Sanya Younossi
President/Founder
Born in Kabul Afghanistan, raised in Geneva Switzerland, and now living in Washington, DC, Sanya has enjoyed her enriched experiences in adjusting and living in these very different and distinct countries. As a first-generation immigrant coming from a country where most women are deprived of the simplest privileges such as going to school, she strongly believes in the empowerment of women through education. Sanya has dedicated her time and energy in helping different non-profit organizations in Washington DC to raise funds and awareness for disadvantaged women and children. While remaining on the Executive Board, for over a decade Sanya was the President of the Aschiana Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated in helping Afghan children working on the street and supporting women learn a skill. While raising her family, Sanya went back to school to pursue both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Affairs focusing on Gender and Development. She is a staunch believer of helping women access to education and empowerment. Educating a woman is educating a family and a village!
Peter Fitzgerald
Peter Fitzgerald is an Executive Vice President at the National PACE Association, where he plays a pivotal role in advocating for and supporting the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). With a background in healthcare policy and finance, Peter has been instrumental in advancing initiatives that enhance the quality of care for older adults. His writings on improving the health care system have been featured in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review and numerous peer-reviewed journals. Peter holds a degree in Health Care Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics and has previously worked with various healthcare organizations, contributing to significant policy reforms and community engagement projects. In addition to his role with the Starlight Fund for Girls, Peter serves on the boards of several nonprofits, including his local community health center and Empath Health’s Complete Care Division. Outside of his professional commitments, Peter enjoys travel, dog walks and spending time with friends and family.
Terry Baugh
Terry is a marketing and communications professional providing marketing and communications consulting services domestically and internationally. An entrepreneur, she co-founded Kidsave and founded T. Baugh & Company. Her eight years at Porter Novelli and previous work as a press aide in the US Senate informed this work. Terry’s expertise is in nonprofit management, development, child welfare, legislative advocacy, communications strategy development, market research, and program implementation. She has extensive domestic and international experience in marketing for social change with expertise in a range of health and social issues, including adoption of older orphanage and foster youth, reproductive, neonatal, and maternal health, contraception, breast cancer, coping with cancer, high blood pressure control, fundraising, and end of life care. Currently, she is the USAID project manager for Georgetown University/Business for Impact working to accelerate the quality of provider care for mothers and newborns in Jordan and a coach for idealists aspiring to launch social ventures/nonprofits. Terry loves her dog, travel, yoga, hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
James Whittaker
James Whittaker currently serves as board chair of Homeless Action Sonoma (HAS) that seeks to end homelessness in the Sonoma, CA community area. He has been chairman of the board of the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (ASPAN) known as Path Forward whose mission continues to be ending homelessness in the DC metro area. He led as chairman of the board for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington Community Foundation, an organization that raised and distributed millions of dollars to DC area nonprofits, and the Marasco Newton Whittaker Foundation, a philanthropic group. He served as a board member of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Additionally, James was a co-founder and Senior Vice President at Marasco Newton Group, a DC area-based management and IT consulting firm. Following a merger with SRA International he led a division that delivered $50 million in consulting services annually to civilian agencies in the US government. He earned his B.A. from Saint Mary’s College, and his M.A. from Georgetown University. He lives in Sonoma CA with his life partner and two beautiful rescue puppies. He is also the proud father of three adult children.
As a long-time leader in the nonprofit sector, he seeks to lend his expertise to the good work of this new nonprofit organization.