By Laura Farmer

During the pandemic, Jodi Love relocated her family from New York City to Baltimore. It was a dramatic change for Jodi, who had called New York home for more than two decades. “We didn’t know a single person,” she recalls. Fortunately, some of Jodi’s new neighbors invited her to participate in the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) at Kennedy Krieger Institute. What began as a desire to make connections in her new town evolved into a deep passion for service and the life-changing work of Kennedy Krieger.

Jodi boasts a distinguished career in finance. After two decades on Wall Street, she moved to Baltimore to join T. Rowe Price, balancing her demanding professional life with her family and community involvement. “I wanted to develop a network and contribute to the community that my family and I live in,” she says.

Her commitment to WIN and Kennedy Krieger has taken many forms, from participating in high-profile fundraisers like Hats and Horses to serving on the Kennedy Krieger Foundation Board. This spring, she is co-chairing Hope in Bloom, Friday, May 8—WIN’s reimagined signature spring event. The event takes place at the M&T Bank Exchange and raises funds for a fully accessible playground for children served by the Institute’s Fairmount Rehabilitation programs. Jodi has been instrumental in shaping the event’s updated, fresh, and vibrant approach, complete with creative food stations served in a delightful garden-inspired setting.

For Jodi, the appeal of this work goes far beyond event planning. “It’s incredibly gratifying to help children with neurological and developmental challenges and their families,” she says. “Kennedy Krieger is a cornerstone for Baltimore, and this event gives people a chance to invest in the city’s future. We’re funding a thoughtfully designed playground that blends therapy, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. I think play is so important in the world we’re living in now, where everything is increasingly digital. I’m really proud to be able to support something that will bring joy to so many families.”