What We Do
Edina Give and Go funds small grants for Edina Public Schools students who otherwise would be unable to pay fees associated with arts, academics, or athletic activities.
Our Mission
To bring life and learning opportunities to Edina Public Schools students who are economically disadvantaged.
Edina Give and Go is one of two Mission-Aligned Partners of Edina Public Schools
Our Vision
Equitable access to the out-of-school enrichment activities in our community for all Edina Public Schools students so they can develop new skills, discover their passion, connect with their peers, and succeed in and out of school.
Our Impact
Please see our latest impact report here:
Edina Give and Go 2022-23 Impact Report
2022-23 Impact Report
2021-22 Impact Report
2020-21 Impact Report
The Team
Stephanie Francis-Jones
Executive DirectorAs a current Board member, Stephanie comes to the position in a unique manner. Stephanie has a deep understanding of the Edina School District from extensive volunteering through PTOs, the Edina Education Fund and Edina Give and Go. She has a strong commitment to mission-driven leadership and a proven track record in organizational management, fundraising, and community engagement.
Throughout Stephanie’s career in Human Resources and as a volunteer, she has had leadership roles where she successfully led teams and initiatives aligned with social impact, community empowerment and organizational excellence. She has experience with and has demonstrated excellence in strategic planning, fundraising, and project management. Stephanie is a connector, a trusted member of the community and is adept at cultivating relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders. Edina Give and Go's mission resonates deeply with Stephanie and she is excited to continue and grow the great work that we do.
Catalina Carrasco
Outreach and Student Granting CoordinatorMonica Fullbright
Finance CoordinatorThe Board
Alex Christianson
Board Co-ChairSarah Hardy
Board Co-ChairJacky Junek
Annual Event Co-ChairHattie Priem
SecretarySarah Weller
Sarah is a Principal Scientist at Carelon Research, an organization, an organization that aims to improve health care with real-world data. As an epidemiologist and public health professional, Sarah is mission-driven and passionate about using data to inform decision-making, building community and working to assure positive health outcomes for all. She completed a BA at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, a dual masters degree in Health Behavior/Health Education and Epidemiology at University of Michigan, and a PhD in Genetic Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Sarah lives in Edina with her husband and two teenage daughters who attend Edina High School. Sarah established the New Families Network when she moved to Edina in 2017 and, in partnership with the Edina Public School administrators, has worked to support new families in their transition to the Edina community. Sarah is an avid baker, an enthusiastic theater-goer, a mediocre broomball player, and a recreational runner.
Robin Wenzel
Fundraising ChairRobin Wenzel grew up in Edina and is a graduate of EHS. After many years in California, she returned to Edina with her husband and three sons. Her boys are now the fifth generation of her family to call Edina home. Community service and support has been a cornerstone of her family and Robin is thrilled to join the Board of Edina Give & Go
Robin leads the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, a team of national industry advisors providing economic insights, analytics, research, and media engagements. With over 30 years of experience, Robin leads with a strategic vision and an ability to expand and execute with meaningful improvements to performance and results.
Robin has served as an active supporter and Board member on numerous organizations and enjoys making transformative impacts. As Co-Founder and Board Member of the Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation, she worked with the team to provide funding for medical research, education and support to children diagnosed with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, globally. Robin spent over a decade supporting the efforts of a leading wine industry non-profit, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Farmworker Foundation, where she served on the Board as Finance Chair and on the STOMP Auction committee for over 10 years.
Lynne Sullivan
Community Engagement ChairDelphine Aubourg
Delphine lives in Edina with her husband, two girls (10th and 12 grades at EHS) and two Springer Spaniels (Jake and Harriet). She is a Twin Cities transplant, having moved to Minnesota 22 years ago on the 2-3 year plan. Minnesota is an amazing place to live with its culture, restaurants and public education options. She has worked at a variety of Twin Cities corporations including 3M and Best Buy. Today she is at Thomson Reuters and serves as a Vice President of Sales and Customer Success. She has a B.A. from Connecticut College and an MBA from Case Western Reserve.
Delphine loves to go on family adventures near and far. While at home, she loves gardening, walking the dogs, cooking, baking, and playing games.
Heather Fenske
Heather joined the Edina Give and Go Board to provide an outreach to young people who are in need of extracurricular services. Education is important for our students, but so is being part of a team or organization that strengthens their skills and helps to enhance their future.
When not volunteering at Edina Give and Go, you can find Heather hanging out with family and friends. Heather loves to travel, hike, take pictures, and play Mahjongg!
Heather lives in Edina with her husband and three sons, two of whom are in college and the youngest in 10th grade at EHS, and their furry boy, Louie
Alison Ford
Alison Ford has spent her entire career in education - including traditional district schools, public charter schools, and higher education. She has partnered with districts and universities on business process redesign, software implementation, career services, and most recently fundraising and board governance.
Alison earned a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master's in Public Administration with a focus on education policy and school finance, both at Cornell University.
As the descendant of a long line of teachers and educators, Aison is committed to the mission of Edina Give and Go and is proud to be part of a community that values inclusivity and equity.
Alison lives in Edina and is mom to an EHS graduate and an EHS senior. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with them, walking her teacup goldendoodle Mabel, gardening, and traveling.
Jenny Griskevicius
Jenny is a nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist, with a B.A. in language studies and M.S. in communication disorders. She moved from the West Coast to Edina 14 years ago and proceeded to have 4 Minnesotan children, who all attend Edina Public Schools.
Jenny spends her time actively growing community groups, volunteering at her kids' schools, encouraging voter turnout, and wrangling her family. She has served on the ELC's PTO, PCN, and NeighborGood. She loves reading, gardening, and cooking vegetables her kids won't eat. She firmly believes we can all take steps to make the world a more nurturing and equitable place for children, in our own communities and around the world.
Anne Marie Leland, EdD
Dr. Leland is the Director of Community Education and Strategic Partnerships for Edina Public Schools. She brings to the district more than 21 years of experience creating and implementing innovative educational and out of school time programs, collaborating with a variety of community stakeholders, and successfully expanding service through acquisition of $7.6 million in grant funding.
Dr. Leland was the community education director at Faribault Public Schools for ten years, where she led Early Childhood through adult education, out-of-school time, and literacy programs. She also developed multi-stakeholder partnerships to broaden access and opportunities for the community’s youth, and expanded partnerships with families, including members of the Somali and Latinx communities.
Dr. Leland also held leadership positions for nine years with the state of Minnesota in the areas of career pathways, workforce education, and literacy. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Education Leadership and Learning Department at Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
Leland began her career in education as a classroom teacher at the International School of Choueifat in Lahore, Pakistan. Leland holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California-Los Angeles; a master’s in secondary teaching from the University of St. Thomas; and a doctorate in education leadership from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
Laura Lukens
Mike Pretasky
Elena Brito Sifferlin, MSW, LGSW
TreasurerElena is a licensed social worker and community volunteer dedicated to finding solutions to issues affecting gender and racial equity. As a Latina, she is especially devoted to supporting underrepresented communities. She currently serves on the Guiding Circle of the Anti-Racism Collective of Edina as a Community Engager. For over eight years Elena has served the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota as a board trustee and committee member. She continues to serve and previously chaired the Governance and Young Women’s Committees; and previously served on the MN Girls Are Not For Sale Committee. Elena served as Vice Chair of the Facilities Committee of the Edina Race and Equity Task Force. Elena was a Racial Justice Facilitator/Trainer and member of the Public Policy Committee with the YWCA of Minneapolis and a Life Skills Facilitator with the Jeremiah Program.
Elena graduated from the University of Kansas and began her corporate career at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in finance and product management. After becoming a program officer for its foundation, she was inspired to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work and move into the social services sector. Elena is a transplant to the Twin Cities, and has worked as a contractor in research, program development and evaluation. Elena and her husband Mark have two grown daughters.
Andrea Smith
Andrea Smith is a wealth management attorney at Wells Fargo Bank. Previously, she was a trust and estate attorney and litigator at Iverson Reuvers, a boutique law firm in Bloomington. She earned a BA in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law.
For more than 15 years Andrea has volunteered as a high school mock trial judge and attorney for Wills for Heroes, a program that offers estate planning services to first responders. She is excited to help Edina Give and Go grow in its mission to provide financially disadvantaged students opportunities in academics, arts, and athletics.
Andrea and her husband Quincy have two kids who attend Edina Public Schools, and poodle with endless energy. They can often be spotted enjoying Edina’s many parks.
Ann Vogt
Farhiya Abdi
Jennifer Ede
Nicole Tuescher
Nicole ("Nikie") lives in the Countryside neighborhood with her husband and two wonderful children, aged 12 and 17, who attend Valley View Middle School and Edina High School. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota and a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University.
Nikie began her career as a teacher, gaining extensive experience by teaching students of all ages—from preschool to law school—in various public, private, and military settings.
For over 15 years, Nikie was a school district administrator, where she worked in both large and moderately-sized districts in human resources and legal roles. She currently serves as the Vice President of People and Culture at the Minnesota Historical Society, blending her service-oriented outlook with her philosophy of fostering lifelong curiosity.
Outside of work, Nikie enjoys participating in triathlons, playing broomball, and exploring new places with her family.
Ramla Hasanali
Ramla was born in India but raised in the small Middle Eastern country of Oman, and she carries roots from Gujarat and Bombay. This rich cultural background has made her fluent in about 4½ languages, adding to her vibrant identity.
Ramla moved to the US in 1999 to pursue a degree in Computer Science and has called Edina, MN, home for the past 10 years. Despite her appreciation for Minnesota’s community and opportunities, she’s still not a fan of the cold weather. In Edina, she has been deeply involved in the local scene, notably through her service on the Edina Race and Equity Task Force, which has driven systemic change in the city and helped her build strong connections within the school and government. She is an active member of the PTO at Valley View Middle School.
Professionally, Ramla leads product management at a local non-profit CaringBridge, where her work ensures that “no one goes through a health journey alone.” Her passion for the nonprofit world is evident in her active role with the Dawoodi Bohra Community in Plymouth, MN, where she manages Public Relations and Outreach. She also serves on the board of IAM, bringing her dedication to inclusiveness and community building.
Outside of work and volunteer commitments, Ramla enjoys Bollywood movies, spending time with her friends, and cherishing moments with her tween son, Burhanuddin. Her infectious smile and humorous, light-hearted approach make her a beloved figure in her community, always going out of her way to make people feel included and valued.
Kristen Hoplin
Kris is the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Minnesota, a statewide nonprofit focused on early literacy. She has twenty years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College and a master’s degree from The University of Chicago, as well as a certificate in nonprofit management.
Kris enjoys spending time with her family, including her two daughters who are in EPS, and loves to read and travel.
Molly Schmidt
Student Ambassadors
- Lexi Hann
- Claire Watz
- Daniel Fenske
Financials
Edina Give and Go is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our work to bring life and learning opportunities to Edina Public Schools students who are economically disadvantaged would be impossible without the commitment and generous support of donors. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We are committed to stewarding these funds to make the greatest impact possible in our community. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 47-5031672.
Edina Give and Go Financial Reports