Longtime seasonal Island resident Carol Biondi has joined the board of the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard, according to an announcement from the Island’s community foundation.

Ms. Biondi and her late husband, Frank, arrived on the Vineyard in 1983 with their two young daughters, staying first in Chilmark before building their home in Katama. After a career in television and documentary film work, she joined the board of New York City’s largest child welfare agency, now known as Rising Ground. Additionally, she has served on the Children’s Defense Fund’s board for more than 25 years, on California’s Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice since 2006, and on the L.A. County Commission for Children and Families since 1999.

On the Vineyard, the Biondis have served separately on the board of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and were among the original supporters of MVYouth.

“We are so thrilled to have Carol join our board at a time when the Island community remains at risk in this global pandemic,” Permanent Endowment executive director Emily Bramhall said in a statement. “Carol brings both a strategic approach as well as a roll-up-your sleeves commitment to the work at hand.”

Ms. Biondi joins the board at a time when the endowment has broadened its support of Island non-profits addressing the impact of Covid-19.  The endowment created an Emergency Response Fund in mid-March which has since awarded $300,000 in grants to Island non-profits and service providers, including more than $85,000 in rental relief. 

For more information on the endowment and emergency fund: endowmv.org.