts. 

Friends of Strong is thrilled to enter this new era together!
 

Emily A. Teitsworth | 5/29/2025