Our Founders
Sheila Jaffe
Sheila Jaffe was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Bronx. At eleven years of age, she found out she was adopted. Today, she is an Emmy winning casting director for HBO’s, The Sopranos and Entourage and films including The Fighter, Rocky Balboa, and Ted. Although casting is her profession, Sheila’s passion is helping children. As she sees it: “Felix is like my child and watching Felix grow in its reach to help these children has been an indescribable blessing.” Sheila currently sits on the board of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Savannah Film Festival. In 2013, she was honored at The Children’s Rights Gala for her work with children in foster care.
Darryl McDaniels
For more than 25 years, Felix co-founder Darryl “DMC” McDaniels has had an influence on popular culture. The first rap group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and the first to appear on MTV, Run DMC changed music. DMC continues to create, inspire and motivate. After discovering as an adult that he was adopted, DMC began his journey down another life path in search of his birth mother. While his struggle was captured in the Emmy-winning VH-1 documentary, “DMC: My Adoption Journey”, the process gave DMC insight and purpose, prompting him to become an advocate for adoption and foster children. He was invited to the White House by President Obama to address youth groups on responsibility and has appeared before Congress and State Legislatures in support of this cause. Along with his work as a musician, author, and speaker, DMC has been the recipient of awards including Hard Rock’s Love All Serve All Award for his philanthropic endeavors. DMC also sits on the board of directors of the JMJ Foundation, Children’s Rights, and Garden of Dreams.
Honorary Chairs
Lorainne Bracco
Actor, Producer
Sal Bellino
Retired, Principal at Tri-Star Construction Corp.
Founding Members
Michael Lang (Deceased)
Co-Founder of Woodstock Ventures and Founder of The Michael Lang Organization
Penny Marshall (Deceased)
Actress, Director, Producer
Loree Rodkin
Jewelry Designer
Georgianne Walken
Casting Director
Mark Wahlberg
Producer, Actor
Amanda Simonetta, M.S.Ed.
Executive Director
As a former School Counselor with a Masters Degree in Education, Amanda has worked with hundreds of children in need. As Director of Institutional Giving at The New York Foundling, one of New York City’s largest social services agencies, she managed a grant portfolio of over $3 million, supporting programs to help disadvantaged youth. Perhaps most importantly, Amanda is passionate about camp. She loved her childhood summer camp so much that she eventually got married there. When the opportunity arose to start a camp for foster children, Amanda couldn’t wait to be a part of it. She became Camp Felix®’s first on-site Camp Director and Program Administrator. As Executive Director, Amanda is working to expand the profoundly meaningful work of The Felix Organization.
Karen D'Agostino
Director of Development
Karen is the newest member of the Felix Organization team having recently joined as Director of Development. She brings a wealth over 15 years of experience to the Organization through her background in the nonprofit world. Karen discovered her true passion in life by founding the Music Resource Center - Cincinnati, a non-profit after-school music and recording studio for teens in Cincinnati. She quickly realized that working with disadvantaged youth was extremely rewarding and is looking forward to transferring this experience to Team Felix. Immediately prior to joining Felix, Karen was Director of Development for the Cincinnati ToolBank, an organization that lends tools and equipment to nonprofits so they can realize their most ambitious goals. She is excited to use her know how of development and fundraising for the benefit of the Felix Organization and its many foster youth.
Tiffany Araya
Program Director
Tiffany has had the special opportunity to experience the full Camp Felix evolution by starting as a camper at age 12, becoming a CIT at 14, volunteering at age 16, and finally becoming a counselor at 18 years old. Her time at Camp Felix® both as a camper and counselor holds a profound place in her heart. Recently graduated from the University at Albany with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Women's Studies, Tiffany is proud and grateful to continue working with her Felix family beyond camp at the Felix Organization. Tiffany hopes to bring Felix's message to the world and accomplish their mission with her genuine love and care for the children and with the insight and knowledge she has gained from being part of this family.
Amanda Honeywell
Program and Operations Director (A Broader Way and Felix Collab)
Amanda’s professional journey began in the classroom with a profound passion for working with kids, dedicated to their growth and development. She received her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University. Amanda has leveraged her extensive experience to create enriching educational environments in which children can thrive. She leads with a commitment to innovation and excellence, ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. She has been part of the Felix family for eight years, and currently entering her third year as the Director of Camp Felix PRIDE. Amanda is looking forward to expanding her reach in transition to the role of Program and Operations Director for our partnership organization, A BroaderWay Foundation.
Olivia Colavito
Americorps
VISTA
After serving on The Felix Organization’s Junior Board for a year, Olivia joined the staff as the Community Relations and Development VISTA (Volunteer In Service to America) through AmeriCorps. Olivia discovered Felix through the annual Walk This Way event in 2023, and was immediately drawn in by the supportive and caring community that works to benefit the lives of children living in foster care. During her time on the junior board, Olivia worked in a middle school and activated her community to support the Felix mission through in-kind donation drives and gathering friends and family to participate in Felix events. Through this new chapter as a VISTA, Olivia hopes to utilize her experience in both fields of communications and education to strengthen community engagement, programming and development on behalf of the Felix mission. It is her deepest hope that she can further the scope and scale of the imperative “pro-kid” work of The Felix Organization.
Kaitlin Wright
Americorps VISTA
Kaitlin Wright is happy to be joining the Felix Team for a year-long contract under AmeriCorps after being our AmeriCorps summer intern. Kaitlin is a recent graduate of Molloy University with a BFA in Theatre Arts. Upon graduation, Kaitlin joined the Carnegie Hall sales team and quickly became the highest grossing sales representative for that season. With that experience under her belt, she brings her passion for service and sales to The Felix Organization. She fell in love with The Felix Organization after her summer VISTA term, and is excited to help behind the scenes this year.
Staff
Board of Directors
Steve Abrams
CEO of Magnolia Bakery
Constantine Baris
Treasurer, The Felix Organization
CPA, Baris Financial Management Ltd.
Regina Calcaterra
Author, and Partner, Calcaterra Pollack LLP
Laurie Parise
Youth Justice Network
Director Law Library
Saman Behbahani
Vice President, Legal Affairs
NBCUniversal
Scott Rosen
Senior Advisor
Equinox
Larry Ryckman
President and CEO
AfterMaster Audio Labs
Myra Scheer
Radio Host, Former Creative Consultant to The Felix Organization
Laura Tufariello
President, Founder and Owner
Design and Source Productions, Inc.
Advisory Board
Erik Blam
Manager, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Eve Brandstein
Producer/Director/
Writer
Denise Chamian
Emmy-nominated
Casting Director
Scott Duquette
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Jolyn Farber
Entrepreneurial Investor
Dolly Fox
Producer
Mary Giuliani
Author and Founder of Mary Giuliani Catering & Events
Louise Jones
​CEO, LJ Capital LLC
Susan Gluck Papajohn
CEO & Founder
Arthenia
Carol Kane
Actor and Comedian of stage, screen and television
Katie Kornfield
Founder / President
Katie Kornfield Consulting
Joseph Lucius
Creative Director
Claire Mercuri
Founder/ President
Claire Mercuri Public Relations
John Shaw
Consultant & Coach
Vanessa Spencer
Owner
Rodriguez Spencer Casting
Cydney Taylor
Physician Assistant
Hyperbaric Medical Solutions
Judy Taylor
Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications,
Events, Philanthropy, and Retreats at Equinox
Junior Board
Members of the Junior Board are dynamic young professionals who use their talent and experience to act as ambassadors for Felix by fundraising, becoming involved in Felix activities and engaging other young professionals (age 40 and under) to make a difference in the lives of youth in foster care.
Grace Accetta
Manager of Corporate & Foundation Donor Relations, Food Bank NYC
Morgan Baker
Designer at Omnicom Media Group
Erik Blam, Jr.
Creative Director for Run DMC
Paloma Castillo
Restorative Practices Specialist
Mott Haven Academy
Olivia Colavito
Elementary and Special Education Teacher
Candice Daniels
TV Host, Actress, Producer
Juliet Forde
CEO of Flawless Smiles NYC
Justice Henry
Program/Health Director,​
City Growers
Sydney Jones
Singer/Songwriter
Justin Kirkland
Basketball Coach &
Actor
Tatiana Laroche
Financial Information Analyst Assistant,
Harlem East Life Plan
Delon Marshall
Middle School Math Teacher,
Middle School for Arts and Philosophy
Alex Mines
Assistant to Talent Agency,
Gersh Agency
Alayah Ramos
Self-Confidence Coach
Relationship Support Specialist
Author and Poet
Travis Welcome
Chief Program Officer,
BuildOn
Yanallis Ramos
Mental Health/Emotional Support Coach, Suicide Prevention And Crisis Specialist
Tony Shapiro-Bey
Technical Implementation Specialist,
Unqork
Dan Wonderly
Photographer,
Wonderly Imaging