RiseUp Malawi Board
RiseUp Malawi is supported by a board of passionate individuals dedicated to a life of service to others and helping those in need. Our board members represent a diverse intersection of career sectors, skills sets and personal experiences that color our organization with insightful input, accountability, dedicated outcomes, and measurable impact.
Tara Bereche
Originally from Long Island, NY, Tara received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with majors in Business Administration and Film. She started her career in investment banking and private equity, and is currently pursuing her MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management with an emphasis in Social Impact. Specifically, she is engaged in academic coursework and extracurricular programs about nonprofit management and board service.
Tara visited Ghana 5 years ago with another nonprofit, and has since felt a passion for supporting the education and empowerment of children in the most vulnerable areas of the world.
Why Tara got involved with RiseUp: "I believe that education is a right and has the unique power to propel people into life-changing opportunity. I am dedicated to inspiring children, especially young girls, to reach their full potential both in and out of the classroom so that they can leave their mark on the world."
Jacob Mathis
Jake was born in Duluth, MN and went to Boston University where he received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance. He completed his Masters in Project Management at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and currently serves as an Acquisitions Officer in US Air Force Space Command.
Why Jake got involved with RiseUp: "We can't choose where we're born, who our parents are, or what social status we're born into, but we can use our time, talents and resources to help others less fortunate that ourselves. God blesses us so that we can bless others and I feel privileged to sit on this board and use my skillset for the betterment of others."
Christie Demos
Christie has spent her career in New York city working in administrative operational roles at hedgefunds and advisory services companies. Born and raised in Connecticut, Christie started volunteering at a young age and she has always sought out ways to bring community engagement into her professional life. She graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in Business Administration and is a busy mother to 3 beautiful boys. She currently works in Adminstrative Operations for Contingency Capital in New York City.
Why Christie got involved with RiseUp: “I was grateful to have the opportunity to get involved with RiseUp when it was just in its infancy. I was motivated to get involved because RiseUp’s organizational strategy takes a holistic approach towards development. I connected with how they are healing issues within the community through transparent stewardship and embracing new creative ideas to maintain forward momentum and growth.”
Tom McGuinness
Tom was born in Los Angeles and went to UC Berkeley, graduating with a B.A. in Math and Philosophy, and later received an MBA from The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. His career has centered around the intersection of finance and entrepreneurship, including investment banking, private equity, and founding/operational roles in several startups.
He currently lives in Manhattan Beach, CA with his wife and two girls, where he serves on the board of a local non-profit serving pregnant women experiencing homelessness.
Why Tom got involved with RiseUp: “There is vast need in the world, and our efforts can sometimes seem inadequate. Yet RiseUp is faithfully acting to provide practical and empowering support for people with acute needs to thrive on their own terms. When our willingness meets God’s blessing, a multitude of provision can come, even if we only have five loaves and two fish.”