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Mary M. Jalonick
President
Email Mary
214.741.9898,
Ext 110 |
Mary Jalonick, a native Dallasite, started as The Dallas Foundation’s first full-time employee in 1987. Now she oversees an organization with a dozen staff members, more than 300 component funds, and donors who give locally, nationally and overseas. Additionally, she has been active in the effort to develop voluntary standards for American community foundations, and worked to nurture the growth of community foundations in Europe. She has served on the boards of many local agencies, including The Hockaday School and the Center for Nonprofit Management.
Mary graduated from Mt. Vernon Junior College in Washington D.C.
“I love what I do. I work with donors who want to use their resources to help other people, and with nonprofits that need that help to do their work. What could be better?”
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Gary W. Garcia
Director of External Relations
Email Gary
214.741.9898,
Ext 107 |
Gary Garcia stepped into his role as director of external relations in January 2010. He leads The Foundation’s development efforts, working with professional advisors, potential donors, and others to cultivate planned and outright gifts. From 2001 to 2010, Mr. Garcia served as controller for The Dallas Foundation. He has an undergraduate degree in accounting and worked for the state of Texas and PriceWaterhouseCoopers before joining the nonprofit sector.
“I really enjoy working with donors. It’s a joy and an honor to learn their story and help them implement their philanthropic vision.”
Melinda Guravich joined The Dallas Foundation in January 2012. As director of marketing and communications she works with the staff to develop cohesive marketing and communications strategies for The Foundation's events and initiatives.
Melinda has broad marketing and communications experience in the for profit sector. An active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), she is past president of the Dallas chapter. She received an MBA from the Thunderberbird Graduate School of Global Management and undergraduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
"I am delighted to be a part of The Foundation's team. The Dallas Foundation carries out an amazing mission, connecting donors to our community while making philanthropy easy and fun. Here in 1929. Here today. Here for good."
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Lesley Martinelli
Director of Donor Services
Email Lesley
214.741.9898,
Ext 111 |
Lesley Martinelli came to The Dallas Foundation in 2006 after a career that includes experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sector. As director of donor services, Ms. Martinelli works with donors to develop giving plans, researches grant opportunities, moderates family meetings about philanthropy, organizes site visits, educational seminars, and social events, and arranges volunteer opportunities for individuals and families. One of her newest responsibilities is learning about international giving and helping donors give wisely to overseas organizations. She earned a B.A. from Austin College and previously served as executive director of the International Philanthropy Group.
“The most enjoyable part of my job is getting to know donors and their diverse interests and life experiences. I’m also excited to be learning more about international charities, which has broadened the knowledge I’m able to share with our donors.”
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Laura Smith
Director of Community Philanthropy
Email Laura
214.741.9898,
Ext 108 |
Laura Smith is a 4th generation Dallasite who started at The Dallas Foundation in 2007. She manages all The Foundation’s grant-making activities. Her responsibilities include evaluating all applications for competitive grants, visiting applicant agencies and recommending grants to the Board of Governors. She also researches community needs, monitors progress on previously awarded grants, and helps develop the Foundation’s strategy for community investments. She is a graduate of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University and studied music in the United States, Israel, Austria and Italy. Before moving back to Dallas, she worked for the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
“I love being around the people at nonprofit agencies who have made it their life’s work to make the world better. It’s also rewarding to witness the generosity of donors who make sure nonprofits have resources to do their work.”
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William T. Solomon, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer
Email William
214.741.9898,
Ext 106 |
Bill Solomon began work at The Dallas Foundation in 1996. He oversees investments, financial reporting, budgeting, outside audits and information technology. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Texas and worked for Campus Crusade for Christ in corporate accounting and international finance before joining The Foundation.
“My favorite part of this job is working with our board and staff to develop services that support our donors and their advisors in their philanthropic giving.”
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Gwen Campbell
Administrative Assistant
Email Gwen
214.741.9898,
Ext 100 |
Gwen Campbell is usually the first person visitors to The Foundation meet. She has worked for The Foundation since 1999, answering telephones, greeting visitors, maintaining office supplies, equipment, files, staffing events, and copying and mailing thousands of grant checks each year. Ms. Campbell also is a licensed cosmetologist and has a certification as a legal secretary. She graduated from Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth.
“My favorite part of my job is actually getting to know some of the organizations I heard about before starting at The Foundation.”
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Claudia DeMoss
Community Funds Associate
Email Claudia
214.741.9898,
Ext 115 |
Claudia DeMoss makes sure daily operations at The Dallas Foundation flow smoothly. She administers community funds, such as the Friends of the Katy Trail Fund and the Dallas Police Athletic League Fund, maintains The Foundation’s website, and serves as the Board liaison. A self-described military brat, Ms. DeMoss was born in Japan and grew up all over the world. She spent most of her career in sales and marketing and joined The Foundation in 2006.
“I enjoy working for an organization that contributes to a better life for the citizens of Dallas County. I have particularly enjoyed meeting some of our grantees to learn about how Foundation grants enable them to provide much needed services.”
Heather Frost is a world traveler and a California native who is settling down in Dallas. She joined The Dallas Foundation in September 2011, and coordinates applications for our scholarships, supports the work of selection committees, and processes payments for scholarship recipients.
Heather's most recent position was teaching English to elementary school children in Chartres, France. Heather also taught English to adults in Seoul, South Korea, and worked for Intrax Cultural Exchange in San Francisco. She graduated from the University of Maine at Fort Kent with a bachelor’s degree in French.
“My background is in education, so working with The Dallas Foundation’s scholarship funds seemed like a fantastic opportunity to help students achieve their dreams.”
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Torrey Littleton
Accounting Manager
Email Torrey
214.741.9898,
Ext 112 |
Torrey Littleton moved from the for-profit sector to The Dallas Foundation in 2010. He handles the day-to-day accounting activities, along with balance sheet and financial statement preparation. Before joining The Foundation, he worked as a senior accountant in the healthcare and chemicals industry and Palm Harbor Homes. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tennessee State University.
“I enjoy working for an organization with a proven history of making an impact in the community, especially through its scholarships and competitive grants programs.”
Paula Newman joined The Dallas Foundation in September 2011, and immediately put her organizational skills to use helping us arrange our new offices at the Old Parkland campus.
Paula came to The Dallas Foundation from the Education Department at Texas Health/Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. There, Paula provided support to nurses working with quality of care improvement, clinical practice, family education, scientific research and other projects. She also has worked as a medical technician and transcriptionist. Paula is a Garland native and enjoys creative writing. She graduated from Garland High School and currently attends Richland College.
“Assisting patients and staff was always the best part of the day when I was in the medical field. The Dallas Foundation provides a new opportunity to help meet the needs of diverse community groups.”
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Stacey Reinig
Grants Associate
Email Stacey
214.741.9898,
Ext 102 |
Stacey Reinig arrived at The Dallas Foundation in late 2009. She processes grant recommendations from, and contributions to donor advised funds, as well as assists in the processing of competitive grants. In her spare time, she works on various special projects. She had worked in the for-profit sector briefly after college before following her passion into nonprofit work. She received a B.S. in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006.
“It’s so rewarding going to work every day when you’re with an organization that’s trying to do good in the community.”
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Shanna Romanillos
Assistant Director of Donor Services
Email Shanna
214.741.9898,
Ext 109 |
Shanna Romanillos joined The Dallas Foundation in July of 2011, after four years with Southwestern Medical Foundation. As the right hand of the director of donor services, researching and connecting the desires and needs of donors with philanthropic organizations of interest are her primary responsibilities.
Shanna is an active member of Junior League of Richardson and has devoted countless volunteer hours with Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity. She graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with a B.A. in Biology.
“Every day I investigate opportunities for fellow members of the community to make a positive difference in this world. It’s an honor to know that I am assisting and encouraging others to realize their social responsibilities while fulfilling my own!”
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Genevra Williams, Esq. Planned Giving Officer & Associate Legal Counsel
Email Genevra 214.741.9898, Ext 118 |
Genevra Williams joined The Dallas Foundation as Planned Giving Officer and Associate Legal Counsel in December 2011. In coordination with the Director of External Relations, Ms. Williams is responsible for The Foundation's planned giving program and also provides legal counsel to The Foundation. In addition to her legal background, she has several years’ experience in development research for both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
Ms. Williams is a member of the American Bar Association, the Dallas Bar Association, and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. She has a B.B.A. in Management Information Systems from the University of Iowa and a J.D. from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Ms. Williams clerked for The Honorable Justice Douglas S. Lang of Fifth District Court of Appeals of Texas, and has published articles in the SMU Law Review and the Journal of Air Law and Commerce.
"I am honored to become a member of The Dallas Foundation staff and to join such a dynamic and dedicated group of people."