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 17 years 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 the boards of Hope for Henry and Suburban Hospital. He is also the author of two children’s books, Little Moments, inspired by his children, and King of the Couch, inspired by his dog. Jason is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education.
Ivan Blumberg
Founding CEO Emeritus
Ivan currently serves as a strategic advisor to Athletes for Hope and is the organization’s Founding CEO, serving in the position from 2006 to 2021.
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.
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.
Suzanne Potts LMSW, MPH
Chief Wellbeing Officer
For almost a decade, Suzanne has transcended her various roles at Athletes for Hope. From focusing on impact measurement and evaluation to bringing the AFH model to campuses across the country as the National Director of AFH University, her leadership has helped reshape our organization. Since 2019, Suzanne has spearheaded the expansion of AFH mental health initiatives and programming, launching the Whole Being Athlete program in 2021. In her role as Chief Wellbeing Officer, she leads all efforts of our mental health programming and oversees all AFH internal wellbeing initiatives for staff.
She also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas, Austin School of Social Work and is Faculty at the George Washington University Sports Philanthropy Executive Certificate Program.
Suzanne is a graduate of San Diego State University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She also received dual Masters in Social Work and Masters in Public Health with an emphasis on Maternal and Child Health and is a Licensed Masters Social Worker.
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
Assistant Director, AFH University
Sara serves as the Assistant 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.
Hannah Bronkema
Digital & Social Media Marketing Coordinator
Hannah manages all digital, social and marketing activations for AFH. Hannah joined AFH in July 2022 and brings fresh perspective to the position, having experience in a variety of communication, creative content, and marketing roles in the sports world.
Originally from Ortonville, MI, Hannah was a multi-sport athlete growing up and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Sports Journalism in 2021. She currently volunteers with multiple non-profit organizations that focus on inclusion for those with special needs in sport.
Joy Le Couteur
Athlete Manager
Joy serves as the Athlete Manager 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.
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).
Mina Anglero
AFH Consultant
Mina joined Athletes For Hope in 2023, serving as part of the Athlete Engagement and Whole Being Athlete divisions. Her work involves forging strong partnerships with external nonprofit organizations and engaging professional and collegiate athletes in various communities to support causes they are passionate about as well as expanding the mental health work of Athletes for Hope.
Mina’s passion for sports and community involvement began during her time as a D1 NCAA track and field athlete at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a B.A. in Sociology. Currently, she is pursuing her M.A. in Education while simultaneously completing her B.A. in Sport Psychology at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
As a proud representative of Team Norway in two sports – basketball and track and field – Mina’s experiences as an elite athlete have instilled in her a deep commitment to holistic well-being and wellness within the sporting community. Her volunteer work with Athletes Soul is a testament to this dedication and demonstrates her desire to give back to the sports world that has given her so much
Helen Feldmeth
AFH University Intern, Georgetown
Helen is on the women’s rowing team at Georgetown University, working towards a degree in Justice and Peace Studies with a minor in Spanish. This is her first year working with AFH University and as such, she is passionate about mobilizing DC athletes to make meaningful change in their community.
Ashanté Gatlin
AFH University Intern, Southern
Ashanté is a native of San Diego, CA and Chula Vista High School graduate. She fell in the love with the game of soccer at the age of 3 and continues that passion for the sport as a third-year member of Southern University Soccer team.
She is currently majoring in Mechanical engineering and sociology with hopes of a career specializing in automotive design. Ashanté enjoys donating her time to give back to the community. Last year, she received a NIL deal from Exxon YMCA. She utilized this opportunity to host a soccer camp for youth in Baton Rouge.
Dillon Bedell-Bass
AFH University Intern, LSU
Dillon transferred from Baylor University to LSU where he is on the men’s track team as well as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. On the track, he is a multi-time All-American and Big 12 Champion. Off the track, he is hard-working and a good teammate who works well with others. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Dillion loves family and is known to be a leader and role model to his younger siblings through his uplifting demeanor and passion for purposeful responsibilities.
Sam Hedrick
AFH University Intern, Davidson
Sam Hedrick is a junior at Davidson College where he plays Division 1 football and majors in political science.
Throughout his life, community service and community engagement have been vital parts of his development. Athletes for Hope provides him the opportunity to merge together his love of sports and interacting with younger student-athletes.
Over the summer, he had the privilege of leading a youth football camp through a partnership with Athletes for Hope and the Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte. It is here that he got a glimpse into how he can use his platform as a college athlete to make a broader impact beyond the domains of the playing fields and classroom.
He is tremendously excited about the opportunities to come with Athletes for Hope, knowing that through the help of Athletes for Hope, the student-athlete community at Davidson can make a difference in the local community and the greater Charlotte area.
Agi Mboob
AFH University Intern, Bowie State
Agi is a former student-athlete, running track at Bowie State University during her undergrad. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in counseling psychology to become a therapist. Motivating people and working with them towards a common and worthwhile goal is something that really interests her. She also finds immense joy in this work and finds the outcomes rewarding.
Dominic Ferrucci
Athlete Engagement Intern
Dominic is a senior at Boston College (BC), on track to graduate in May with a Bachelor’s of Arts in communications. Originally from Fishers, Indiana (just outside of Indianapolis) attending BC is a dream come true for Dominic as both his father and older brother are alumni.
During his undergraduate years, he worked as an equipment manager for the football team as well as served the role of an academic mentor for student-athletes. Dominic enjoys broadcasting games for WZBC Sports, the student-led radio station on campus, and participating in Athletes for Action, a Bible study group on campus for those involved in athletics.
After graduation, he hopes to pursue a career where he can build a community using the outlet of sports to bring everyone together. He is excited for the opportunity to get involved with Athletes for Hope where he will be given the tools to better understand how athletes use their platforms to make a positive difference in the world.
Sophia Schwartz
Athlete Engagement Intern
Sophia is a rising senior at Boston College Majoring in psychology with a minor in management in leadership and is a sprinter on Boston College Track and Field team. She has always had a strong drive for service and is an active part of the Boston College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee which connects student-athletes with service opportunities and initiatives within the greater Boston community. She is excited to expand her community service outside of the Boston area during her internship.
Phillip Richards
MSSW Intern
Phillip attended Eastern Kentucky University where he graduated with a Bachelors in History and a minor in English. During his time there, he played in over 54 Division I football games as a punter.
He is currently in the second year of his Masters of Social Work program at Howard University, specializing in mental health for student-athletes. He also acts as the Assistant Special Teams Coach for the Howard football team.
Hailey Wetherill
MSSW Intern
Hailey is currently in the final semester of her Masters of Social Work program at the University of Texas, specializing in Administrative and Policy Practice. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Columbia University in 2022, where she was also a member of the university’s softball team.
Hailey is committed to viewing athletes from a holistic perspective, considering their environment and personal factors. She is passionate about breaking the stigma around mental health in sports and daily life. Hailey’s interests include mental health education, advocacy, and creating programs for well-being. In her role at The Whole Being Athlete Team, she is excited to promote overall well-being within the athletic community.
Jake Angstreich
Digital Media Intern
Jake joined AFH as a Digital Media Intern in January 2024.
He is a senior at Davidson College majoring in psychology on track to graduate in May 2024. At Davidson, he leads the football division of ‘Cats Stats (Davidson’s sports analytics club). He previously interned with the PGA TOUR’s Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte and currently interns for Davidson’s athletic communications department in addition to AFH. Outside of school, he enjoys exercising, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Déja Griffin
Digital Media & Wellbeing Intern
Déja Griffin is from Knoxville, Tennessee, and has been involved in soccer since she was four years old. In high school, she added cross country to her list of sports but went on to play soccer collegiately at Eastern Kentucky University before transferring to play at Southern University in Fall 2021. While at Southern, she has been part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, an Athletics Intern, a recipient of SWAC post-season accolades, and participated in a few Athletes for Hope projects: HBCU Women’s History Month Panel and “Where We Play” Panel with the APA Foundation Fall 2023.
Although her first love is soccer, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. After dealing with a few knee injuries and mental battles, she wanted to create a platform for other athletes going through their tough times. She has done so by showcasing the good, bad, and truth of being a student-athlete on social media platforms while also hoping to inspire others to find themselves outside of the jersey they wear. She is passionate about athletics and continues to work alongside those with goals to elevate the experience and environment of college. Her goal is to create spaces for athletes to relax, be vulnerable, and push them to discover who they are and what they like. Being an intern for Athletes for Hope will give her insight and a chance to collaborate with athletes, professionals, and the world that we know as college athletics in hopes of making it more than just a field or court on a Saturday but an environment that cares about one every day of the week.