Rebecca Andruszka joined the Board of RightRides in 2013. She is currently Development Director at National Employment Law Project, where she leads all fundraising efforts and long-term fundraising strategy. Prior to this, she was US External Relations Director at Ubuntu Education Fund, a South African community organization. She was previously Development & Communications Manager at Funders Concerned About AIDS, a funder affinity group. Rebecca graduated from the United Way of New York City’s Junior Fellows Program in Winter 2007. She is active in a number local social justice organizations, particularly Younger Women’s Task Force (NYC Metro Chapter), NY Abortion Access Fund, and the Ali Forney Center.

LAUREN HARE, Board Treasure

Lauren Hare joined the Board of RightRides in 2013. She is currently the Development and Marketing Manager at Young Women’s Leadership Network, an organization that supports a network of all-girls schools and college access programs across New York City. At YWLN, Lauren leads the organization’s annual appeal, manages a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and government funders, and spearheads external marketing and branding initiatives. Previously, Lauren spent four years in fundraising and marketing for inner-city Catholic elementary schools in Harlem and the Bronx. From 2005-2006, she volunteered through AmeriCorps as the Community Educator for Children at the Washington, D.C. Rape Crisis Center. Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from Smith College.

CYNTHIA NUARA, Board Member

Cynthia Nuara is the Director of Administrative Services in the Community Services Department at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. She volunteers as a Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention (SAVI) Advocate through Mount Sinai Hospital and has provided small group facilitation during the new advocate training. In the past Cynthia was a consultant for the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, providing trainings to the Promotoras or outreach workers at Voces Latinas, Corp., in Jackson Heights Queens. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Guatemala (2007-2009) as a Municipal Development Advisor. Cynthia received her Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a concentration in health policy from Binghamton University. She lives with her partner in Astoria, Queens.

LACY SERROS, Board Secretary 

Lacy is the Northeast Program Manager for Hispanics in Philanthropy, based in the organization’s New York office. Lacy has ten years of experience working in the nonprofit sector with a strong background in grant-making, policy, and in Latino community advocacy. Prior to HIP, Lacy lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and worked as the Community Activist Fellow at Tides Foundation.  She also gained direct experience working in Latino communities at organizations such as Latino Issues Forum, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and the United Farm Workers of America.  Lacy also participated in the Women’s Policy Institute of the Women’s Foundation of California, a yearlong training program on the policymaking process in California. Lacy raised awareness about reproductive justice and garnered broad support from communities of color.  She subsequently co-mentored the Environment and Reproductive Justice team of the Women’s Policy Institute class of 2010.

Lacy joined HIP in the summer of 2011 after receiving a Masters in Public Administration through the National Urban Fellowship program. Lacy also graduated from the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology and a minor in Chicana/o studies. A native Californian, Lacy enjoys gardening, hiking, and yoga.

IRENE XANTHOUDAKIS, Board Member

Irene grew up on Long Island and after 10 years in Astoria, Queens, she has become a proud resident of Brooklyn.  She received a BA in American History and Women’s Studies from Barnard College in 2001 and a Master of Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in 2007.  Her experience in grassroots work includes serving as a founding member of the New York Abortion Access Fund Board of Directors; volunteering with the Haven Coalition; serving two cycles on the New York Women’s Foundation Grants Advisory Committee; working with the Ditmas Park Community Supported Agriculture program; and volunteering with the Andrew Gounardes campaign for New York State Senate.  Her professional background also includes extensive fundraising experience for criminal justice and homeless services organizations.  Presently, she works for the Ms. Foundation for Women where she is the Manager, Stewardship and Leadership Gifts, responsible for generating resources for the groundbreaking women’s philanthropy.