After living in Vermont, New York, and Texas, Kitty Northrop Friedman and her husband, Peter Friedman, permanently settled in Utah with their three children in 2016. The Friedman family has always been rooted in giving back to their community and is optimistic about the future and their beloved state.
Currently a Senior Advisor at Pathway Group, Kitty has worked in nonprofit leadership roles for many years and began her career as a litigation associate at Holland and Knight LLP. Kitty is the vice-chair of the Utah Donor Collaborative, and we talked with her about why she became involved.
Kitty went to high school in Utah and returned to the Wasatch Mountains, which provided the perfect place for her active family. She said, “As Utah residents, we feel a strong sense of responsibility and are very engaged. Our family motto is ‘Be nicer than necessary.'”
“Moving back to Utah, I found that I had to work harder to be an engaged citizen. As a self-identified, lifelong Democrat, there were clear paths to engage politically in other places where I had lived. That wasn’t initially the case here in Utah, but that has changed after becoming a member of Utah Donor Collaborative [UDC].”
UDC orchestrates political change in the state, activating partners for urgent matters and ensuring they are supported for the long haul. “Before UDC, I was just putting money into candidates with gated hope,” commented Kitty. “Now, my investments are much more strategic because they are aligned with an expert approach focused on systems-level change.”
Kitty also has found other like-minded donors who are proud UDC members. “UDC has offered me a sense of belonging and also a playbook on how to be an engaged citizen to help ensure that all Utah voices matter – mine and also those outside the majority,” said Kitty.
UDC Members have the opportunity to attend educational events to learn about what works in elections and over the long term. “Now I have a framework to navigate Utah politics, both as an engaged citizen and as a donor. It has made me grow and stretch, and I like that,” Kitty continued.
“I believe all Utah residents deserve political representation based on prosperity, health, gender equality, and a sustainable approach to the climate,” said Kitty. “Being on this journey with people across the political spectrum has shown me that we have common values.”
UDC has given the Friedmans a space to enact their democratic values, engage politically, and understand that their voice and donations have a real impact on changing Utah. Kitty added, “I’ve put my money with Utah Donor Collaborative because, whether it’s air quality or reproductive rights, nothing will move forward until we bring balance to the state legislature.”