Sidney Kushner - Founder & Executive Director

Sidney 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.
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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."

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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."

Alyssa Rapelje - Program Champion

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Alyssa is originally from Columbus, Ohio! Upon graduating from Allegheny College in 2016, she undertook a year of service with the Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience (PULSE) Program. During this time, and for the subsequent three years, she worked for the nonprofit Beverly's Birthdays. Alyssa is excited to join the Connecting Champions team and to continue to support children and families. 

Fun Fact: ​"In addition to working with children, I love to travel and experience new places, people, and cultures! I fed a blind rhino in Kenya, rode a bobsled down the Olympic track in Utah, and swam in a bio-luminescent bay in Puerto Rico." 

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​Sloane Strauss - Program Champion

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​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!" 

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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!"

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​Isabel Bejjani - Summer Program Intern 

​Isabel is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and currently attends the University of Pittsburgh. She is majoring in Communication Science, and she hopes to receive a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, working specifically with kids. Before interning at the organization, Isabel helped lead the Connecting Champions student club at Pitt, so she can't wait to discover a new side of such an amazing organization!

Fun Fact: “I am receiving a certificate in American Sign Language (ASL). Feel free to ask me how to sign your name, and I’ll be happy to show you!”​

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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!”

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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
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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

Medical Adviser

Andrew Bukowinski, MD
​Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh