Sidney Kushner - Founder & Executive DirectorSidney grew up in Pittsburgh and founded Connecting Champions as a 19-year-old in memory of his friend Lauren. He graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics from Brown University and was named a top 100 student entrepreneur in the nation by Stanford University. He has been honored in Pittsburgh's inaugural class of 30 Under 30, featured in Harvard Business Review and Forbes, and highlighted as a guest writer in Pittsburgh Magazine. He also enjoys building specialized Outcomes Reporting software and Donor Databases for nonprofits in Pittsburgh.
Fun Fact: "One day in high school, my psychology teacher gave us a challenge: whoever memorized the most digits of Pi (the mathematical number) in one day would win an actual pie from the teacher! I really wanted that pie, so I went home and memorized as many numbers as I possibly could. In class the following day I remembered 101 digits! ...my teacher forgot the pie." |
|
Emily Dougan - Administrative Assistant
|
Emily is a native Pittsburgher, and graduated from Carlow University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education. She enjoyed teaching a wide age range of students in both traditional school settings as well as after school programs and camps through Sweetwater Center for the Arts. Emily was part of the Visitor Services team at The National Aviary for five years before joining Connecting Champions. She is excited to bring her skills and experience to the organization.
Fun Fact: “I love to engage in all types of creative endeavors - primarily, I love to draw with a traditional dip pen and ink, enjoy creative writing, and am working hard at learning German!" |
Coy Thompson - Friendship Champion
|
Coy was born and raised in Harrisburg, PA and he is a 2002 graduate of Allegheny College. Shortly after graduating from Allegheny he moved to North Carolina and acquired his Montessori Teacher Certification in 3-6 year education. Coy taught in a Montessori school in Greensboro, NC until 2008. Then he and his wife joined the United States Peace Corps. They spent their time serving in Belize and Costa Rica. After returning to the U.S. in 2011 Coy found a home at a Montessori school in Pittsburgh, PA. He taught there for three years prior to joining the Connecting Champions team. He is excited to bring all that he has learned to the families that Connecting Champions serves.
Fun Fact: "I love trying new food, and I make a point to try any new food that I am offered, as long as the person serving it eats it too. I have gotten to try many surprising good dishes this way, such as gibnut, pigeon soup and tacos de lengua." |
|
Sloane Strauss - Program Champion
Sloane grew up in Piqua, OH, but has been living in West Virginia since 2013. She attended Wheeling Jesuit University for her undergraduate studies and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, then went on to attended West Virginia University for her Master's Degree in Child Development and Family Studies. Sloane is passionate about working with youth and helping others achieve their dreams and pursue their passions. She is beyond excited to have the opportunity to pursue her own passions by working with the children and families in Connecting Champions.
Fun Fact: "I have been to the most southern point of Africa and saw where the Pacific and Indian oceans blend together!"
Sophia DeBacco - Virtual Program Associate
Sophia is originally from Pittsburgh and recently graduated from John Carroll University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Child and Family Studies Concentration. She is currently getting her Masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Applied Developmental Psychology and is specializing in Children with Special Health Care Needs. Sophia is excited to join the Connecting Champions team to learn from so many children and young adults as they explore their own passions.
Fun Fact: "I can play 10 different instruments (but not all at the same time!). I hope to one day play the bagpipes!"
Fun Fact: "I can play 10 different instruments (but not all at the same time!). I hope to one day play the bagpipes!"
Sean Nolan - Summer Development Intern
Sean is from West View, which is right outside Pittsburgh, and attends Robert Morris University. He is majoring in Communications while minoring in Photography and getting his Master’s in Organizational Leadership. Sean is a former participant of Connecting Champions and was paired with Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play announcer Joe Block during his cancer journey. He has emceed the Connecting Champions annual Night of Inspiration and JLM Masquerade Ball since 2017.
Fun fact: “I love listening to music but also love making music. I can sing and play the guitar, piano, ukulele, and drums!”
Fun fact: “I love listening to music but also love making music. I can sing and play the guitar, piano, ukulele, and drums!”
Board of Directors
Tracey Reed Armant
Program Officer at The Grable Foundation
Mark Broadhurst
Vice President Corporate Dining & Retail Development at Eat'n Park Hospitality Group
Dana Gold
Chief Operating Officer at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Pittsburgh
(and serial nonprofit entrepreneur)
Chrissy Lookabaugh
Parent of a child who is an alumnus in Connecting Champions
Linda McAllister-Lucas MD & PhD
Chief of Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Terrence McAllister
Financial Advisor at MassMutual of Pittsburgh
Member of Connecting Champions’ Young Professional Advisory Board
Deb Mills-Scofield
Owner of Mills-Scofield LLC [innovation/strategic planning consulting firm], based in Cleveland
Jonnett Maurer
Operations and Partnership Director at PULSE
Jane Kogan
Assoc. Chief Research and Translation Officer at UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care
Program Officer at The Grable Foundation
Mark Broadhurst
Vice President Corporate Dining & Retail Development at Eat'n Park Hospitality Group
Dana Gold
Chief Operating Officer at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Pittsburgh
(and serial nonprofit entrepreneur)
Chrissy Lookabaugh
Parent of a child who is an alumnus in Connecting Champions
Linda McAllister-Lucas MD & PhD
Chief of Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Terrence McAllister
Financial Advisor at MassMutual of Pittsburgh
Member of Connecting Champions’ Young Professional Advisory Board
Deb Mills-Scofield
Owner of Mills-Scofield LLC [innovation/strategic planning consulting firm], based in Cleveland
Jonnett Maurer
Operations and Partnership Director at PULSE
Jane Kogan
Assoc. Chief Research and Translation Officer at UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care
Brain Trust (Young Professionals Advisory Board)
Alanna Figurelli
Compensation Associate, Officer at PNC
Heather Hibala
Annual Giving Associate at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh
Amy Malishchak
Brand Communications Coordinator
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.
Terrence McAllister
Financial Advisor at MassMutual of Pittsburgh
Ashleen Wilwohl
Group Sales Manager at W Hotels
Kevin Wright
Teen Alum of Connecting Champions
Student at Gettysburg College
Sean Nolan
Teen Alum of Connecting Champions
Student at Robert Morris University
Compensation Associate, Officer at PNC
Heather Hibala
Annual Giving Associate at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh
Amy Malishchak
Brand Communications Coordinator
Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.
Terrence McAllister
Financial Advisor at MassMutual of Pittsburgh
Ashleen Wilwohl
Group Sales Manager at W Hotels
Kevin Wright
Teen Alum of Connecting Champions
Student at Gettysburg College
Sean Nolan
Teen Alum of Connecting Champions
Student at Robert Morris University
Medical Adviser
Andrew Bukowinski, MD
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh