Founders

Mary-Anne Frith

Barbara White

Mary-Anne Frith is a recently retired Occupational Health & Safety consultant specializing in WSIB claims management.  Her passion for helping others proves to be an asset to serve her community.

As the Co-Founder of Ripple of Kindness, Mary-Anne’s desire to work with other like-minded women to foster collective impactful giving for local organizations is what gives her great joy.  The impact these gifts have on local charities is filling a great need for programs and services in the region. 

Mary-Anne also serves as the chair of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s Keep LifeWild campaign and sits on the RVH Foundation Board of Directors as Vice-Chair.  

She was honoured to be recognized by Barrie Today’s Community Builder Awards as the “2023 Unsung Hero for her volunteer efforts in the community to improve the lives of others and create a positive impact now and in the future”.

Mary-Anne and her husband Brent are local business owners, have 4 daughters and two amazing grandsons!  She enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, walking the Barrie waterfront and the many Simcoe County trails with her dog.

Barbara White is a passionate community leader and dedicated business professional. Alongside her husband, Jeff, she has co-managed the Jeff White Group and Jeff’s Junk for over 30 years in Barrie, building a strong foundation of service and commitment to the local community.

A firm believer in giving back, Barbara co-founded Ripple of Kindness in 2016, a nonprofit initiative that brings together like-minded women who are committed to making a difference in the lives of those in need. The organization has had a profound impact on local charities, raising funds and mobilizing resources to support a variety of causes in Barrie and beyond.

In addition to her work with Ripple of Kindness, Barbara is an active volunteer and leader. She serves on the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Board, Barrie Community Foundation, and the newly formed Barrie Cares Board where she contributes her expertise in fundraising and organizational development.

Barbara’s dedication to volunteerism has been recognized by Rotary International, who has awarded her the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award twice. She was also honored as the first recipient of the Heart and Soul Women of the Year award by the Barrie Chamber of Commerce in 2018, a testament to her tireless efforts to strengthen and support the community.

Outside of her professional and philanthropic work, Barbara enjoys spending time with her family—her husband, three children, and three grandchildren—as well as her two dogs. In her free time, she loves entertaining, crocheting, and tending to her garden.