Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 12

Maria Arabatzis ’05:

Investments

Change

The

World
BY EMMA DEANS

Maria Arabatzis ’05 describes socially responsible
investing as how her clients can “make money and do
good at the same time.” As a Portfolio Manager and
Social Investment Coordinator for Reynders, McVeigh
Capital Management in Boston, she focuses on long-term
growth and sustainability for her clients’ assets. Maria
researches companies and projects that will deliver the
best assets to support her clients, while also providing
positive social and environmental outcomes. For example,
common investments of this type include those that work
to combat climate change, create energy efficiency, and
generate low-cost healthcare.
This ethical investment strategy influences Maria’s
personal life. She consistently donates to the Thornton
Fund, which provides critical support to the school’s
academics, and extracurricular programs. Maria advocates
for establishing regular philanthropic and investment
practices, “My parents taught me from a young age to
give back to the people and places who have helped form
and support my life. TA did a lot for me—it got me to
college and set up the framework for my career. I think it’s
important to build the habit of giving back at a young age,
even if it’s not a lot,” she said.
One of seven children, Maria enjoyed playing soccer as a
student at TA and credits Mr. Gagne’s AP History course
for changing her way of thinking about the world. She
has a master’s degree in Business Administration and a

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bachelor’s degree in Management from Clark University, as
well as a certificate in Community Development Finance from
the University of New Hampshire.
In her free time, Maria mentors social entrepreneurs through
the Social Innovation Forum (SIF), a nonprofit that creates
positive social change in greater Boston by engaging leaders,
strengthening organizations, and building networks. She
also serves on the Board of Directors for one of SIF’s “Social
Innovator” organizations called Press Pass TV (PPTV),
which works at the intersection of youth development, career
readiness, and media production to maximize social impact.
PPTV provides nonprofits, small businesses, and corporate
clients with industry standard video and photography services
by training low-income youth in digital media and video
production skills.

Maria Arabatzis ’05 (far left, front row) is pictured with the Board of
Directors for Press Pass TV.