Takoma Foundation

Who We Are

Takoma Foundation Board of Directors

(Updated March 2013)

  • Kevin Adler. Kevin is a financial journalist who has lived in Takoma Park since 1992.  His volunteer activities have focused on arts and cultural projects, such as the Takoma Park Folk Festival, used book sales, and the Takoma Foundation Beerfest. He received a Takoma Park Azalea Award in 2006 as "volunteer of the year."  Kevin and his wife, Gina McNeal, are the parents of teenagers Eliza and Emmett.

  • Tebabu Assefa

  • Bruce Baker. Bruce has lived in Takoma Park since 1991 and has served on the Takoma Foundation Board for 10 years. He is Executive Director of Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER), a community-based nonprofit in Takoma Park and Silver Spring that seeks to give all community members the knowledge and ability to create a healthy thriving community. (www.communitycheer.org).

  • Barry Barth (Treasurer)

  • Franca Brilliant (President). Franca has been on the Takoma Foundation board for almost eight years. She is a fundraiser for the National Environmental Education Foundation (www.neefusa.org) and has worked on everything from cataloguing fossil rat teeth to reporting on famine in Ethiopia over the past 30 years. She's had a lifelong passion for community development work and enjoys learning about the great things people are doing right here in Takoma Park and the surrounding area. She is married to Seth Grimes, Ward 1 Council member, and has two fantastic sons, Raphael and Ezra.

  • Peter Feiden. Peter has lived in Takoma Park since 1989 and has raised three children in our community. After many years as a volunteer coach in our local soccer and softball leagues, he retired his legs to sit on the Takoma Foundation Board in 2007. He is best known for organizing our yearly Beerfest at the Cady-Lee Mansion. Peter served in the Foreign Service with the Agency for International Development. He now teaches economics at Montgomery College and Catholic University, and does consulting work in foreign assistance.

  • Nadol Hishmeh

  • Maureen Kohl

  • Howard Kohn. Howard is a freelance writer and a political consultant. He has been involved with the Foundation for 10 years and participates in several civic groups. He and his wife Diana, another activist, have lived in Takoma Park since 1982. Their three children are grown.

  • Kathy Porter

  • Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy

  • Bob Sheldon (Secretary). Bob is an Energy Analyst who has lived in Takoma Park since 1980. His volunteer activities have focused on sports programs such as Takoma Park Neighborhood Youth Soccer and Takoma Park/Silver Spring Baseball and Softball, citizen associations, the Azalea Awards, and the Takoma Foundation Beefest. He was Co-Commissioner of Takoma Park Neighborhood Youth Soccer and longtime coach of soccer, baseball, basketball, and softball. Bob is parent of Matthew who works and lives in Colorado.

  • Scott Ward (Vice President). Scott moved to Takoma Park from Adams Morgan in 2000. He is owner of the independent full-service publc relations firm Fifth Estate Communications. Scott's volunteer activities include working with Cub Scout Pack 33 and the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church. He has also coached youth soccer and basesball, and serves as volunteer Webmaster for a number of organizations, including the Takoma Foundation. Scott and his wife, Elizabeth Hedstrom, are parents of gradeschoolers Caroline, Nicholas and Henry.