A New Lens on Life
Charity ID (EIN): 47-2440569
Arizona QCO: 20929
Copyright © 2024 Kids in Focus,
All Rights Reserved
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Kids in Focus is a community of passionate volunteers, talented community leaders and generous supporters. Together we are dedicated to creating opportunities for underserved youth to see the world creatively, build confidence and achieve personal growth.
Board of Directors
Colleen Katz
Chairman of the Board
About Collen
Colleen Katz has been living in Scottsdale since she was 5 and has been volunteering since she was a teen. She has a love for all philanthropy and helping others and has served on many Valley not-for-profit Boards and been involved in charitable events for over 25 years.
A mother of 4, she raised her kids to be involved in the community too which led to many youth-based organizations. She learned photography when taking her 4 to local studios for holiday pictures became a nightmare. Starting with doing her own family photos, then friends, then for organizations she was involved with lead to starting her own business Pictures in Pixels.
Chatting at a reunion, she found out about Kids in Focus and after going to photograph an Exhibit Opening for Karen, Colleen fell in love with the organization. She has been a mentor for 6 years, Co-Chaired the 2nd Noche para los Ninos fundraiser, and is honored to now serve on the Board.
Dana Schmidt
Vice Chair
About Dana
Dana Schmidt is the Founder and CEO at HRamp Up, a global Human Resources (HR) Consulting firm providing a wide menu of HR services to start-ups, small businesses, large global corporations, Fortune 100 companies and non-profits.
During Dana’s 20+ year HR career, he has held a number of senior leadership roles including, but not limited to, serving as a Chief of Staff and HR Leader at Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (Nationwide), a Fortune 100 Company, the Vice President of HR at Carefree Communities, Head of Total Rewards and HR Technology at LifeLock, Chief HR Officer at FirstService Residential and Vice President of HR at Zions Bancorporation.
Dana earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and his Bachelor of Science degree in HR and Economics from Minnesota State University. His professional designations include the Society for HR Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), World at Work Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and HR Certification Institute Senior Professional in HR (SPHR).
Dana resides in Scottsdale with his partner Brandon. When not working or supporting nonprofits in their community, Dana and Brandon enjoy spending time with their two dogs, trying out new restaurants, experiencing new cultures through traveling, hiking mountains and downhill skiing.
Marcelle Friendt
Secretary
About Marcelle
Marcelle’s passion for helping and inspiring people was the springboard to establishing her career in non-profit services and fundraising. She has spent more than 20 years serving the community through her work in the Valley. She currently serves as the Director of Prospect Development at Phoenix’s Children’s Foundation. Prior to Phoenix Children’s, she held leadership roles at Valley of the Sun United Way and John C. Lincoln Hospital Foundation.
Marcelle was inspired to join Kids In Focus from her passion for mentoring. “Giving back by investing in the youth of our community is the greatest gift you can give.” Marcelle previously served as a mentor for New Pathways for Youth, and a board member for KEEN.
In her personal life, she enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time with her wife, Julie, and their two dogs, Watson, and Mr. Toni.
Felice Amkraut
Treasurer
About Felice
Felice Amkraut is an Independent Management Consultant, who relocated to Scottsdale in 2015, She has volunteered with Arizona Helping Hands, the PTO board of her children’s middle school and high school, and served as Treasurer and then President of National Charity League. Felice holds a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from Chicago Booth.
Felice lives with her husband, teenage daughter, and beagle/Australian cattle dog rescue while her son attends college. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and Cricut crafting. She also aspires to turn her brown thumb green and become a better photographer.
Chris Henderson
Board Member
About Chris
Chris Henderson has been a photography enthusiast for more than half his life. When at home, Chris is inspired by the vast desert landscapes of Arizona but his favorite subject matter are the exotic locations he experiences while traveling the world with his wife Julie. For Chris, photography is a hobby that creates a moment of Zen where creativity flows, and time stands still.
Chris has spent the past 25 years working for several Fortune 500 companies in the High-Tech Industry holding leadership roles in Sales, Business Development and Account Management. Over the years he found that mentoring new associates was one of the most rewarding aspects. Chris joined Kids In Focus in 2018 while looking for an opportunity to give back to the community and has found it to be a perfect union of inspired creativity and mentorship.
Jason Brierley
Board Member
About Jason
Jason Brierley is a practicing Family Law attorney serving the greater Phoenix community. Jason is a fourth generation Phoenician with roots that extend deep throughout the valley. His passion for helping children and families has led him to volunteer at various philanthropic organizations benefitting children over the years, and helped guide him towards his career as a Family Law attorney.
Jason lives in Tempe with his wife Sam, and two French Bulldogs, Jabba and Pickles. In his free time, Jason enjoys traveling, golfing, and trying new restaurants.
Team
Jarrett R. Ransom, MBA
(she/her/hers)
Interim Executive Director
About Jarrett
Jarrett moved to Arizona in 2001 and quickly found her passion for serving people and communities. Over the past two decades, she has devoted her career to working exclusively in the nonprofit sector.
Jarrett has accumulated extensive experience and insight while working with start-ups to multi-million dollar charitable organizations.
Mentorship has been crucial to her journey, guiding her through challenges and growth. Now, Jarrett pays it forward, mentoring others in their careers and personal lives.
Outside of work, Jarrett enjoys outdoor activities with her family like hiking, mountain biking, camping, and traveling to new places.
Ashley Woodburn
Program Manager
About Ashley
Ashley Woodburn, a program coordinator with Kids in Focus, brings her background in Environment and Resource management to inspire young minds. Before joining Kids in Focus, she showcased her diverse skills in Communications and Public Affairs.
For over a decade, Ashley’s heart has been in helping others, focusing on kids empowerment through various volunteer organizations.
Outside of her professional commitments, Ashley is a part-time professional photographer and avid hobbyist, using her camera to explore diverse cultures and places. Whenever she gets the chance, she happily brings her fun-loving corgi along on photoshoot adventures, making unforgettable memories together.
Originally from Illinois, Ashley lived in the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado for 22 years before settling in Phoenix, AZ. Her true calling lies in empowering people, especially kids, to explore their potential and embrace their uniqueness. She firmly believes that by learning about ourselves, trusting our instincts, and expressing our individual perspectives, we can collectively create positive change and uplift the world.
Ann Alger Piraino
Exhibits Manager
About Ann
Managing exhibitions of the kids’ photographs around the valley, Ann is passionate about creating opportunities for community engagement with local art.
As the Exhibits Manager, Ann seeks out locations and develops collaborative relationships to share the kids’ stories of creativity and inspiration.
She deeply enjoys raising awareness for Kids in Focus’ programs and the kids’ accomplishments.
With a BA from the University of Michigan in art history and anthropology, Ann came to Arizona to learn more about indigenous communities and artforms and earned her master’s degree in social cultural anthropology and museum studies at ASU. Ann brings professional experience in art education, museum practice, and public art administration from her time with the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. Ann finds joy exploring local art venues, farmers markets, and wide-open natural spaces.
Etana Holowinko, MS
Communications Manager
About Etana
Etana is our resident beautifier & IT Guru.
As our Graphic/Web designer and IT extraordinaire Etana ensures all Kids in Focus graphics are artfully crafted and all tech preforms at its prime. Etana specializes in website design, print layout, advertising, e-learning development, and social media helping Kids in Focus reach it’s audience from kids to mentors, volunteers, sponsors and donors.
She deeply enjoys raising awareness for Kids in Focus’ programs and the kids’ accomplishments, as well, as mentoring.
With a Masters from the University of Technology in Technology, and a BA in Visual Communications from Collins College. Etana lives in sunny Tempe AZ with her boyfriend Curtis and their fur babies Cairo and Zeus.
Our Founder
Karen Shell
Founder
About Karen
Karen Shell is the brainchild behind Kids in Focus, and she was the Executive Director and passionate driving force for KIF’s first 10.5 years. Helping kids in need has been a lifelong pursuit for Karen, as she herself is a survivor of childhood abuse. Karen founded KIF in 2012, after having already spent more than two decades working with at-risk youth.
Alongside her years of service, Karen has worked as a freelance commercial photographer for advertising clients, photographing people and places for an array of global, national and regional brands. Karen’s personal photography has been exhibited internationally and her commercial work has won industry awards.
Karen’s three-decade photography career has continually reminded her of the power of seeing outside oneself. Her passion for life is a testament to seeing beyond one’s circumstances. Karen loves adventure and exploring this incredible planet, from mountain tops to ocean depths.
Volunteer Mentors
Jerry
Daigler
Elaine
Kittleson
Dave
Seibert
Bobbi
Stark
Ashley
Woodburn
Raz
Yalov
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