MEET THE BOARD
Susan Foster
Founder & Chair
Susan Foster, raised in East Hampton, Long Island, is a celebrated fine jewelry designer with over two decades in the fashion world. Foster’s designs reside in prestigious stores across the globe from London to Los Angeles, New York to Moscow, as well as select online luxury retailers. Her jewelry has been on the covers of Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, InStyle and countless others, and has been featured in Vogue, Town and Country, Harper’s Bazaar, Tatler and Vanity Fair.
Being a fine jewelry designer has led Foster to appreciate what creativity can do for the mind and spirit, especially children. Foster, who can relate to the child of a broken home, recognizes that a tumultuous family environment can crush the dreamer in all of us. She has long imagined creating a safe haven where children can escape these settings in order to freely play, create, invent, and be a kid. Overall, she seeks to provide a nurturing, creative outlet assisting children who would otherwise not have access to the arts due to domestic trauma.
This safe haven is realized by A Place To Be(ad) Me, which provides a much-needed outlet for children who have suffered from a traumatic dysfunctional home life, irrespective of socio-economic or cultural background. As Foster states, “the goal is to help children feel unencumbered and a sense of freedom, improved autonomy, increased esteem, and clear recognition of worth – all through creative outlets.”
Jake Groshong
Vice President
Jake currently serves as Executive Director of Playing for Change, an international nonprofit building music and arts schools in the areas of the world most in need. Having worked over fifteen years in the arts and arts education field, he has had the distinct pleasure of working with major artists and personal heroes to help kids around the world through the arts.
Prior to working for Playing for Change, Jake served as Executive Director of Josh Groban’s Find Your Light Foundation, helping to dramatically expand their reach and impact across North America.
Laura Moore
Board Member
Laura Moore began her career in the early 1980’s trading commodities and financial futures. Being among the top producers at Dean Witter, Laura was the first woman appointed to the Dean Witter Chairman’s club.
In the 90’s, she began trading for hedge funds and was involved in relationship management for 4 multi-billion hedge funds. From 2009 through 2014 was appointed Director of Capital Introductions for Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking (FKA Newedge). Currently, Laura is working for Sandalwood Securities, Inc. as a Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing.
Laura is involved with a number of philanthropic endeavors focused on animals, health and education. She has chaired various galas for charities as wells as served on boards of Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Heart Ball, Zoo Ball, ASPCA, YWCA Harmony House, Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc., Center for Family Services of Palm Beach, Florida, and Cancer Alliance Help and Hope.
Jackie Shafiroff
Board Member
Jackie Shafiroff was born in New York City. She went to Tufts University for her undergraduate education and then got her Masters in Social Work at NYU. Jackie has worked with young men on probation at the Harlem Justice Community Program and with young children with developmental and emotional disabilities at the Helen Owen Carey Child Development Center. She is involved with numerous charitable organizations such as The Woodstock Animal Sanctuary, The Southampton Animal Shelter and The New York City Mission Society. Jackie is particularly passionate about caring for animals and children in need, and has two rescue dogs of her own, Charlie and Henry.
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Tara Famiglietti
Board Member
Born and raised in Manhattan, Tara Maria Famiglietti was acclaimed as a jewelry designer to watch by New York Magazine at the age of twenty, when she developed a contemporary fine jewelry line using diamonds and 18k gold. Thereafter, Tara, who received a degree in jewelry design from FIT, has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Her designs have been sold in exclusive boutiques and department stores around the world and have been shown in countless magazines.
Tara refined her visual language growing up as the only daughter of two sought after fashion designers. Her inspiration in design has always come from a strong world view, sense of exploration outside one's own boundaries, and largely the awe-inspiring nature of the Sea. Her fascination with water for design began during the years she lived on a sailboat, traveling through the French Riviera, the Amalfi Coast, the Balearic Islands, the African Coast and the Caribbean. Tara has a philanthropic passion for children, animals, and the arts, and resides in New York City with her musician husband and daughter.
Elizabeth Flores Flake
Board Member
Ambassador, Elizabeth Flores Flake, is a writer, and has a Law Degree from the National Autonomous University of Honduras and is a member of the Honduran Bar Association.
She is the daughter of Carlos and Mary Flores. Her father, Carlos Roberto Flores, was President of Honduras from 1998-2002.
Ms. Flores Flake was chosen as the first woman Ambassador of Honduras to the United Nations representing the Government of Unity and Reconciliation. After being instrumental and returning Honduras to full participation in all regional groups and forums, in 2012 she was endorsed by the Latin America and the Caribbean Group (GRULAC) and was elected Vice-President of the United Nations General Assembly's 67th Session.
In January 2014, Ambassador Flores Flake was re-appointed by the government of President Juan Orlando Hernandez as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations.
In addition to her ambassadorial responsibilities, Ms. Flores Flake holds the position of Liaison between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Honduran Government since 2014, working on Honduras Sustainable Development National Plan and Agenda.
From May 2016 to June 2018, Ambassador Flores Flake served as the President of the Executive Board of the International Association of Permanent Representatives (IAPR) to the United Nations in New York.
Ms. Flake divides her time between New York and Honduras.