Founding members
Romanian United Fund was created at the initiative of 14 people that were brought together by the common need to support great Romanian initiatives and preserve the Romanian identity abroad.
Mirela is co-founder of Spera Foundation, an organization that provides opportunities to underprivileged children in Romania to continue their education, achieve academic excellence, and ultimately make a positive impact in their communities.
Graduated from UIC, College of Business, with a degree in finance and works as a Digital Manager at Mainland. Fun facts: prefers a camera, unable to make a choice between hiking a mountain or walking in the sand, an incurable optimist.
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.
Ligia Apostoaia
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
Secretary of the Board, CEO of MDL Investments
Founding Member
Volunteer
Teacher
Ligia’s 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.
Cosmina has a Master Degree in Economics from University of Targu Mures. She is the RUF office wizard, handling all accounting and administrative issues. She moved to Chicago from Romania more than a decade ago and she is passionate about helping people.
Since she moved to Chicago, Ariana earned two Master's degrees, International Public Service and Leadership Communication . Thanks to a local NPO, Upwardly Global, she was able to start her career in the US in international higher education.
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!
Miruna Zamfirescu
Founding Angel
Founding Member, Reporting Officer, VP of Fundraising
Founding Member
Volunteer
Originally from Bistrita, Miruna earned her BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has built her career in the financial markets as an algorithmic trader/quantitative analyst.
Casandra is an employment lawyer and has practiced law for nearly 10 years as an associate at two well-respected Chicago law firms and as in-house counsel at a large international bank. Casandra obtained her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Anamaria Neamt
Member
Founding Member, Word Whisperer (Newsletter), Supporter of the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Founding Member
Volunteer
“Don’t Panic” (aka Douglas Adams’ version of today’s “stay calm”)
Born with an affinity for numbers and words in a family of educators. My journey: music school, writing club, math, economics, and, closing the circle, teaching. Going back to the roots se
Monica Horga
Member
Founding Member, Ambassador of RoCo, Supporter of RoCo
Founding Member
Volunteer
Georgiana is bringing extensive experience in Communication & Marketing gained from her previous roles as a journalist in the biggest media trust in Romania and coordinator of international campaigns for well-established clients at Ogilvy and Grey G2.
Mihaela is a social worker and co-founder of Spera Foundation, a nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Romania. She is also serving as an Educational Programs Advisor for SPOC Charity.
