Top 20 ROCO Ambassadors
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Mihai Lehene
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
Founder of RUF. President of FORA.
Founder
Volunteer (full)
Teacher
Mihai is the Owner of MDL Investments, a real-estate and VC family-office with a focus on emerging technologies, including fintech, biotech and crypto. In 2020 Mihai resigned his business roles to run RUF, and in 2022 he was elected as President of FORA.

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Valentin Daraban
Founding Angel
Founding Angel, Ambassador of the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Volunteer

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Cristian Merdariu
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
ROCO Biz
Founding Angel, RCC Chicago Ambassador
Founding Member
Cristian is co-founder and owner of City Habitat Realty, a successful real estate company in Chicago. He believes Romanians should work harder to express and identify themselves as one nation, to earn their own sense of value and the right to be proud.

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Catalin Juncan
Honorary Member
Ambassador and Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center

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Lavinia Tomescu
Member
Ambassador of RoCo, Supporter of RoCo, Member of the RoCo Chicago Community Council

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Ligia Apostoaia
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
Secretary of the Board, CEO of MDL Investments
Founding Member
Volunteer
Teacher
Ligiaโs charity involvement began at a very young age, helping her family foundation with the distribution of humanitarian aid to the families in need in the area immediately. Today she continues to do what she is most passionate about: doing good.

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Alina Cumpan
Founder: Authentic Society, Founding Member of RUF, Founder: Chicago Community Council, Volunteer, Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Founding Member
Volunteer
I believe in Unity, in long-lasting programs, and in open doors for the ones that are willing to build bridges to a beautiful tomorrow. Join us today!

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Ioana Savos
Founding Angel
RUF Founding Angel, Member of the Chicago Community Council, Honorary Member of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Volunteer

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Nicoleta Roman
Member
Mezzo-Soprano, RUF Ambassador & VP of Donor Relations, RCCC Ambassador
Volunteer
Romanian-American Mezzo-Soprano Nicoleta Roman has been a prominent member of the Romanian community in Chicago for over 23 years. She is fond of her Romanian heritage, constantly promoting her values through her voice.

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RUF is a 100% pass-through fundraising platform. We help diaspora & local nonprofits in Romania access the funding, tools, training, and support they need to become more effective. We do this by connecting NGOs, donors & volunteers from all over the world

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