Benevolent Vision Alumni

Julie Gerlinger
Donor Coordinator

A graduate of University of California Irvine, Emily Shih earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Julie Gerlinger graduated from UCLA, in 2008, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. As a part of her studies at UCLA, she participated in the Sociology Immersion Program, where she did ethnographic research at a continuation school in West Los Angeles. During this time, she solidified her decision to pursue a career working with at-risk youth. In addition to working for BV, Ms. Gerlinger also serves as a Reserve Deputy Probation Officer, volunteering with the LA County Probation Department. She plans to attain a graduate degree in Criminology, with hopes of becoming a gang-unit probation officer. Aside from her passion for working with troubled youth, Ms. Gerlinger is also highly concerned with animal welfare issues.

Emily Shih
Donor Manager

A graduate of University of California Irvine, Emily Shih earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She spent her senior academic year living in Hong Kong studying Chinese language and history. As Donor Manager for BV, Ms. Shih maintains clients' accounts and handles special projects as well as coordinating events and acting as liaison to clients and donors. Ms. Shih is highly skilled with SAGE FR 50 and is responsible for the execution of annual campaigns and tracking. She plans to continue her career in the nonprofit sector and is particularly interested in nongovernmental organizations in Asia. Ms. Shih is fluent in Mandarin (Chinese).

Rachel Liebman
Client Support Services 2007-2008

Tracy Foster
Administrator 2006-2008

Ms. Foster comes to BV with an extensive background in government agencies and experience in Human Resources. She has two sons, one of whom has graduated from college, and the other is currently enrolled. Ms. Foster's interest in psychology has led her to return to college herself and she is attending El Camino College in pursuit of her degree. Ms. Foster is responsible for all incoming correspondence for management clients, intake of donations, compliance documents and serves as our Team Administrator.

Jennifer Stackle brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to Benevolent Vision.  The former Executive Director of Women Helping Women, an Orange County-based nonprofit, Ms. Stackle offers BV's clients strong grant writing, strategic planning and program development skills, and plays a key role in fundraising and strategic operations for BV's clients.  Ms. Stackle holds a Master of Business Administration from UC Irvine, and has held previous positions as Director of Marketing for WizShop.com, Project Manager for Fox Cable Networks, and Marketing Consultant for Waste Management, a Fortune 150 firm.  She has volunteered for a variety of AIDS-related charities, and headed up a fundraising campaign for Boxer Rescue Los Angeles.

Debra Edwards is a former Sergeant who served over 7 years of active duty in the United States Army, traveling and working extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. After completing her enlistment in the Army she went on to spend a year abroad supporting NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, prior to returning to the states and completing a Masters of Arts degree in Political Science at California State University Los Angeles. She is experienced working as a Program Coordinator in social science organizations and worked with BV on special projects including grant writing and special events. Ms. Edwards resides in San Francisco and fulfills the role of Program Associate for the Mayor's Office of Community of Opportunities

Allison is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing with a minor in Psychology at Loyola Marymount University in 2006. Ms. Nassour joined Benevolent Vision in May 2005 after spending four months studying and traveling in Australia. She attended Bond University in Australia where she studied business, psychology, and philosophy. Ms. Nassour provides BV and our clients with administrative support, research, and special event projects.

While in Australia, Ms. Nassour organized and hosted a modeling competition to raise money for the Tsunami victims. She is instrumental in planning events in her sorority, Delta Zeta.  Proceeds from the Annual Delta Zeta Turtle Tug benefit Galludet University, an institution for the speech and hearing impaired.

Laura Garland
Client Support and Grant Writing 2003-2004

Ms. Garland served as our Administrative Coordinator and Client Support specialist with grant writing responsibilities. After leaving BV, she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Anthropology at San Francisco State University. Her Senior Project was a short film called "Urban Midwifery", about midwives in the Bay Area. Ms. Garland was asked to present her research at the annual Applied Anthropology Association conference in Vancouver, B.C. in the spring of 2006, and the film was also screened at the Society for Visual Anthropology Film Festival in November 2006. Ms. Garland currently lives in New York and will continue her work in the nonprofit arts world.

Kimberly Pargoff received her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California Los Angeles Anderson School of Management in 2004, with an emphasis in Corporate Environmental Management.  During her time as a Graduate Intern at Benevolent Vision, Ms. Pargoff was responsible for assisting clients with program development and the creation of program and operating budgets.  Additionally, she assisted clients dealing with environmental causes or issues.  Ms. Pargoff is now doing environmental policy advocacy for Environment Michigan, a nonprofit organization.  Her projects involve meeting with government leaders at both the state and national levels regarding energy, water, air and land issues as well as pollution and Great Lakes restoration. 

Rebecca Davis
Senior Intern 2002-2004

Rebecca Davis joined Benevolent Vision in 2002.  She provided extensive research, administrative and client support, including grant research, meeting facilitations, event coordination, vendor research and bids.  Ms. Davis has volunteered for many wonderful philanthropic organizations, such as Laura's House, The Ronald McDonald House Santa Monica and Saferides.  In 2003, she served as the Special Events Chair on the Steering Committee for University of California Los Angeles's largest school-wide fundraising event, Dance Marathon, which benefits The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation; the event raised nearly $55,000.  Ms. Davis received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of California Los Angeles in June 2004. She is currently an Associate Buyer for the Quiksilver and DC Shoes Retail Division at Quiksilver Inc., responsible for assorting and merchandising the buys that go into their retail stores. Her drive and dedication to assist charitable causes continue as she is the co-chair for This Little Light in Support of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Jocelyn Ryder
Intern, 2003-2006

Ms. Ryder joined Benevolent Vision in the summer of 2003.  She is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Development from University of California Los Angeles in 2007.  Ms. Ryder provided BV with dedicated support, including donor research, statistical research and special events preparation.  She has worked and volunteered with a number of charitable and philanthropic organizations, including:  Guide Dogs of America, American Cancer Society, ONE Generation and Ability First.  In 2003, Ms. Ryder was awarded the "Prudential Spirit of the Community Award" for her extensive volunteer and service work.  In 2006 Ms. Ryder studied in Spain, and her European travels heightened her concern for the international community.  She is expanding this interest through internships with media production and entertainment management companies and, after graduation, plans to continue her involvement in the creative and development side of entertainment.

Elizabeth Stockli received her Master of Business Administration degree from the Anderson School at University of California Los Angeles in Spring 2003, and upon graduation began her brand management career at Del Monte Foods in San Francisco.  Previously, Ms. Stockli graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin and worked as a Risk Analyst for Brunswick Corporation in Lake Forest, IL.  During her time at Benevolent Vision, Ms. Stockli utilized her expertise in gathering and analyzing data to create effective program evaluations for BV's clients.  While at UCLA, Ms. Stockli served as a mentor in the Riordan Scholar Program.  She was also a volunteer for Special Olympics of Southern California, and participated in Chicago's Inner-City Teaching Corps.  She continues supporting charitable organizations in San Francisco.  

During her time at Benevolent Vision, Sarah Ann Schaller provided assistance in the grant writing process, research pertaining to corporate and private foundations, support during special events, and revision of website content.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles in March of 2002, Ms. Schaller returned to her hometown of Sacramento, where she received her teaching certificate and taught high school English.  Ms. Schaller also worked with the Planning & Conservation League Foundation, an environmental nonprofit with an emphasis on legislation, and secured ballot measure campaign endorsements in the areas of transportation, business, education, environment, government, and child advocacy; handled media relations and publications; and researched and drafted print materials prior to the general election in November 2002.  Ms. Schaller received a Masters in Public Policy at Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute in 2006 and is currently working for the Department of Education. 

Jody Lyn Jordan served as a key associate in research, grant writing, strategic planning and event planning at Benevolent Vision.  A graduate of Johnson College in Vermont, Ms. Jordan received her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1992.  Prior to joining BV, she taught for six years, holding positions teaching English as a Second Language in both the U.S. and Latin America and continued teaching ESL during her time at BV.  Currently, Ms. Jordan resides in Tennessee where she works as a Spanish teacher to junior high school students.  She is dedicated to her missionary work and travels throughout South America with Teen Mania Global Expeditions as a team leader. 

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