MEET THE LEADERSHIP
Lesley Goldwasser
Co-Founder, ZARA'S CENTER
Chair, International Board of Trustees
Co-President, PG Family Foundation
Lesley Goldwasser (2009)
Lesley Goldwasser was born in Zimbabwe and graduated from the University of Cape Town. Lesley is Co-founder of Zara’s Center, offering respite to Zimbabwean children impacted by AIDS, and collaborated with All for Africa and the 2009 NYC Marathon to acquire a Palm Oil Trust to ensure Zara’s long term sustainability.
In 2008, Lesley was Executive Producer of the Liyana USA Tour (www.liyanatour.com), featuring performances by disabled Zimbabwean musicians, featured on CNN’s Inside Africa. Lesley participated in The 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit Dialogues Program, sponsored by His Holiness the Dali Lama, joining innovators from the corporate and social sectors to build connections about how to work together to create sustained social change.
Lesley is Co-President of the PG Family Foundation in NYC, and principal owner of The Betsy-South Beach, (www.thebetsyhotel.com) a luxury hotel with an expansive community-conscience, with husband and Investment Banker, Jonathan Plutzik.
In 2008, Lesley was Executive Producer of the Liyana USA Tour (www.liyanatour.com), featuring performances by disabled Zimbabwean musicians, featured on CNN’s Inside Africa. Lesley participated in The 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit Dialogues Program, sponsored by His Holiness the Dali Lama, joining innovators from the corporate and social sectors to build connections about how to work together to create sustained social change.
Lesley is Co-President of the PG Family Foundation in NYC, and principal owner of The Betsy-South Beach, (www.thebetsyhotel.com) a luxury hotel with an expansive community-conscience, with husband and Investment Banker, Jonathan Plutzik.
Shepherd Hlomayi
Program Manager, Zara's Center
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Shepherd Hlomayi was born in Nketa, a township in Bulawayo Zimbabwe. His mother died when he was 6 and his father died when he was 13 years old while fighting in the armed forces of Zimbabwe in the Congo war.
Shepherd was left with his three brothers to raise themselves. Following his primary and secondary schooling he put himself through college and earned various qualifications in Information Technology, Youth Leadership, Community Development and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Project Management.
Shepherd has organized, facilitated and managed leadership training
workshops for various organizations including Red Cross Zimbabwe and Plan International. He has also participated in OVC research on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the communities of Bulawayo with various local organizations. Shepherd also participated in a UNICEF research on the after effects on Orphaned and vulnerable children surrounding the displacements in the ‘CLEAN OUT THE TRASH government program during which thousands lost their homes when government forces destroyed them in 2005 (known locally as Murambatswina).
Shepherd has managed programs and facilitated various Life Skills camps and Psycho Social support activities for Orphaned and vulnerable children around Southern Africa for the Salvation Army Masiye Camp.He also sits as Vice Chair in the District Monitoring and Evaluation Task-force on HIV/AIDS programs in Bulawayo, Secretary on the District Child Protection Committee.
Shepherd is the Senior Program Officer on staff at Zara's Center.
Shepherd was left with his three brothers to raise themselves. Following his primary and secondary schooling he put himself through college and earned various qualifications in Information Technology, Youth Leadership, Community Development and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Project Management.
Shepherd has organized, facilitated and managed leadership training
workshops for various organizations including Red Cross Zimbabwe and Plan International. He has also participated in OVC research on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the communities of Bulawayo with various local organizations. Shepherd also participated in a UNICEF research on the after effects on Orphaned and vulnerable children surrounding the displacements in the ‘CLEAN OUT THE TRASH government program during which thousands lost their homes when government forces destroyed them in 2005 (known locally as Murambatswina).
Shepherd has managed programs and facilitated various Life Skills camps and Psycho Social support activities for Orphaned and vulnerable children around Southern Africa for the Salvation Army Masiye Camp.He also sits as Vice Chair in the District Monitoring and Evaluation Task-force on HIV/AIDS programs in Bulawayo, Secretary on the District Child Protection Committee.
Shepherd is the Senior Program Officer on staff at Zara's Center.
Zachary Hyam Plutzik
Founding Co-Chair
ZARA'S Young Ambassador's Program
Zachary Plutzik at ZARA'S CENTER (2008)
Zachary Plutzik was on the ground when ZARA’S CENTER opened and has returned to Bulawayo numerous times since it opened. During a gap year between high school and college, he accompanied an international intern to ZARA and offered personal support during their first visit to Africa. Zachary also assisted staff professionals with setting up ZARA’S technology and library programs that offer children access to knowledge that otherwise would be out-of-their-reach.
Zachary will co-lead ZARA’S Young Ambassadors Program (YAP), starting in Fall 2010. YAP will focus on ‘next generation’ giving, planting a seed for understanding the role and purpose of programs like ZARA’S in the context of global African relief. YAP will use a giving circle model and exploit social media and other 21st century tools to build a strong constituency of support among prospective members, ages 16-35. Annual meetings of ZARA’S Young Ambassadors Program will be held in NYC and Miami, with the first meetings slated for Fall 2010.
Zachary will co-lead ZARA’S Young Ambassadors Program (YAP), starting in Fall 2010. YAP will focus on ‘next generation’ giving, planting a seed for understanding the role and purpose of programs like ZARA’S in the context of global African relief. YAP will use a giving circle model and exploit social media and other 21st century tools to build a strong constituency of support among prospective members, ages 16-35. Annual meetings of ZARA’S Young Ambassadors Program will be held in NYC and Miami, with the first meetings slated for Fall 2010.
ZARA'S INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jonathan Plutzik, Lesley Goldwasser, and Fred Terrell, USA
USA
LESLEY GOLDWASSER
Chair, Inter. Board of Directors, Co-President, PG Family Foundation
JONATHAN PLUTZIK
Chairman, The Betsy-South Beach, Co-President, PG Family Foundation
FREDRICK O. TERRELL
Vice Chairman of Investment Banking, Credit Suisse
DALIA COHEN
Managing Director and CFO, JLL Partners
DEBORAH BRIGGS (EX-OFFICIO)
Executive Director PG Family Foundation
MARTHA GUENTHER (EX-OFFICIO)
Program Associate, PG Family Foundation
ZIMBABWE
DAVID COOPER, Chair, ZARA'S TRUST(ZIMBABWE)
SHEPHERD HLOMAYI (EX-OFFICIO) Program Manager, ZARA'S CENTER
VALDA COHEN, Entrepreneur
LAZARUS BANDA
TANJA GOLDWASSER
LESLEY GOLDWASSER
Chair, Inter. Board of Directors, Co-President, PG Family Foundation
JONATHAN PLUTZIK
Chairman, The Betsy-South Beach, Co-President, PG Family Foundation
FREDRICK O. TERRELL
Vice Chairman of Investment Banking, Credit Suisse
DALIA COHEN
Managing Director and CFO, JLL Partners
DEBORAH BRIGGS (EX-OFFICIO)
Executive Director PG Family Foundation
MARTHA GUENTHER (EX-OFFICIO)
Program Associate, PG Family Foundation
ZIMBABWE
DAVID COOPER, Chair, ZARA'S TRUST(ZIMBABWE)
SHEPHERD HLOMAYI (EX-OFFICIO) Program Manager, ZARA'S CENTER
VALDA COHEN, Entrepreneur
LAZARUS BANDA
TANJA GOLDWASSER
ZARA'S STAFF AND PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS
Zara's Center Staff 2010
Jonathan Plutzik
Chairman and Co-President
PG Family Foundation, NYC
Jonathan retired as a Vice-Chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), in 2003, after a 25-year career. His responsibilities included oversight for the firms work with U. S. state and local governments, international privatization initiatives, investment banking activities in Washington, DC and global financial services. He also led the CSFB team that provided advisory services to the City of New York during the city's financial crisis. From 2003 to 2005 Jonathan served as Chairman of the Board of Firaxis Games, one of the world’s leading computer game design companies and home of Civilization, the widely acclaimed strategy game.
Jonathan is Chairman of the Board of the CORO New York Leadership Center. He is a member of the Board and Executive Committee of UJA-Federation of New York, where he previously chaired the Caring Commission. He is currently acting as Chair the UJA-Federations Connect to Caring initiative. He also serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Jonathan received his B.A. from Brandeis University and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Jonathan is Chairman of the Board of the CORO New York Leadership Center. He is a member of the Board and Executive Committee of UJA-Federation of New York, where he previously chaired the Caring Commission. He is currently acting as Chair the UJA-Federations Connect to Caring initiative. He also serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Jonathan received his B.A. from Brandeis University and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Deborah Briggs,EdD
Executive Director
PG Family Foundation, NYC
Deborah Briggs (2009)
Deborah Briggs has provided leadership, as a staff member, professional mentor, and consultant, at various foundations and corporations, colleges and universities, public and private schools, and organizations providing direct services and advocacy. She has developed and delivered university-level coursework in cause-related marketing and public relations, nonprofit administration, program development and evaluation. In addition to serving as Executive Director of the PG Family Foundation in NYC, she is also Vice President for Marketing and Philanthropy at The Betsy- South Beach. Deborah holds a Doctorate and Masters in Education from Columbia University Teachers College, a Master of Science from the University of Illinois, a Bachelors Degree from the University of Rochester, and a certificate in Public Policy from the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC. In 2004, she was named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women for her work connecting business and nonprofit enterprise, as organizational leader, mentor, and community volunteer.
Martha Guenther
Program Manager
PG Family Foundation, NYC
Martha Guenther (2010)
With dual degrees from the University of Rochester River Campus and Eastman School of Music, in English Literature and Voice Performance, Martha joined the PG Family Foundation as Program Associate in 2009.
Martha serves as Personal Assistant to Foundation President, Jonathan Plutzik, and as Program Associate to Deborah Briggs, Executive Director. She is also the Program Manager for the Philanthropy program at The Betsy Hotel in Miami.
Martha was active for five years with the University of Rochester Vocal Point A Capella Singers, and created a dedicated alumni program for their 40th Anniversary Celebration in Fall 2009.
Martha serves as Personal Assistant to Foundation President, Jonathan Plutzik, and as Program Associate to Deborah Briggs, Executive Director. She is also the Program Manager for the Philanthropy program at The Betsy Hotel in Miami.
Martha was active for five years with the University of Rochester Vocal Point A Capella Singers, and created a dedicated alumni program for their 40th Anniversary Celebration in Fall 2009.