Our History

H. Chase Lenfest owns or holds interests in a diverse portfolio of companies operating in media, marketing, technology, real estate, and private and public equity investment. He is a dedicated philanthropist, with a particular passion for improving the quality of life for urban and inner-city residents, which he advances through personal endeavors and his two foundations. As the president of The H. Chase Lenfest Foundation, Inc., which began operations in 2002, Mr. Lenfest provides financial support for programs intended to make a positive impact on the lives of children primarily in the Philadelphia area.

Ingrid Boucher is Founder and Principal at Bloom Planning. Ms. Boucher’s passion is improving opportunities and outcomes for all children by helping nonprofit and education-related organizations operate in strategic, efficient, high-impact ways. She uses her 20+ years of experience in education and social services to help clients create mindful, meaningful processes that guide transformation and propel their organizations in successful pursuit of their missions. Ingrid understands that effective change begins with strong relationships that support honest conversations and lead organizations in bold, desirable directions. She has an abiding commitment to supporting organizations that serve and work on behalf of vulnerable people.

John Henry is Chairman/Founder, CEO, Chariot Companies. Mr. Henry is a nationally-recognized social entrepreneur and business leader with a long record of success. As the Founder, Chairman & CEO of Chariot Companies, he is recognized for creating new and sustainable business strategies, products and solutions that meet social needs or serve overlooked markets to enhance quality of life. By dissolving traditional business boundaries and unrestricted by conventional forms and structures, Mr. Henry is bringing new value chain choices to markets that will create demand for equipment, systems, technology and education that save energy, conserve resources and support socio-economic growth in communities.

Leah Stauffer is Vice President of Business Development , WEIV Agency at WEIV Media Corp and Founder, Half a Million Kids. Ms. Stauffer is an accomplished entrepreneur who has applied her visionary and organizational skills to several successful entities throughout her career including but not limited to The Learning Studio (a forum for women’s empowerment and life enrichment programs) and Philadelphia Films. As an investigative researcher, director, and producer, Leah has Co-Produced an award-winning feature film, and developed a nationally-licensed motivational dance program, book, and DVD series. She has been featured by publications such as the Washington Post, Women’s Health, O Magazine, The Times London, CNN and numerous other local, national, and international media.

Dr. John Tupponce is Chief Operating Officer of City Year. Dr. Tupponce serves as a key leader in the implementation of systems, processes, and organizational design, and works to align impact, fundraising, and district engagement operations with City Year’s vision and goals for the future. Prior to this role, Dr. Tupponce served as an as assistant superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia, where he managed and lead a portfolio of 20-40 educational sites and 300-500 employees, overseeing $90 to $150 million in funding, promoting transformational outcomes, and increasing student achievement. Dr. Tupponce began his career as a teacher and has held other leadership roles in school systems in Virginia and in Philadelphia, including as a school principal and executive director.

Rob Vieira, in his role as Chief Operating Officer of KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools (KPPS), oversees the department that focuses on optimally aligning KPPS’s administrative services, human capital, and operational systems to meet the needs of the 3,200 students and 8 schools they serve.  Rob spent his high school years being raised by his neighborhood village after his family lost his childhood home. After high school graduation, he ultimately earned enough working as a factory line worker at Sikorsky Aircraft company to independently finance his college education, ultimately earning an MA in Mathematics/Statistics from the University of Connecticut, an MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government with a focus in Urban Development. Rob has a deep belief, based on his personal experience, that if a child has enough supports to keep them on the right track, all children can succeed; and that KIPP’s model is positioned in Philadelphia and throughout the US to provide supports that can empower children to reach their greatest potential. He and his wife currently reside in West Philadelphia, where his two children attended Public School into their middle school years.

Larry Wiltshire is Vice President of Depository Risk and Regulatory Support at Performance Trust.  He brings over fifteen years of experience in banking and regulatory matters spanning the private and public sector. He has spent over a decade at a variety of regulatory agencies including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (FRBPHL), and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY). In each role, his primary focus has been on community bank safety and soundness regulation.  Prior to joining Performance Trust, he was a Senior Bank Examiner in the Regional, Community, and Foreign Institutions department within the Supervision Group of the FRBNY. In this capacity, he was responsible for managing a portfolio of member banks and holding companies within the Second District, as well as serving as the FRBNY district representative on a Federal Reserve System workgroup tasked with improving the examination process for examiners and bankers by leveraging technology. In between his tenure at FRBNY and FRBPHL, Larry assumed a manager role at EY in their Regulatory Transformation practice, where he partnered with larger financial institutions to assist them in navigating a variety of regulatory challenges.  He also served as an adjunct instructor at New York University’s Schack Institute in Real Estate and as a board member of a Community Development Financial Institution. Larry earned a  Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance from New York University.

Josh Klaris has more than 25 years professional experience, with a significant expertise in school and non-profit improvement and innovation at the local and system-level. Currently, he is the Executive Director of North10, Philadelphia, a “place-based” community change, strategy organization that is committed to improving the overall quality of life for current residents in the Hunting Park-East Tioga community of North Philadelphia. North10 is the parent organization of the Lenfest Center.

Previously, Josh was the Director of School Leadership for Generation Ready, a leading national provider of leader and teacher professional learning services. In 2013, Josh served as the Resident Principal at the United States Department of Education. Josh co-founded DREAM Charter School in East Harlem, New York, and served as the school’s first Principal and Executive Director from 2007-2011. Before that, Josh served as the principal of PS 183 in Manhattan after holding positions as an assistant principal and teacher within the New York City Department of Education from 1994. He was a 1991 Teach for America corps member, starting his career as a kindergarten teacher at St. Mary Parish in Amelia, Louisiana.

Josh has a doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from Harvard University, a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Teachers College, a master’s degree in administration and supervision from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Tufts University. He and his wife, Amy, have 17-year-old twins, Gabriel and Eloise.

Nikki J. Bagby is a public service professional with varied experience in both the nonprofit and government sectors. She currently serves as Chief External Affairs Officer for North10, Philadelphia. With a special passion for families and young people who are affected by systemic poverty, Nikki works tirelessly to help empower the residents in the Hunting Park-East Tioga neighborhood of North Philadelphia and other communities of color through human services to ensure that people have the tools they need to prepare for success throughout their lives.

 

Before joining North10, Nikki served as the CEO/Founder, A Humbled Heart Inc., (a certified MBE, SDB and SB) consultant firm. She has an extensive background and expertise in Public Healthcare, Community/Economic Development, small business development, social service delivery, community engagement, special event coordination, event planning etc. In that role Nikki was responsible for maintaining and building partnerships that include but were not limited to faith-based institutions, community-based organizations, state/city legislative officials, small/large businesses, health systems, public/charter schools and even influencers/celebrities. She has also appeared on several television, news and radio broadcast stations and has been invited to speak as a keynote and panelist for several

community and health-related events and seminars. Nikki works tirelessly to break down

barriers as it relates to health disparities especially focused on Communities of Color and Black

Women Health. She is a licensed and ordained faith leader and has been awarded many

honors for her extensive community services such as; The Philadelphia 76ers Tip of the Hat

recipient, Philadelphia Eagles Community Quarterback Award, Baird’s Financial 2019

Women’s Conference Give Back Award, Jaden’s Voices Community Partnership Award;

Children Hospital of Philadelphia and the Nicetown Community Development Corporation’s

Community Service Award, awarded proclamations the PA House of Representatives and

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, just to name a few. She is deeply passionate about

community advocacy and has served on several boards throughout her career. She is

currently a board member of Philadelphia Youth Basketball, Resources for Human

Development, Black Women’s Leadership Council of Philadelphia, PA Health Choices

Southeast Advisory Committee, and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) Advisory

Council. In her business and personal life, she is deeply passionate about helping others.

Her goal is to bridge gaps by being a resource to those she serves; especially those who

are underserved, under-exposed, disenfranchised and simply have no voice.

Avarisse Crawford is dedicated to supporting the creation of a society where economic inequality is not a source of social division or a barrier to opportunity. She believes that all individuals, especially children, should have access to the resources and support they need to succeed and thrive, regardless of their socioeconomic status. With over 10 years of experience, Avarisse leverages her Wharton education, nonprofit management and leadership certification, and extensive experience in the nonprofit sector to optimize operations, improve decision-making, and achieve a more significant impact for organizations.

In the last year, she founded Avarisse Monica Consulting and has been providing strategic guidance and operational support to nonprofit organizations and executive leaders that serve, enrich, and transform BIPOC communities.

Before launching her own consulting practice, Avarisse spent nearly five years at East Harlem Tutorial Program, a $35M+ nonprofit organization committed to running PK-12 charter schools and supporting PK-16 education. Within two years she rose from Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff, streamlining strategic initiatives, overseeing program management, and partnering with senior leaders in implementing critical initiatives. She also taught high school students and supported the CEO as a Special Assistant. 

Prior to joining EHTP, Avarisse worked in business development at Sullivan and Cromwell, crisis communications at Ruder Finn, and event planning and communications at The Penn Club of New York. Throughout that time, Avarisse served as a math, college advisory, and SAT & ACT teacher with SEO Scholars and The Princeton Review.

As a Questbridge Scholar, Avarisse received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Marketing and Communications. She was a recipient of the 2021 Changemaker Award for her remarkable service during the pandemic. In 2022, she completed a certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

As an Afro Latina and North Philadelphia native, Avarisse is driven by a deep commitment to addressing economic inequality and developing innovative solutions that provide resources and opportunities to disadvantaged communities. She is a passionate advocate for diverse talent, inclusivity, and racial equity. Avarisse currently resides in North Philadelphia with her dog, Archie.