Volunteers
More than 100 volunteers have joined us from all over the world (especially from the US and Romania). From entrepreneurs to non-profit leaders to professors to lawyers to marketing and management folk, our team is made out of people united by their commitment to supporting positive change and their love for Romania. Backed by a strong International Board of Advisors, they made RUF what it is today.
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.
Ligia Apostoaia
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
Founding Member, Secretary of the BoD, 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.
Adina Sandu
Member
Founding Member, UX & Creative, Supporter of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Founding Member
Volunteer
“What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.” Incurable optimistic? Adina says no. We need to believe in the good that lies ahead and we can do amazing things together. Random fact: she would rather carry a camera than a purse.
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.
Oana Dobrean - Urzica
Founding Angel
Founding Angel, ROCO Ambassador , Supporter of ROCO, ROCO Communications Lead
Volunteer
Teacher
Oana has been one of the biggest believers in ROCO since the very beginning and one of the most active volunteers. She believes in the strength of our community, in volunteering, doing good, and leaving something worth while behind.
Bianca Zamfirescu
Honorary Member
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.
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.
Georgiana Merdariu
Founding Angel
Founding Member, Programs Director, Chicago
Founding Member
Staff
Teacher
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.
CEO & Founder of Sun Media Shine Digital Marketing Agency and Cora Phenix Entertainment. Graduated from Gheorghe Dima Music Academy in Cluj, Romania, and studied drama at the University Babes Bolyai in the same city, entertainer and published author.
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