Jen joined KHK in 2017 with the objective of promoting volunteer development, service learning and leadership skills. In 2021, she was promoted to Executive Director where her focus is on highlighting the impact of KHK and building relationships with parents, community partners and donors. She is inspired daily by the creative and thoughtful project ideas of our volunteers and immensely proud of their growth as leaders. Jen is a graduate of Boston University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Stamford with her husband and eight children.
Sabrina joined KHK as an Operations Coordinator September 2024. Sabrina has a degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Connecticut. Her passion for working with the youth has led her here to KHK and she is excited and eager to help students develop their leadership skills and assist them in accomplishing their projects.
Anna Rose Thelemaque joined Kids Helping Kids (KHK) as the Program Assistant in September 2024. She holds a degree in Human Development and Family Science, with a minor in Political Science, from the University of Connecticut. Anna’s passion for empowering youth and fostering community engagement led her to KHK, where she is dedicated to helping students develop their leadership skills and guiding them in bringing their projects to life.
Bobby is the Assistant Head for Student and Community Life at Greenwich Academy. Prior to this role, he was the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, Greenwich. Regarded as a pillar of the community, Bobby has extensive experience in nonprofit management as well as educational leadership. He is a graduate of Williams College, where he received a B.A. in history while playing football and earning numerous honors as a member of their track and field team, and he has an M.A. in liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University. Bobby lives in Greenwich with his wife, Becky and three children.
Tom is president and founder of Good Sports Solutions LLC, a consulting firm he started in 2006 that provides marketing communications, fundraising expertise, event planning, and celebrity securement for the sports philanthropy community. As a former local sportswriter, he has a life-long career in the sports and media industries, with experience in public relations, marketing, sponsorships, television, special events, consulting and non-profit leadership. His volunteer work has been recognized on numerous occasions by a wide range of organizations in Fairfield County.
Allison is a Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind Sesame Street. In her time since graduating from Lafayette College in 2018 with a B.A. in Psychology, she has developed expertise in marketing and TV production, and a passion for volunteerism. Since originally founding the Handled with Care Boutique project in 2012, Allison joined Kids Helping Kids’ initial Junior Board in 2020, and was elected to join the Board of Directors in Spring 2023.
Dennis Ladd is a Vice President and Charitable Planning Consultant at Fidelity Charitable®, an independent public charity that has helped donors support more than 300,000 nonprofit organizations with $42 billion in grants. Mr. Ladd currently serves on the Advisory Board at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in Stamford, CT. He enjoys volunteering as a University of Vermont Alumni Admissions Representative and Career Networker; Project Homefront, a volunteer-driven community home repair program; and a school mentoring program in Norwalk, CT.
Dominick is an owner of Grade A ShopRite, a business that began as a small family grocery store. The Cingari family prides themselves on their community service, giving back is a family tradition. For over 30 years they have been dedicated to fighting against hunger by supporting the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and a variety of other nonprofits in the local community. Dominick has 2 children who are KHK ambassadors and lives in Shippan with his wife, Lisa.
Ashton has been devoted over 17 years to working with and empowering the youth as a high school paraprofessional, counselor at Stamford’s Boys & Girls Club, and Head coach of JV basketball at Westhill High. He has a passion for helping the youth reach their fullest potential. He loves to challenge our kids through the power of conversation while encouraging self-discovery and autonomy. Ashton believes every child deserves caring, inspiring and engaging adults that are dedicated to their growth and future. They need an active listening ear and safe environment to be heard. He is committed to helping our youth develop positive character and leadership traits so they can go out in the world and be productive citizens.
Charlie is an accomplished wealth manager and founder at Pallas Capital Advisors with over 24 years of experience helping highly affluent families, corporate executives and business owners manage the unique complexities of their financial health and legacies.
Jennifer is a certified teacher in grades K-6 and has a Masters in the Art of Teaching. She is passionately dedicated to making a difference in the community and collaboratively fostering future leaders. After her daughter, Lexi, came up with the idea of creating a platform for kids to make a difference in the community around their passions, she helped Lexi form KHK in June 2009 where she served as the executive director until 2020.
Dr. Jackqueline Mclean -Markes is the CEO of Mcleansmiles with general dental practices in Stamford and Bridgeport Connecticut. She has resided in Stamford for over 30 years and is married with a daughter. She has a deep passion for service and volunteering and has been serving locally and internationally for over 30 years.
Judy Marzen has a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from SUNY Binghamton and has her J.D. from St. John Law School. She specialized in securities fraud and class action litigation and handled some antitrust and employment discrimination litigation, as well as pro bono criminal and family law matters.
Eric Ritter is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in institutional equities and hedge fund sales. Currently serving as the Managing Director and Head of Hedge Fund Sales at Needham & Company, Eric brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to the Kids Helping Kids board. His commitment to fostering youth development and community engagement aligns seamlessly with the organization’s mission. Outside of his professional endeavors, Eric is dedicated to mentoring young individuals and supporting initiatives that empower the next generation.
Kathy Shoztic leads the strategy and operations of the Deloitte Foundation, a US education nonprofit that aims to accelerate innovation and excellence in education to help develop the next generation of business leaders. Kathy serves as a primary liaison between the academic community and Deloitte and leads many national programs and initiatives to help better prepare students for college and careers. She has served on numerous boards and committees, and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Pace Women’s Network. Kathy earned her B.B.A. and M.B.A. from Pace University and worked in higher education prior to beginning her career with Deloitte.
I’m excited to join the Board of Directors at Kids Helping Kids. As someone who’s passionate about creating opportunities and lifting up others, I was immediately drawn to the organization’s mission of empowering youth to lead service projects that directly impact other kids in need. The idea of kids helping kids is not only powerful—it’s the kind of work that builds lifelong leaders.
I currently serve as the Director of Business Development at 4D Vision Gym, where I focus on scaling the business and identifying new sources of revenue. Before stepping into this role, I spent over a decade in finance, gaining a deep understanding of strategy, growth, and how to create meaningful results. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve on various nonprofit boards and committees, and I’m excited to bring that experience to this incredible team.
As a board member, I’m looking forward to contributing my community relationships and helping expand the visibility and impact of Kids Helping Kids.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé and our four amazing kids. One of my favorite quotes—and a value I try to live by—is from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Jeffrey Stella brings a wealth of experience in leadership, business development, and community service to the Kids Helping Kids board. With a successful career spanning executive roles in the corporate sector and deep involvement in philanthropic initiatives, Jeff is passionate about empowering youth and creating opportunities for the next generation. His strategic insight and dedication make him a valuable asset to the organization’s mission.
Chip is an owner of Grade A ShopRite, a business that began as a small family grocery store. Today, their 12 stores are thriving. The Cingari family prides themselves on their community service, giving back is a family tradition. For over 30 years they have been dedicated to fighting against hunger by supporting the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.
Jennifer is a certified teacher in grades K-6 and has a Masters in the Art of Teaching. She is passionately dedicated to making a difference in the community and collaboratively fostering future leaders. After her daughter, Lexi, came up with the idea of creating a platform for kids to make a difference in the community around their passions, she helped Lexi form KHK in June 2009 where she served as the executive director until 2020.
Lexi works at Smartsheet as an Account Executive on the New Business team. She is working with emerging markets/companies across the East Coast to provide a collaboration and work management solution designed to assign tasks, track project progress, manage calendars, share documents, and manage other work in an effort to increase workplace efficiency. She still holds the KHK mission close to heart as she works to change more students’ lives for the better and help to make these once-in-a-lifetime experiences open to as many students as possible.
Lexi is an Account Executive at Smartsheet, a category leader in collaborative work management. She primarily works with small and medium-sized organizations to help them manage their projects and processes more efficiently. Since graduating from Lafayette College in 2019, she has developed a knack for sales and account management.
Arden is a student at Brooklyn Law School. She graduated from American University in 2021 with a dual degree in Justice & Law and Psychology and a certificate in Community-Based Research, and previously worked as a legal assistant at White & Case. Arden has been involved with Kids Helping Kids since 2013 and looks forward to continuing to empower youth in her community on the Junior Board.
Sasha is a Supply Chain Inventory Planner at the online grocery store, Misfits Market. She graduated from Lehigh University in 2018 with a B.A. in Global Studies along with minors in Marketing and Spanish. She is a KHK aluma who began her involvement with the organization through coordinating the execution of the Handled with Care Boutique project. In her spare time she loves listening to podcasts, running and trying out new recipes.
Amelia is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University majoring in Journalism and minoring in Business Institutions and Principles, Political Science, and Integrated Marketing Communications. On campus, she is a reporter for the Daily Northwestern, a peer tutor for economics, a social media and marketing assistant with Northwestern Recreation, and the Vice President of Alumni Relations for the Northwestern Sport Management Club. Amelia’s involvement in Kids Helping Kids began in 2014, participating in and starting a variety of projects before joining the Youth Advisory Council, and eventually serving as President. She is thrilled to rejoin Kids Helping Kids as a member of the Junior Board.
Abby Guilfoyle is from Stamford, CT and currently a senior at Fordham University, majoring in History and English on the Pre-Law track. She’s been volunteering with Kids Helping Kids since 2013 and served on the Youth Advisory Board. Her favorite KHK event was the Thanksgiving Bread Bake, and she is super excited to get back involved with KHK on the Junior Board, where friends and memories have made a lasting impact on her life!
Ethan Lange is a Junior majoring in Economics and Political Science at Wake Forest University, where he is also a member of the ROTC Battalion with plans to graduate as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Ethan’s involvement with Kids Helping Kids began in the 4th grade when Jennifer Kelly asked him if he had an idea for a community service project. Ethan’s response was simple: “let’s give children the opportunity to give to others.” And just like that “The Gift of Giving”, one of KHK’s cornerstone initiatives was born! Ethan continues to contribute to his community while at Wake Forest where he holds leadership positions in both social and professional organizations. Ethan is thrilled to rejoin Kids Helping Kids on the Junior Board and to continue to help serve the mission of developing young leaders giving back to their communities.
William is a Financial Analyst at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) for the US Department of Defense. He has previously worked in Investor Relations at Vanguard Investments and as a staffer within the Parliament of the United Kingdom. William graduated in 2020 with Degrees in Political Science and Economics from Washington College. He has been a member of Kids Helping Kids since 2012. He looks forward to fostering lifelong connections and a commitment to service in his next Chapter with KHK.
Alice is an undergraduate student at the University of Connecticut pursing a B.S in biological sciences with a minor in molecular and cellular biology. On campus she is involved as the academic director of her sorority. Alice has been involved with Kids Helping Kids since 2016 participating in many projects, and eventually joining the Youth Advisory Council. Alice is excited to be involved with KHK again as a member of the Junior Board.
Zachary Shoztic is a Junior Board Member at Kids Helping Kids, bringing a deep personal connection to the organization as both a former participant and passionate educator. A special education teacher in Bridgeport, Zachary works closely with students who would greatly benefit from youth-led service opportunities like those offered by KHK. His commitment to fostering leadership, community, and inclusion stems from his own experiences and his drive to create a sense of belonging for all students. Zachary holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut. He is also a certified yoga instructor with a YTT-200 credential and a specialized certification in children’s yoga.
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