We couldn't do it without you.

It sure does take a village! We want to thank our volunteers for all their hard work, dedication, and support.

Administrative & General Support Volunteers

Debra Arvanites, Senior Administrative Assistant

Tess Becket, Design Coordinator

Todd Chaikin, Technology Coordinator

Dave Grady, Accounting Volunteer

Ibrokhim Karimov, Data Analysis Specialist

Danny Newell, Data Management Volunteer

Communications Team Volunteers

Amanda Benton, Communications Manager

Yifan Bu, Event and Development Promotions Coordinator

Kate Flores, Content Writer, and Website Coordinator

Victoria MacDonald, Creativity Crew Coordinator

Leo Simmons, Creativity Crew Coordinator

Katie Tuberosa, E-Newsletter Coordinator, and Event and Development Promotions Coordinator

Carly Yon, Event and Development Promotions Lead

Development Team Volunteers

Grants Team

Jenn Zocco, Development Manager

Tatiana Bunay, Grants Coordinator

Stephanie Mazur, Grants Coordinator

Kavya Patel, Development Coordinator

Translation Team Volunteers

Sylvie Perucca, Translation Team Coordinator

Olga Carreño, Translation Team Member

Adi Chavarria, Translation Team Member

Mitchell Haoyong, Translation Team Member

Jane Lorenzi, Translation Team Member

Melissa Navarro, Translation Team Member

María Paula Perez, Translation Team Member

Marsha Wilkie, Translation Team Member

Other Volunteers

Additional volunteers include the board of directors for our U.S.-incorporated entity (“The Starfish Foundation”), members of committees for The Starfish Foundation, the board of directors for our Ecuador-incorporated entity (“Fundación Estrellitas del Mar”), and volunteers in Ecuador.

We also have numerous pen pals for our scholars every school year. These include the sponsors of our sponsor-a-scholar program and non-sponsor volunteers. For privacy reasons, pen pals’ names are not listed here.

Volunteer Award Winners

There is a lot we believe in celebrating at Starfish! Below are past awards to volunteers for whom we have been immensely grateful.

Oswaldo Guayasamin Award

"Yo lloré porque no tenía zapatos, hasta que vi un niño que no tenía pies."

Coming from a humble background himself, Guayasamin shed light on social inequalities through his artwork. The Starfish Foundation gives the Oswaldo Guayasamin Award to a group or individual who creates opportunities to combat social inequality, and empowers others to do the same.

Jim Klingler | 2014

Dave Grady | 2015

Sanchia Rodrigues | 2016

Laura Seaberg | 2017

Erica Anderson | 2018

Sylvie Perucca | 2018

Don Awalt | 2019

Las Hermanas Rodriguez Award

Lili, Arelisa, and Pamela Rodriguez were the inspiration for the creation of The Starfish Foundation. These three young woman are motivated students, with the only obstacle between them and success being a lack of economic resources. Despite these challenges, the Rodriguez sisters have excellent grades, energy, and character. These girls are leaders who encourage others to lead as well — a supportive example to follow. The Starfish Foundation gives this “everything” award to an all-around supporter of the organization.

Danny Newell | 2014

Anna Jordan | 2015

Todd Chaikin | 2016

Anna Evich | 2017

Kaitlyn Hammel | 2018

Marybeth Mueller | 2019

Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Award

St. Miguel was a man of strong faith, who dedicated his life to his school and his students. The Starfish Foundation gives the Saint Miguel Febres Cordero Award to an individual or group whose passion is to educate others about the work of Starfish, the need for education in Ecuador, and the reality of our Scholars.

Kathy Awalt | 2014

Jane Lorenzi | 2015

Julia Patt | 2016

Amanda Benton | 2017

Kate Flores | 2018

Jerica Itterly | 2019

Lindsay Gorman | 2020