In January 2016, two non-profit veterans, Romi Lassally and Patrick McCabe, saw the opportunity to transform outcomes with targeted support—to take the foster youth that were motivated, ambitious, and tenacious enough to make it to college and ensure they had the resources, relationships, and opportunities they needed to succeed there and in all facets of life. Romi and Pat believed that if every college student impacted by foster care had the kind of support they needed, when they needed it, they could be successful and have a shot at pursuing a future brighter than their past. Initially leveraging their own personal and professional networks, they began to close the opportunity and network gap their students faced.
Encouraging others to start opening their own networks as well, the RTS network began to grow exponentially, creating a deep bench of caring and connected professionals across all industries and at every level of the career ladder.
In January 2022, RTS expanded to include low-income first generation college students. Along with students impacted by foster care, these first-gen Scholars have unique access to a diverse group of thought leaders, innovators and passionate professionals who offer advice, opportunities and a community of support.
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Jacqueline
Amezcua

Career Advisor

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Christian
Baer

Development Manager

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Madison
Braybrooke

Scholar Needs Advisor and Resource Manager

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Lucy
Cherkasets

Director of Opportunities and Volunteers

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Zoe
Fried

Senior Assistant Director, College Success

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Taos
Glickman

Director of Data Analytics and Scholar Needs

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Adri
Gonzalez

Assistant Director, Recruiting

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Natalie Guevara-Choto

Opportunities Advisor

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Frances
Hardy

Director of Development and Partnerships

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Gina
Ibrahim

Program Director

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Kaleema
Ishmel

Operations Associate

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Romi
Lassally

Co-Founder & Executive Director

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Briana
Lopez

Opportunities and Volunteers Advisor

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Yadilena
Martinez

Program Coordinator

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Patrick
McCabe

Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director

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Sarah
Morse

Scholar Wellness Coach Volunteer

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Jazmin
Navato

Career Advisor

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Betsy
Peña

Career Advisor

OUR BOARD

Emmanual Benton
Natalie Catalan
Elizabeth Friedman
Jon Gimbel
Todd Kessler
Thomas Lee
Karen Kehela Sherwood
Tania Suster
Eddie Valcin
Deanne Yamamoto
Harriet Zaretsky

OUR PARTNERS

Our employment partnership program offers powerful ways for companies to engage with our students through mentorship, leadership, hiring and financial sponsorship. By opening their doors, these innovative companies are accelerating the career success of our students and contributing to a more diverse and culturally collaborative workforce. It’s a win win for everyone.

Aids Healthcare Foundation
Amazon Studios
Anthony + Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation
Bad Robot
Bank of America
Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Canyon Partners
Casting Networks
Colliers International
Conrad Hilton Foundation
Creative Artists Agency
Disney-ABC Television Group
HBO
Hertz-Lichtenstein-Young
Icelandic Water
Illumination Entertainment
Inspire
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors

Lourd-Murray Private Wealth Management
NBC Universal
Paramount Pictures
Participant Media
Penske Automotive Group
Propper Daley
Rubicon Project
Safe Place For Youth
Sony Pictures
Steaven Jones Development Company
The Museum Of The Holocaust
The Wonderful Company
3 Arts Entertainment
United Talent Agency
Universal Music Group
UpFront Ventures
ZipRecruiter