Jason Belinkie
Chief Executive Officer
Since joining AFH on the first day it opened its doors, Jason has played an integral role in the development and growth of AFH’s programs, partnerships, educational curriculum, fundraising, athlete membership, and community impact. Nearly two decades later, Jason’s passion for helping others through the power of sport still burns bright, and he feels deeply grateful to live his dream job every day. Through his dynamic leadership, Jason has guided AFH into a position as a global sports philanthropy leader.
Jason coaches cross country and track at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and serves on American University’s Board of Trustees. He is also the author of two children’s books, Little Moments, inspired by his children, and King of the Couch, inspired by his dogs. Jason is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education.
Chris Wyttenbach
Chief Program Officer
As the Chief Program Officer at Athletes for Hope (AFH), Chris oversees the creation and implementation of core AFH programs and the network of AFH members. He has proudly facilitated the charitable involvement of hundreds of athletes as they make a substantial social impact in the communities and with the causes that are most important to them.
Prior to Athletes for Hope, Chris had the privilege to learn and serve via his time with several service-based organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the YMCA, and the United States Peace Corps. Originally from Wisconsin, Chris currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and three children.
Mena Mirhom, MD, FAPA
Chief Wellbeing Officer
Mena is a board-certified psychiatrist with a strong commitment to enhancing the mental health and well-being of athletes while also using sports as a platform for community service.
In addition to his clinical work, Mena is a Columbia-trained psychiatrist and a faculty member at Columbia University, where he educates psychiatrists on effectively communicating mental health information through the media to better inform and educate the public. He also serves as a consultant for the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), providing expert guidance on mental health issues facing professional athletes.
Beyond his work with athletes, Mena is a recognized speaker, author, educator, and on air media contributor.
At Athletes for Hope, Mena is dedicated to advancing wellbeing initiatives that empower athletes at every level through education, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
Diana Venezia
Director of Development
Diana serves as the critical point person in driving, shaping, and diversifying Athletes for Hope’s fundraising activities for the general organization and its growing initiatives. Diana joined AFH in December 2022 and is committed to helping improve communities and the lives of others through inclusive philanthropy, especially when utilizing the power of sports. Most recently, Diana served as the Vice President of Development at Philadelphia Youth Basketball, a start-up sport-based youth-serving nonprofit.
Originally from New Jersey, Diana graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2014, where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball team. She received her master’s degree in Sport Business from Temple University in 2017.
Kylie Barlowe
Director of Partnerships & Digital Strategy
Kylie (Reeves) Barlowe manages marketing and activation partnerships, oversees digital and social media execution and is responsible for leading strategy across the organization’s digital ecosystem. Kylie joined AFH in February 2021 and brings a deep level of passion and unique experience to the position, having experienced a variety of media and marketing roles in the sports, healthcare and non-profit worlds.
Originally from North Carolina, Kylie was a member of the Women’s Soccer team at Haverford College and graduated with a degree in Economics in 2014.
Connect with Kylie on LinkedIn.
Sara Keane
Director, AFH University
Sara serves as the Director of the AFH University program, which educates college athletes about smart philanthropy and connects them to charitable opportunities across various communities. Sara joined AFH U in July 2022 and is passionate about fundraising, event planning, and assisting college athletes find what they are passionate about.
Prior to joining Athletes for Hope, Sara worked in the nonprofit world as a development associate and event coordinator. Sara’s passion for development came from volunteering for local mental health organizations in the Philadelphia community. Originally from New Jersey, Sara was a member of the Women’s Soccer team at West Virginia University from 2009-2013 and graduated with a degree in Sport Management, followed by a masters in Higher Education Administration.
Kenya Warren-Hollins, MPA
Program Manager, AFH University
Kenya works closely with college athletes in her role with the AFH University Program. As Program Manager, Kenya helps LSU & Southern University varsity athletes discover and connect with charitable opportunities in the Baton Rouge community.
Prior to joining Athletes for Hope, Kenya has been committed to public service as she serves as a regional recruitment manager for City Year. Kenya graduated from Southern University and A&M College with a bachelor in biological sciences and a master of public administration. Her passion for service began during her reign as Miss Southern University 2010-2011. She served as Executive Director of Up ‘Til Dawn, a St. Jude Children’s Hospital collegiate fundraising endeavor and a Girl Scouts outreach leader.
Joy Le Couteur
Director of Athlete Engagement
Joy serves as the Director of Athlete Engagement for Athletes for Hope and focuses on developing and enhancing relationships with professional, Olympic, and college athletes, and inspiring them to engage in charitable opportunities. Joy joined AFH in August of 2022 and is passionate about people and utilizing sports to make our communities better.
Prior to joining Athletes for Hope, Joy played Division 1 NCAA Basketball at Arizona State University, earning her Bachelors degree in Business Marketing and Masters degree in Communication. Joy’s professional career consists of six seasons of professional basketball in Europe and Australia. Joy has also represented her national team—Chinese Taipei in the 2015 and 2017 FIBA Asia Championships as well as the 2018 Asian Games. As a Nike athlete, Joy had the opportunity to be the face of a Nike Women Campaign in 2019, empowering women across Asia. Joy’s passion for sports philanthropy spans internationally through volunteering at orphanages in China, conducting life skills workshops for college students in Bhutan, offering educational scholarships for kids in remote and underprivileged areas in the Philippines, and creating mentorship programs for youth at risk in Australia.
Kendra (Chambers) Coleman
CHAMPS Program Manager
Kendra (Chambers) Coleman is the CHAMPS Program Manager at Athletes for Hope. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she was an 8x All-American and a 4x Big 12 Champion. After college, Kendra pursued a professional track career as a 400 and 800-meter athlete. She qualified for the U.S. National Championships almost every year from 2015-2024 and was a semi-finalist in the 800 meters at both the 2016 and the 2024 U.S. Olympics Trials. She was a part of Team USA in the 2016 World Indoor Championships and the 2017 World Relays as well as several Penn Relays (USA vs. The World). Kendra sits as an officer on the USATF Athletes Commission as the Director of Athlete Services and she is the Assistant Track and Field Coach at the University of St. Thomas.
Jasmine Moore
Senior Manager, Digital Media
Jasmine is a storyteller and cheerleader at heart who leads digital media strategy at Athletes for Hope as Senior Manager, Digital Media. She drives content creation, social media strategy, and multimedia campaigns that elevate athletes and the causes they support.
Before joining Athletes for Hope, Jasmine built a career at the intersection of service, youth development, and communications. At BREC, she coordinated over 50 community events as Special Events Manager, including the 75th Birthday Celebration that contributed to BREC earning the Gold Medal Award as the top U.S. park system.
Her work includes leading viral campaigns—like a Black History Month video with over 1 million views—and supporting large-scale initiatives in marketing, fundraising, and volunteer engagement.
A former cheerleader and coach, Jasmine’s passion for service focuses on empowering girls and families. While at Boys & Girls Clubs in Los Angeles, she led a youth workforce program that helped over half its participants land summer jobs.
She holds a master’s in social work from Southern University at New Orleans and a bachelor’s in psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana. Her work blends creative strategy with a deep commitment to youth development—on and off the field.
Rachel Gearhart
AFH Wellbeing Program Manager
Rachel Gearhart currently serves as the Whole Being Athlete Program Manager for Athletes for Hope. Prior to this role, Rachel worked as the Manager of Operations and Partnerships for the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), where she led national mental health campaigns, developed strategic partnerships, and managed various award programs and events. With a passion for people, Rachel seeks opportunities to empower and educate her local community. The majority of her work experience has been with non-profit organizations. Rachel holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Education from the University of California Santa Barbara, and enjoys running, surfing, and bike riding in her free time.
Marta Ribeiro
Graphic Design Consultant
Marta is a freelance graphic/web designer with over 20 years of experience. Passionate in her work, she creates well organized, beautiful visuals that communicate clearly and effectively. She has been involved with Athletes for Hope since its founding in 2007, having designed their logo, and has since continued her involvement through a variety of design projects.
Marta enjoys long distance running in her spare time & firmly believes in the power of sport to unite and inspire. She graduated from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design (B.F.A. in Graphic Design).
YY Yiljep
American University Campus Consultant
YY Yiljep is the Senior Counselor for Student-Athlete Development and Leadership at American University, where he provides academic support to the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams. Since joining AU in 2021, he has also served as an adjunct professor and oversees the Stephanie M. Bennett-Smith Life Skills & Leadership Academy for student-athletes.
Before AU, YY worked at Marymount University, where he was Case Manager and Manager of Wellness, Prevention, and Education, designing holistic wellness programs for students. He holds two master’s degrees from AU in Sports Analytics and Management (2020) and Marketing (2019), as well as a B.S. in Business Administration (2017). YY also played for AU’s Men’s Basketball team from 2013-2020.
Stephanie Griffith
Development Associate
Stephanie Griffith is a Development Associate at Athletes for Hope, where she supports the organization’s fundraising strategy through donor engagement, campaign execution, and data management. Steph joined AFH in January 2024 and is passionate about leveraging sport to drive meaningful change, especially in the area of youth mental health. She works on initiatives that expand AFH’s reach, particularly around major events, strategic partnerships, and digital fundraising efforts.
Originally from South Dakota, Steph graduated with a degree in economics and mathematics from Georgetown University in 2019, where she was also a Baker Scholar.
Ryan Harris
Davidson College Campus Liaison
Ryan Harris is a junior at Davidson College, where he is pursuing a degree in Psychology and competes as a member of the Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field team. Originally from Portsmouth, Virginia, Ryan’s lifelong passion for sports is rooted in his commitment to health and well-being. He has worked with nonprofits focused on mental health advocacy and education and is dedicated to ensuring that mental health is valued by all. In his free time, Ryan enjoys hiking, biking, beach trips, and traveling with family and friends.
Anna Gill
Georgetown University Campus Liaison
Anna Gill is a dedicated student-athlete at Georgetown University, studying International Politics with a minor in Spanish. As a D1 field hockey player, she brings a strong work ethic, resilience, and a passion for teamwork to every aspect of her life. Anna actively engages in campus leadership through Georgetown’s Women’s Athlete Leadership Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where she promotes collaboration, mentorship, and positive impact. In her free time, she likes to cook and bake, hike with her friends, and play golf and tennis. Her background in high-performance athletics and dedication to using sports as a platform for change make her a strong advocate for community-focused initiatives that leverage sports for social good.
Kelis Armstrong
Howard University Campus Liaison
Kelis Armstrong is a third-year student-athlete at Howard University, competing in Track and Field while pursuing a degree in Health Management. She also serves as a Community Service Chair in The Society of Health Management at Howard. Passionate about community service, she works with Grassroots Health to educate adolescents in D.C. on mental, nutritional, and sexual health. Kelis is dedicated to addressing healthcare disparities and aspires to become a health administrator, building equitable healthcare systems and making healthcare more accessible for marginalized communities worldwide. In her free time, she likes to bake and watch superhero movies.
Kimberly Douglas
Digital Media Intern
Kimberly is a student at the University of Michigan, majoring in Sport Management with a minor in Public Health. She is passionate about using sport as a catalyst for positive social change and is particularly interested in the intersection of sport, and community impact. Her academic and professional experiences have centered around inclusion, sustainability, and community.
Kimberly has worked with organizations such as the University of Michigan Concussion Center, and Girls on the Run, where she has supported community engagement, marketing and communications. In addition, she is passionate about the environment and served as the Co-Chair of Sustainability at the LPGA Dow Championship and is a Sustainability Scholar at Michigan.
Kimberly’s work is driven by a strong belief in the power of sport to inspire service, build community, and drive meaningful change. Through both research and hands-on experience, she continues to explore how athletes and sport-based organizations can create lasting, positive impact in the communities they serve.
Ellen Haile
Development Volunteer
As a Development Volunteer at Athletes for Hope, Ellen is driven by a curiosity to understand how the inherent influence of athletes can be leveraged to create tangible, positive change at a local and global level. Drawing on her background in business development and intelligence from the international development sector, she will apply her skills to assist with donor prospect research and grant proposal development, help with campaign and event execution, and carry out general administrative and donor stewardship tasks.
Ellen received her master’s degree in Applied Economics from Ohio State University in 2021.
Sophia Brewer
Partnerships Intern
Sophia Brewer is a rising senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, pursuing a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Business Analytics, alongside minors in Multicultural Leadership and Sports Media.
Sophia is deeply passionate about the intersection of sports, business, and social impact. She believes in the power of sports to reflect and shape broader societal values, foster inclusivity, and drive meaningful change both on and off the field. Her academic and professional experiences center around athlete engagement, philanthropic initiatives, and the business strategies that connect sports to community and culture.
Through her work as an intern for the University of Colorado Boulder Athletic Department and her role as an executive board intern with DIECE Athletics, a network advancing diversity in the sports industry, Sophia has developed strong relationships with athletes and industry professionals as well as experience in research and departmental programming. She has been recognized with academic awards and invited to national opportunities such as the Black Student-Athlete Summit, further enriching her perspective on the evolving landscape of sports.
She strives to balance the business side of sports with a deep belief in their community impact, recognizing that while sports can be profitable, it’s the people, stories, and shared experiences that give them lasting value.
Tristan Reaves
AFH University Alumni Fellow
Tristan is a former football student-athlete at UCF, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Sports & Exercise Science.
Tristan’s passion has always been rooted in holistic student-athlete development and enriching the community he is in. Outside of his role as the AFH University Alumni Fellow, he is the assistant director of student-athlete success programs and assistant strength & conditioning coach at Emory University.
Additionally, Tristan is an certified facilitator for the NCAA in the Institute of Sport and Social Justice.
Jon Jacobson
Multimedia Production Consultant
Jon is a writer, video editor, and multimedia storyteller with production experience in the nonprofit, marketing, and sports media worlds. He specializes in creating content that drives fundraising, web traffic, membership signups, and other actions.
After earning a master’s in Multimedia Sports Journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor’s in English from Binghamton University, Jon worked in sports media and marketing for two local TV news sports departments, a minor league baseball team, an analytics research firm, and two sports tech startups.
Passionate about making a positive impact in the world, Jon has also supported key digital campaigns for mission-based organizations such as City of Hope, the Trust for Public Land, and the International African American Museum. He is excited to combine his love for sports and philanthropy by joining the Athletes for Hope team.
Board of Directors
Mark Levinstein, Board Chair
Williams & Connolly LLP
Mark serves as Chair of the Athletes for Hope Board and is a Partner with Williams & Connolly LLP. He is an antitrust and business trial attorney with many sports-related clients. He has represented professional and Olympic athletes, team owners, teams, leagues, players associations, agents, sports management companies, national governing bodies, universities, sponsors, licensees, sports organizations, and other businesses in the sports industry for more than thirty years. Since 1996 he has served as the Outside Counsel and Acting Executive Director of the US National Soccer Team Players Association. Mark has also taught antitrust and sports law as an adjunct law professor at various law schools since 1985, most recently Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Virginia School of Law, and is a co-author of a leading sports law casebook.
Ivan Blumberg
Founding CEO of Athletes for Hope
During his 15 years as the CEO of Athletes for Hope, Ivan launched and grew AFH into the leading national non-profit that it is today. Through his visionary leadership, Ivan spurred the creation of many of AFH’s programs, educational curricula, and new partnerships with best-in-class national organizations.
Prior to AFH, Ivan represented athletes for the majority of his career including clients such as Arthur Ashe and Andre Agassi. He is a 1980 graduate of Hobart College and a 1983 graduate of Washington University School of Law. Outside of AFH, Ivan is involved in a variety of charitable organizations in the Washington, D.C. area.
Frank Marshall
The Kennedy/Marshall Company
Frank is one of the leading producers and directors of American film. Frank has produced or directed more than seventy feature films, including such major films as the Indiana Jones series, E.T., Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Gremlins, The Goonies, The Color Purple, The Indian in the Cupboard, Poltergeist, The Sixth Sense, the Back to the Future trilogy, The Bourne Identity / Supremacy / Ultimatum, the Jurassic Park trilogy, Signs, Seabiscuit and Eight Below. In addition, Frank has produced films about professional and amateur sports (e.g., Olympic Glory). He is a former Vice President and public sector director of the United States Olympic Committee and a recipient of the prestigious Olympic Shield, awarded in 2005 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement in the United States.
Julie Foudy
Olympian & Broadcaster
Julie is a sports analyst, director of her Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academies and a motivational speaker. She is also a retired professional soccer player who spent 17 years as a member of the US Women’s National Team, 13 of them as a captain. She is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Olympic Silver Medalist, and two-time Women’s World Cup Champion. Julie finished her National Team career with 45 goals, 59 assists and 272 international appearances (caps) for the USA. Her 272 caps rank third in the world all-time, male or female. She was inducted in the US National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. Most important to Julie, she has made a difference off the field as well. In 1997, the world governing body of soccer, FIFA, awarded her the FIFA Fair Play Award, the first woman and American to receive the award, for her work against child labor in the stitching of soccer balls. Julie was the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) from 2000-2002, served on the WSF Board of Directors for 7 years and was a WSF advocacy consultant for two years, with a focus on Title IX, childhood obesity, and athletes’ rights issues. She also served as a member for the Commission on Title IX, appointed by President Bush and Secretary Paige and has been honored numerous times for her work on behalf of Title IX. She is a part of the ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
Benita Fitzgerald Mosley
Olympian & Business Executive
Benita Fitzgerald Mosley brings tremendous perspective to Athletes for Hope as both an Olympic gold medal winner and a top business executive.
Benita was a star athlete in high school and at the University of Tennessee, where she earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. As a Tennessee Volunteer, Benita was a 15-time All-American and won four (4) NCAA titles, including three (3) 100-meter outdoor hurdles championships. Benita was selected to represent the United States at the 1980 Olympic Summer Games in Moscow, became the first American woman to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles at the 1984 Olympic Games, and also won a Gold Medal at the Pan-American Games. At the 1996 Centennial Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, Benita was one of the eight athletes selected to carry the Olympic flag into the stadium during the opening ceremonies.
Since turning her focus to sports marketing and administration in the 1990s, Benita served in leadership roles at the Special Olympics, Olympic Games, Women’s Sports Foundation, Women in Cable and Telecommunications, USA Track and Field and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. In 2016, Benita left the USOC and became the CEO of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA, where she was responsible for advancing the Laureus mission to change the lives of youth and strengthen communities through the power of sport. She currently serves as the CEO of Multiplying Good, a national nonprofit focused on elevating public service as the means to empower individuals
Benita was named “Sportswoman of the Century” by The Potomac News, and “Top Female Sports Figure of the Century from Virginia” by Sports Illustrated. She is an inductee into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, Virginia High School Hall of Fame, Penn Relays Hall of Fame and a charter member of the University of Tennessee Vols Hall of Fame. Benita was named “Hurdler of the Decade” of the 1980s by Track and Field News. She now resides in Haymarket, VA, with her husband, Ron, and their two children.
Allen Furst
Agency21Consulting
Allen is the Treasurer of Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc and the President of Agency21Consulting. Allen has served as a financial advisor to professional athletes for the past twenty years.
Matt Grant
Factory360 / GSix Consulting
Matt Grant is a seasoned marketing and sales executive with 16+ years of experience. He is the Founder and CEO of GSix Consulting and most recently joined Factory360 as Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships & Activations.
He previously managed Client Services at 160over90, helping craft and execute brand partnership strategy for various established and prospective clients including Visa, Palo Alto Networks and more.
Prior to 160over90, Matt served as Director of Business Development at DraftKings, the leader in online sports betting and daily fantasy sports. At DraftKings, Matt was responsible for establishing and executing strategic partnerships with leagues, teams, and colleges, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, UFC and various other global properties across the sports and entertainment world.
Prior to DraftKings, Matt served as Head of Sports Marketing and Director of Sales at The Clorox Company in Oakland, CA. Throughout his time with Clorox, Matt led sports marketing activations across multiple brands within the Clorox portfolio including Kingsford, Glad, Brita, Hidden Valley Ranch, Burt’s Bees and the namesake, Clorox cleaning brands. Having brokered and managed Clorox’s NBA & WNBA League and team sponsorship deals, Matt was instrumental in helping lead the sports world back from the pandemic with the NBA bubble in Orlando.
Matt graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, competed on the varsity football team, and is currently an active member of the Coaching Corps’ Youth Sports, Racial Equity and Social Justice Taskforce serving the city of Oakland.
Dan Levy
Wasserman Media Group
Dan is Sr. Vice President of Olympics & Women for the Wasserman Media Group (WMG) and has been a pioneer in women’s sports marketing, creating some of the most unique marketing opportunities and deals in his field. Prior to joining WMG, he helped propel Octagon and Bober Associates into the largest agencies devoted solely to the marketing of women’s sports athletes, and assisted in the formation of the Mia Hamm Foundation. Joining WMG in 2006, Levy currently manages some of the world’s most accomplished female athletes, including Sue Bird, Mia Hamm, and Maya Moore.
Lori J. Bertman
Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation
Lori J. Bertman is President and CEO of the Baton Rouge based Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Louisiana’s largest private family foundation. The foundation gives grants annually throughout Southern Louisiana and nationally.
In addition to her role at the Pennington Family Foundation, Ms. Bertman is a noted national expert in disaster philanthropy and serves as a strategic consultant to both local and national organizations. She is also a Co-Founder of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, based in Washington D.C., and now serves as Chair Emerita. Outside of her disaster philanthropy work, she is a Co-Founder City Year Louisiana, serves on the advisory board for the Children’s Health Fund in New York City and founded and operates Bertman + Associates, a philanthropy advising and fund development consulting firm.
As a coach’s daughter, Ms. Bertman has been surrounded by sports her entire life. She has worked with Athletes for Hope University and is currently developing programs related to athletes and mental health with multiple partners. Ms. Bertman has a passion for hockey and a strong relationship with the NHL and their Hockey is for Everyone programming. She is the first “fan” to serve on a Hockey Hall of Fame board committee (Fundraising Strategy Committee). Ms. Bertman has also assisted the museum in both their diversity and COVID exhibits and programming. As an avid female collector, she has been profiled in sports magazines such as Upper Deck and Beckett Hockey.
Ms. Bertman holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master’s degree from Louisiana State University.
Kathleen Purtill
Deloitte Consulting LLP
Kathleen is a Principal in Deloitte’s Government & Public Services practice, leading the Civil Government Sector. She is a former US Navy officer with more than 20 years of experience in government consulting focusing on delivering enterprise transformation primarily to government clients.
Kathleen leads Deloitte’s civil government sector, which encompasses a wide range of clients including the Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Security, and Department of Education as well as the US Postal Service and US Agency for International Development. Kathleen is also very engaged in Deloitte’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, in part by serving on its newly formed Allyship Counsel and partnering with HBCUs. She has also served on the Deloitte Board’s Nominating Committee and currently serves on the Girl Scout NCR Women’s Advisory Board.
Outside of the office, Kathleen has a strong passion for well-being and enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids coaching their soccer teams, running, and being active. When not spending her free time with her family, Kathleen is passionate about mentoring veterans transitioning out of the military – something close to her heart as veteran herself.
Doug Ulman
Pelotonia
Doug is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Pelotonia, a Columbus-based non-profit organization that was established in 2008 with the objective to fund lifesaving cancer research. Since inception, Pelotonia has raised more than $157MM for cancer research at The Ohio State University.
Doug is a three-time cancer survivor and globally recognized cancer advocate. After overcoming chondrosarcoma during his sophomore year of college and malignant melanoma twice since, Doug and his family founded the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults to ensure that all young adults impacted by cancer have a voice and the necessary resources to thrive. Doug later went on to join the LIVESTRONG Foundation in 2001 as Director of Survivorship, and later served as President & Chief Executive Officer, establishing the organization as the global leader in cancer survivorship.
Doug’s personal story and his leadership accomplishments have been featured on major media outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, Sports Illustrated, NBC News, ABC News and MSNBC, among many others. Doug has been honored with many accolades including twice being named on the Non-Profit Times’ Power and Influence Top 50 Non-Profit Executives list, an honor bestowed on the top non-profit leaders in the United States. Doug was also named CEO of the Year: Large Non-Profit by Columbus CEO Magazine in 2017.
Alan Meltzer
NFP | The Meltzer Group
Alan founded the Meltzer Group in 1982 and grew the company to a point where it is consistently recognized as the largest insurance consultant in the greater Washington.D.C. area as well as one of the most philanthropic companies in the region. Alan has earned MassMutual’s highest honor, Agent of the Year, an unprecedented 18 times in his career, and he was inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame in 2011. Alan has served on the Board of Directors for numerous organizations, including JDRF, Wolf Trap Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the Washington Hospital Center. Alan attended American University as an undergrad where he was a three-time captain of the wrestling team and a member of the Alpha Tau Omega.
Gabe Feldman
Tulane University
Gabe is the Director of the Tulane Sports Law Program and the Associate Provost for NCAA Compliance at Tulane University. He specializes in legal issues related to professional and Olympic sports and was formerly an attorney at Williams & Connolly, LLP where he represented athletes, the US National Soccer Team Players Association, and others in the sports industry. Gabe is regularly quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and other newspapers throughout the country, and he has made numerous appearances on national television and radio. Most recently, Gabe served as the on-air legal analyst for the NFL Network during the NFL lockout. He currently serves as the editor of The Sports Lawyers Journal, a law journal devoted to the study of sports law, and The Sports Lawyer, a monthly on-line sports law newsletter, and is a regular contributor to the Sports Law Blog. Gabe attended Duke University and the Duke University School of Law, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology, a Masters degree in social psychology, and a Juris Doctor.
Michael Lynch
Sports & Entertainment Marketing Consultant
Michael Lynch’s more-than-25-year tenure in the sports industry includes leading sports and entertainment divisions with category leading organizations. During his nearly 17 years with Visa, Lynch led the company’s global sponsorship marketing/management strategy and execution including activations with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, FIFA World Cup, NFL, Disney and numerous other Properties. He and the organizations he led, have received numerous industry awards and recognition including, tabbed by The Sporting News magazine as one of the “100 Most Powerful People in Sports”, “Sports Sponsor of the Year” by the Sports Business Journal, and “The 25 Best Sponsors in America” by Event Marketer Magazine. Lynch has a BBA from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA in Marketing from Cornell University and is also a CPA.
Rachel Godino
Former Chair of The US Olympic Athletes Advisory Council
Rachel is a Senior Environmental Planner with ICF, an international consulting company. Prior to joining ICF, Rachel worked at Florida Power & Light (FPL, a subsidiary of Next Era Energy) as an Environmental Project Manager where she permitted and/or managed environmental construction compliance for more than 5,550 MW of new efficient electric generation.
Rachel competed in the 1992 Olympics in Ice Dancing. She was elected by her peers as the Chair of the US Olympic Committee (USOC) Athletes’ Advisory Council in 2000. She also served on the USOC Executive Committee, USOC Board of Directors and Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee Board of Trustees. In 2003, Rachel testified in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the state of the Olympic movement and governance.
Rachel currently serves on the Sports Advisory Board for the Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to construct and operate a world-class recreation facility in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida .
She is a graduate of Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She lives in south Florida with her husband and their three children.
Alexander “Shooter” Starr
Brown Advisory
Shooter is a client advisor with Brown Advisory, a private, independent investment and strategic advisory firm in Washington, D.C. He previously worked at Neuberger Berman, a private investment management firm. Prior to working as a client advisor, Shooter was an Associate Director of Development at the University of Virginia, where he helped raise the $131 million dollars needed to build UVa’s John Paul Jones basketball arena to open in 2006.
Shooter is a University of Virginia graduate, where he was a four-year letterman as a pitcher and a Team Captain for the UVa Baseball Team. Shooter went undefeated his senior year, posting a 1.29 ERA and leading the team to a 44-15 record. Shooter is also a member of the boards of the Association of Corporation Growth, the National Capital Advisory Circle, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the Maret School (a co-ed K-12 private school in Washington, D.C.). Shooter and his wife, Sarah, live in Washington, D.C.
Stephen Whisnant
Stephen Whisnant Strategies, LLC
Stephen Whisnant, a longtime AFH consultant, has been committed to philanthropic endeavors for decades. In 1993, he founded World T.E.A.M. Sports, an international sports nonprofit with sports philanthropy programs for all levels of athletes, especially persons with disabilities. Stephen spent eleven years serving as the first Executive Director/CEO of World T.E.A.M. Sports. He also oversaw the production of four documentary films and numerous award-winning educational curricula, receiving an Emmy Award for his work as the Executive Producer of “Vietnam, Long Time Coming,” a 1998 documentary about a 16-day, 1100-mile bicycle expedition through North and South Vietnam that was organized by World T.E.A.M. Sports.
He has served as Director of Philanthropy and Advisor to the National Democratic Institute in Washington, D.C., a Managing Director for the United States Olympic Committee, the Campaign Director for the $186 million “Building for Peace Campaign” of the United States Institute of Peace, Vice President of Development and Investor Relations at Venture Philanthropy Partners, and a consultant and Senior Director of Development and Non-Profit Initiatives for Paul Allen, Jody Patton and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation in Seattle, Washington.
Since early 2014, Stephen Whisnant has been providing philanthropic services to individuals, organizations, and charitable foundations nationwide through his boutique consulting firm, Stephen Whisnant Strategies, LLC. He also continues to serve as a trustee, director or advisor, for World T.E.A.M. Sports, PeacePlayers International, The Doug Coombs Foundation, Fencing in Schools, The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, Collegiate Directions, Classroom Champions, EverWalk, and Kartemquin Films.
Shari Ciapka
Chief of Staff, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Charitable Giving, Cigna
For over 12 years, Shari has been a leader at Cigna, a global health service company, and currently serves as the chief of staff to the vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Charitable Giving, and President of Cigna Foundation. As a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team, corporate board of directors, and Cigna Foundation board members, Shari consistently strives to move the needle on corporate responsibility. She earned an Executive MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia. She is completing an Executive Certificate in Sports Philanthropy from The George Washington University School of Business. As an adult competitive athlete, Shari strives to inspire others by demonstrating what can be possible at all ages. She competes in multi-event fitness and physique competitions, Spartan obstacle course races, tower climbing, 5Ks, and fitness fundraisers. Shari resides in Central New Jersey with her husband Mark and has two teenage sons.
George Cohen
Founding AFH Board Member
George Cohen served as a leading sports lawyer and an AFH Founding Board Member who has been a champion of the AFH mission since day one. He has proudly served some of the nation’s leading sports associations, from the NHLPA to the NBPA and several others. George has become a notable name in the Washington, D.C. metro area and beyond through his charitable initiatives, supporting a wide variety of programs and organizations.
Advisory Board
Clerc Bertrand
Executive Director, McNeese Athletic Foundation
Clerc is a Louisiana native. In her current role, she manages a portfolio of fundraising partners and corporate sponsors. She focuses on crafting and implementing strategies to advance community cultivation and university engagement through the lens of athletics. While at Lamar University, Clerc won 13 conference titles and earned 2 NCAA championship births. As a former collegiate runner, she is passionate about helping athletes realize the platform each person has to give back and to act on that opportunity to make a positive impact.
Christin Blyumin
Owner & Operator, Max Fitness and Wellness
Christin is a native of the Washington, DC area. A collegiate athlete turned Personal Trainer and Integrative Health Coach, Christin shares a deep passion for health and fitness. She has spent the last 15 years training and educating people of all ages, as well as partnering with schools to provide nutrition and fitness education to students.
In addition to her passion for health, Christin has also spent the last few years volunteering in Fundraising in the nonprofit sector.
Christin played Division I lacrosse at James Madison University and currently resides in Mclean, VA with her husband and two children.
Brook Choulet, M.D.
Founder & CEO, The Performance Psychiatrist™
Dr. Brook Choulet, M.D., The Performance Psychiatrist™, is the founder and CEO of the Choulet Performance Psychiatry®, and President of the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry, of which she is one of the seven founding members. With a focus on concierge Performance Psychiatry®, Dr. Choulet guides professionals, athletes, and their families towards mental excellence through her bespoke approach. She is a preferred provider on the NBPA, NFLPA and MLBPA’s Mental Health Directories, and she previously worked as a Consulting Team Psychiatrist for the NBA Phoenix Suns and WNBA Phoenix Mercury. Dr. Choulet is a regular contributor to Forbes SportsMoney and is a Forbes Health Advisory Board member who reviews and consults on Forbes Health articles.
Robb Dehney
Law Clerk, Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz
Robb currently resides in Wilmington, DE, where he serves as a law clerk to Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz, Jr. of the Delaware State Supreme Court. In May of 2023, Robb graduated from Harvard Law School (HLS), where he matriculated after spending three years at the University of Virginia (UVA). At UVA, he earned a major in Media Studies and a minor in Religious Studies while working as the student voice of the Virginia Cavaliers football team for WUVA News.
When he wasn’t in class, he was fortunate to intern for organizations like the Wilmington Blue Rocks, MLB Network, the Miami Dolphins, and (most importantly) Athletes for Hope. At HLS, Robb founded HL Football, a 501(c)3 committed to creating community through recreational sports in Cambridge, and served as the first commissioner of Harvard University’s graduate intramural sports leagues.
John Dragelin
Vice President, Jones Lang Lasalle IP, Inc.
John B. Dragelin is a native of the Washington, DC metro area. As a lifelong athlete, he is a major believer in the power of sports, teamwork and physical activity. John swam competitively at Columbia University and currently resides in Washington, DC, working at real estate services firm, JLL.
Nicholas Freeman
Carl M. Freeman Companies
Nicholas Freeman is Director of Commercial Operations at Carl M. Freeman Companies, a family owned real estate firm based in Rockville, MD. Nick is responsible for the company’s management and acquisition of retail opportunities in the Delmarva region. He currently serves as a board member for the Carl M. Freeman Foundation and the Landon School, his alma mater.
Annie Gleason
Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, PNC
Annie has over 25 years of experience working in sports specializing in marketing and sponsorships. She has worked for teams, properties and brands managing multi-million dollar sponsorship portfolios. She is passionate about using the platform of sports to make the world a better place and creating purposeful partnerships.
Annie grew up in Milwaukee, lived in the Twin Cities, and now resides in Denver. She has a BS from the University of Minnesota and certificates in ESG Strategy from the University of Colorado and Sports Philanthropy from George Washington University. She is a lifelong Packer fan and loves being in Colorado near the mountains.
Thomas “Tommy” Goodman
Strategy and New Business Senior Manager, CONCACAF
Tommy currently serves as Strategy and New Business Senior Manager with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF, a continental governing body of FIFA), where he leads & supports a range of strategic business- and sports-focused growth initiatives across the organization.
Tommy is dedicated to various charitable causes and philanthropic endeavors and serves as a board member of Give2Cuba and the Schwechheimer Family Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with the Wichita Wind Surge (Minor League Baseball team).
Tommy received a J.D. and B.A. from the University of Virginia and a Sports Philanthropy Executive Certificate from The George Washington University. He has traveled and worked in over 50 countries and is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Portuguese.
Alayah Hightower
Consultant, Deloitte Consulting
Alayah’s passions are giving back to her community and staying active. Throughout her time at school, she was constantly volunteering with other student-athletes by teaching children health equity topics in DC middle schools. Alayah previously worked with Athletes for Hope as the Howard University Campus Liaison from 2021- 2023 where she connected student-athletes to various community service events across the DC community. She looks forward to working with more athletes to empower them to use their platform in their community.
Alayah Hightower is a Prince George’s County, Maryland native. She went to Howard University where she played both soccer and lacrosse as well as obtained multiple degrees. In May of 2023, she graduated with her Masters of Science in Finance. Before that, she obtained her Chemical Engineering degree in 2020 and then received her MBA with a concentration in Supply Chain Management in 2022. She is currently a Consultant within Deloitte Consulting Commercial practice focusing on supply chain and network optimization out of the Mclean, VA office.
Max Levitt
Founder, Leveling the Playing Field
Max Levitt founded Leveling the Playing Field in 2013 in his native Greater Washington, DC. Since that time, LPF has grown from a grassroots project to a multi-chapter organization that has donated $15M+ worth of sporting equipment to over 2,000 programs in need. Through his role as Executive Director, Max oversees the strategic plan, organizational initiatives, and the growth/development of the organization. With current LPF locations in Greater Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Ohio, Buffalo, Detroit and Atlanta, Max is working to bring LPF to communities across the country to ensure that every kid has the opportunity to play.
Max Meltzer, CFP®
Senior Vice President, Wealthspire Advisors
In his role as an advisor, Max delivers customized financial solutions to high-net-worth clients and select institutions. Max also plays an instrumental role in the business development efforts of the firm. He finds it particularly rewarding to work with charitably inclined families as well as individuals that represent the second generation of family-owned and operated businesses.
David T. Roach
David T. Roach is a longtime Athletic Director and Administrator, holding over 30 years of experience as an athletic director at Fordham University, Colgate University, and Brown University. Over his career, Dave has been very active in shaping the landscape of intercollegiate athletics, holding many leadership roles, including serving as President of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) as well as an esteemed board member. Additionally, Roach served as the head swimming coach at the University of Tennessee and Brown University. Roach was also appointed as the assistant coach of the United States National Swimming Team, which competed at the World University Games in Kobe, Japan.
His commitment to student-athlete wellness and leadership extends beyond the playing fields, most recently having created the Fordham Athletics Leadership Academy for its student-athletes. The Academy aims to cultivate, test, and aid the school’s student-athletes and coaches as they work towards becoming world-class leaders in athletics, academics, and life.
A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Roach received his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College, where he also earned a master of science degree in physical education. He was a member of the Springfield College men’s varsity swimming team.
After receiving his master’s degree, Roach served in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Captain.
Roach and his wife, Anne, have three daughters, Elizabeth, Michelle, and Alexandra.
Jermar Rountree
Health & Physical Education Teacher, Center City Public Charter School
Jermar Rountree is an award-winning educator and advocate for student wellness. As a health and physical education teacher at Center City PCS’s Brightwood Campus, he also serves as Athletic Director and district lead for PE and health. He was named the 2023 Washington, D.C. Teacher of the Year and was the first African American PE and health teacher to be a National Teacher of the Year finalist. A recipient of the 2023 NNSTOY Educators for Equity Fellowship and a National Alliance Public Charter Changemaker, Jermar champions movement-based learning and mental wellness. He builds strong community partnerships to support students’ growth in and out of the classroom. Jermar holds a B.A. in History from Western Connecticut State University and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Relay Graduate School of Education.
Tyler Rudy
US College Athletics, Strategic Transformation, Deloitte Consulting
Tyler is passionate about helping athletes realize their potential to use their respective sport as a vehicle to drive positive change in communities. Tyler is also a proud father, husband, brother, and son and is excited to continue his role as an AFH ambassador.
He is an Olney, Maryland native and currently leads Operations for Deloitte’s US College Athletics practice focused on development of sophisticated delivery frameworks, methodologies, and tools that will provide critical, data-driven insights – informed by where Deloitte has seen success across industries – to athletics departments’ decision-making in the new era of college sports. He has 6+ years of experience navigating large-scale operational and strategic transformations for public sector clients, serving as the nexus between business process re-engineering, data analysis, and technical solution implementation.
Tyler is a former collegiate and professional soccer player, graduating from Georgetown University and spending time with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and North American Soccer League’s Puerto Rico Football Club.
Brandon Sanchez
Director of Finance and Operations, MP
Brandon Sanchez is the Director of Finance and Operations at MP, a philanthropic initiative. Previously, Brandon was a Program Manager at Athletes for Hope. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) and a Master’s of Sports Management from Georgetown University.
Brandon was a four-year letter winner, co-captain of the basketball team at UCSC. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Brigitte and daughter Ryan and Harper.
Jess Smith
Managing Director of Brand Content at NASCAR
Jess Smith is currently the Managing Director of Brand Content at NASCAR. She has 15 years of experience in social media, digital marketing, advertising, and content development at various organizations, including Stewart-Haas Racing, New York Yankees, New York Rangers, Under Armour, the NCAA, and AFH as an intern. A constant student of the industry, she has been named to Business Insider’s “The 30 Best People in Advertising to Follow on Twitter” and writes on industry trends at socialnsport.com. The former track-and-field student-athlete graduated from Auburn University with a degree in mass communication.
Awvee Storey
Executive Director Sky Cares Foundation and Community Initiatives, Chicago Sky
Awvee Storey is a former professional basketball player who played for four seasons in the NBA and for eight seasons in Europe and Asia. After his pro career ended, Awvee learned about on-court development and video editing skills with the Washington Wizards, which led to jobs with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky. After a leadership position with the NBA’s G-League Capital City Go-Go, Awvee served as the Director of Player Development with the Connecticut Sun. He currently works in the front office of the Chicago Sky.
Awvee collaborated with AFH in 2014 to start the Power Up! Program with a DC area charter school which has evolved into our current AFH Fit program. He is also a father, friend, and passionate AFH ambassador of our work in the community.
Tyler Buchholz
Attorney at Blank Rome LLP & High School Baseball Coach
Tyler is a native of the northern Virginia area and is an associate at Blank Rome LLP in their corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and securities practice group. Tyler’s practice focuses on private fund formation, advising registered investment companies and their board of directors, and middle market M&A with a specific focus on the sale of companies to employee stock ownership trusts.
While getting his undergraduate degree from James Madison University, Tyler served as an intern, and later an advisor, to the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation, a 501(c)3 committed to using the story of the 39 Baseball Hall of Famers who served in World War II as an inspiration to the next generation of the importance of service to one’s community. In addition to his service on this board and his job as an attorney, Tyler coaches high school baseball for the Metropolitan Senators, a northern Virginia based baseball academy.