Sarah Adelman

Born and raised in Massachusetts, I grew up enjoying a childhood filled with exploring my town of Andover on foot, bike and roller skate. I feel lucky to have had such freedom rarely enjoyed by kids of this generation – my daughter would second that sentiment. My senior year of high school, my family moved to Bath, England. I deferred my spot at Bard College and enjoyed a year abroad. I returned to the US and began studying art history at Bard College. I was certain I would work at a museum or a gallery, which I did for ten years (at the ICA in Boston and the SFMOMA in California) until the teaching bug knocked on my door. I have been teaching ever since. I’ve taught in the public schools in both NYC and San Francisco. I am excited to start my fourth year in the Lower School at Brooklyn Friends School in Brooklyn, NY. I love language and reading and find great pleasure creating opportunities for children to be curious about how the English language works and to flourish as readers and writers.

Indu Bulbul Berman

I learned that everyone has a story while volunteering to write resumes at a homeless shelter in college.  Since then, I have continued volunteering on projects mostly related to healthcare, literacy, and professional development at organizations including NY Cares and Sakhi for South Asian Women in New York City and Westside Family Health Center and 826LA in Los Angeles. 

Additionally, I have twenty years of experience in healthcare management and am currently in strategy at UCLA Health System. I have also worked at HealthCare Partners Medical Group, RAND Corporation, and NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System. I have my MBA and MPH from Columbia University and my undergraduate degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

I enjoy laughing with my family and friends and am so fortunate that I have met some of my closest friends through community service work. I am a non-picky vegetarian who loves traveling, attempting to read whatever book club book is chosen, and walking around our neighborhood or going on hikes. 

I am eager for my daughter, who is a toddler, to get to an age where we can volunteer and create new stories with each other through Families Give Back. 

Amy Lehr
Executive Director, Families Give Back

I've always been passionate about volunteering. Growing up a city girl between NYC and Washington, DC, poverty was always right there in your face. I started working in the local soup kitchen the minute I turned 16 and haven't stopped since. Even during the chapter of my life when I was producing film and television, it was never as rewarding as giving back. Living in Los Angeles now, I am enjoying the outdoors like never before and thrilled to be on this adventure with my kids. 

Susan Pollack

I returned to my hometown, Los Angeles, after more than 25 years away in the fall of 2013. And how lucky I am to now be a part of Families Give Back! Volunteering has shaped my life. My mom and dad were volunteering at Vista Del Mar before I was born; and my mom has been a part of Planned Parenthood and LACMA for as long as I can remember. I am excited to help others find that same fulfillment and sense of satisfaction in volunteering.

My first several jobs were as a volunteer and are among my most treasured memories—selling Christmas trees at my junior high in St. Louis, candy striping at St. John’s while in high school, and as a tour guide for the Admissions Office at Smith College. Over the course of my career, volunteers have also been critical to my success. I worked on over 25 political campaigns, none of which would have been successful if it weren’t for volunteers. I have been fortunate to work for several not-for-profits led by remarkable volunteer board members. Most recently, I was a part of the Special Olympics World Games that relied on thousands of volunteers during the Games!

Yet throughout each of these experiences I noticed there was little to no role for children and teenagers. In our current climate, it is more critical than ever that we teach our children the value of giving back and serving others. Families Give Back provides opportunities to instill those values and priorities in our children and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.

Michelle Ross

Michelle joined the board in 2017 as the most enthusiastic volunteer. In addition to juggling a robust career managing her family business, she has found time supporting organizations including Kehillat Israel and Friends of Marquez. Michelle and her family, Chloe, Kylie and her husband, Craig, committed to each other that volunteering would be a part of their family life. A transplant to Los Angeles via Ohio, New Orleans and New York, Michelle is so happy to land in Southern CA and be a part of Families Give Back.

Katherine Wells

I first met Amy in 2010 when she was looking for someone to help build a website for Families Give Back  We worked together to create a prototype, and have been working together, iterating on the original version ever since.  I'm a digital media professional with over 20 years of experience working for major media outlets such as MTV Networks, A&E Networks, NBC Universal, Sony/HARPO Television, and Getty Images.  I've led cross-functional teams in the design, implementation and deployment of enterprise content and e-commerce management systems.  With an abiding passion for a good story and great UXD, I'm currently building Squarespace sites for individuals, small business and nonprofits through my consulting firm, WellsDigital, and am the Executive Producer for a small but mighty video production company, 91 East Productions.  I  thrive on streamlined process, clean code and meaningful human and digital experiences.  See more on LinkedIn.