National Youth Council (NYC)

Sandy Tesch (Chair)

Sandy Tesch is chair of the American Red Cross National Youth Council. She began volunteering for the Red Cross in the summer of 1998 when, after e-mailing several service organizations, the Red Cross was the only one to respond. She attended a volunteer orientation and began a career of public service in the Red Cross family.

When she started volunteering at her local Red Cross office, Sandy was extremely shy and content to do clerical work. However, a few months later, a youth program coordinator was hired and, as the youth program grew, Sandy developed into a confident, outgoing leader.

Sandy's Red Cross work has included many roles in service delivery and governance, including positions as a youth board member at the Bay Area Chapter in San Francisco and the Northern California Blood Region in Oakland.

She has taught preparedness classes, performed earthquake minor mitigation, run campus blood drives, and facilitated the local leadership development center for youth and young adults. She recently became active in disaster services as a disaster action team member and family services caseworker. In college, Sandy was president of the Red Cross Club on campus, recruiting hundreds of active volunteers and creating a student-run class about the Red Cross.

A National Youth Council member since 2002, Sandy has led significant projects to increase mission-related youth and young adult involvement in the organization, including work at national convention and with the Measles Initiative. In December 2003, she traveled to Gambia, Africa to observe a measles vaccination campaign and had the experience of a lifetime. She has also represented the National Youth Council in Italy at Fiaccolata, an annual torchlight procession commemorating Henri Dunant's walk through the Solferino battlefield that inspired him to start the International Red Cross Movement.

Sandy graduated from UC Berkeley in 2005 with a degree in psychology and a minor in public policy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and works in development for the UC Berkeley Library.

Mat Morgan (Vice Chair)

Mat has been a volunteer with the Red Cross for over seven years. He started with the Ventura County chapter in southern California, helping to fundraise and collect donations for the Community Chest Program. Luckily, about that time, the chapter became interested in developing an active youth group, and he joined a group of local high-school students in founding the chapter's youth program. The Youth Emergency Services had a regular skit program for local Boys and Girls Clubs, trained its members in first aid and disaster response, provided smoke detectors for members of the community and fundraised for disaster victims. He is proud that the Ventura County chapter now has over 500 active youth volunteers!

As a freshman at the University of Southern California, Mat served on the Youth Services Committee of the California State Service Council, helping to design a reference CD for California's chapters to provide a variety of ideas and reference materials to youth programs. He also joined two other USC students to found the campus Red Cross Club.

For the past two years, Mat has worked on a variety of National Youth Council projects. Notably, he has been a coordinator for the National Youth Institute - West, served as the administrator for the Youth Neighborhood, and lobbied USC and UCLA to institute a rivalry blood drive to coincide with the football match. As Vice Chair, Mat leads the Communication and Marketing Committee.

Justin Lam (Secretary)

Justin Lam, a first year undergraduate at the University of California, Los Angeles, currently serves as the National Youth Council's secretary. He started his Red Cross experience cutting paper and answering phones as an office volunteer at the Santa Clara Valley Chapter (San Jose, CA) in seventh grade. He soon became more involved after attending the chapter's 2001 leadership development conference in the summer before eighth grade. Since then, he has spent the past four years regularly attending and planning volunteer events, teaching Basic Aid Training classes to local children, and planning leadership development conferences.

Upon starting his freshman year in high school in 2002, he joined the chapter's youth executive board and has served as the board's Measles Initiative coordinator and co-chair. Justin has also served on the chapter's board of directors, organizational review committee, and service delivery committee. He has worked on projects such as an officers training weekend to give middle school and high school Red Cross club officers critical skills in leadership and delivering services and has helped lead workshops at American Red Cross national conventions, state and service area conferences. Justin also helped reestablish his high school's Red Cross club, where he led projects to teach preparedness skills to mentally disabled adults and a drive at his school to gather care package supplies for troops overseas.

In 2005, Justin spoke at the American Red Cross national convention as the Navin Narayan National Youth Speaker. That same year, he also joined the national youth council. Justin has participated in the planning of national youth involvement month, strategic investment grants, youth workshops at the Volunteer Administration Institute, and the American Red Cross collaboration with national fraternity Delta Sigma Phi.

Justin is currently considering majoring in political science, English, or design and media arts. Outside of the American Red Cross, he enjoys serving as a board member on the State Farm youth advisory board and working on UCLA's student newspaper. As Secretary, Justin leads the Events Management Committee.

Pat West (Treasurer)

Pat West has been unofficially volunteering since he was 9 years old, tagging along with his two older brothers to car washes and gift wrap fundraisers. He enjoyed those experiences so much he decided to officially volunteer on his own! During his freshman year of high school, Pat joined the San Mateo County branch of the Bay Area Chapter and the Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Team.

That following summer, Pat attended his first Leadership Development Center (LDC) coordinated by the Bay Area Chapter. This four-day overnight event brought Pat out of his shell and he has never turned back.

Since then he has attended 3 additional LDC's as a staff member, passing along the wonderful experiences he had as a delegate to younger Red Crossers.

Pat’s leadership positions within his county and chapter include co-chairing the San Mateo County YES team for two years and sitting on the San Mateo County Leadership Council during his junior year in high school. Also, he helped to update high school shelter surveys and establish a better relationship with the local school district.

It was not long before Pat took advantage of many of the opportunities at the chapter level. During Pat's last year in high school, he joined the Bay Area Board of Directors and offered the youth perspective on many important issues. At 17, he became a CPR/First Aid/AED instructor teaching other youth in his chapter important life saving skills. Pat has attended 4 national conventions, and 2 National Youth Institutes. He is currently a Junior at UCLA and is the president of their Red Cross Club.

Chanell Autrey (Member)

Chanell Autrey began volunteering with the National Capital Area Chapter in Washington, DC, and has continued her volunteer career with the Red Cross Club at Penn State, working with the local chapter and blood region. Chanell is currently a junior at Penn State, majoring in Political Science and French.

Nitesh Banta (Member)

Nitesh Banta is a student at Harvard University, majoring in Social Studies.
He is spending the summer working for Google in Mountain View, California.

Chris Chen

Chris Chen is currently a sophomore at Harvard College studying chemical biology and sociology. Chris began his Red Cross career as a high school freshman with the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter in Pasadena, California. Starting out washing the chapter’s ERVs, Chris eventually founded his high school Red Cross club, became president of the chapter’s youth program and served on a number of chapter committees.

In 2006, he was awarded the Navin Narayan Scholarship as well as named the chapter’s Youth Volunteer of the Year. Upon graduating, he moved on to become President of the Harvard Red Cross his freshman year before joining the National Youth Council.

Outside of the Red Cross, Chris is active as a volunteer prison tutor and photographer for the daily newspaper.

Anna Gail Caunca (Youth director, National Youth Council Advisor)

Having moved from the Chicago-land area, Anna Gail Caunca has now been living in California since October 2003. A graduate from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, her experience with Volunteer Illini Projects, the largest student-run non-profit on campus, really made an impact to steer her in the direction of non-profit work.

Caunca first became involved with the Palo Alto Area Chapter as a volunteer First Aid/CPR instructor and joined the staff at the end of March 2004. She enjoys working with youth volunteers and helping to empower them take ownership of their volunteer experience and make a difference in the community. “It is so important that youth know that they can truly make a difference in the community. It is a great way to learn more about others and build skills they will use in the future.” In her current role as Director of Youth Services, she oversees all Youth Programs and Services, such as Safe Ride, Safe Kids, Red Cross Clubs, and Youth in Disaster. The addition of the Youth Services Center at the chapter brought an exciting start to the 2007 year.

"My involvement at the Red Cross has also given me the opportunity to go on 2 national disaster relief assignments in Florida. From staffing a shelter to riding along in an Emergency Response Vehicle serving meals in devastated areas - it has been a learning experience."
As if running around the Red Cross wasn’t enough, Caunca also enjoys running and finished her first marathon in Chicago, October 2005. Her latest challenge was the Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon, which included swimming, cycling, and running, which she completed this past September.

Caunca resides in San Francisco and is looking forward to her next triathlon challenge.

Karuna Dewan (Member)

Currently a second year medical student at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Karuna began her Red Cross experience over 10 years ago with the Greater Kalamazoo Area Chapter in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During her time with the chapter, Karuna served two terms on the chapter board of directors, chaired the youth services committee, volunteered as a member of the VolunTeen Leadership Corps, and represented the chapter at the 2004 and 2005 American Red Cross national convention as well as state conferences in 1999 and 2000.
Since moving to Chicago, Karuna has become involved with the Greater Chicago Area Chapter. For the past two years Karuna has promoted the Measles Initiative, which provides vaccinations and awareness about measles in Africa.

As a measles champion, Karuna, sponsored and planned several fundraising events on the Northwestern University campus. She is currently a member of the Chicago Chapter auxiliary board as well as president of the Northwestern University Medical School American Red Cross Campus Club. As a chapter volunteer Karuna plans a yearly bilingual first aid instruction event for Hispanic Heritage month. Additional projects include Tsunami fundraising, Global AIDS week education, and youth volunteer recruitment.

Other organizations Karuna is involved with include the Girl Scouts, Delta Zeta Sorority, the American Medical Student Association, and Northwestern University Young Alumni.

Brandon Feller (CEO, National Youth Council Advisor)

Brandon Feller has been an American Red Cross employee for four years. His first interaction with the Red Cross came as a teenager when his neighborhood was struck by a tornado. In 2002, Brandon started his Red Cross career with the Mid-Illinois Chapter as director of public support and was responsible for fundraising and media relations. In 2003, he became the government and external relations officer for all chapters and blood regions in Illinois. In this position, he advocated American Red Cross policy positions to the Illinois General Assembly and served as a state emergency operations center liaison.

Brandon later became a chapter executive director in 2005 for the Delaware County Chapter which serves Ohio¡¦s fastest growing county. Brandon holds a B.A. degree in political studies from the University of Illinois and has served as a government liaison officer for the American Red Cross during three hurricanes, two tornadoes, and one flood. He joined the National Youth Council in 2004 because of a strong desire to help recruit a new generation of American Red Cross volunteers.

Allan I. Goldberg, M.D. (Board of Governors Member Liaison to NYC)

Dr. Goldberg attended University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry in 1973.

He received his M.D. degree from the University of Health Sciences/the Chicago Medical School in 1977. His postgraduate training was at Baylor College of Medicine where he completed his training in Internal Medicine (1980) and Nephrology (1982). His is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. From 1983 to 1989 he practiced clinical nephrology.

Dr. Goldberg joined Merck in 1989 as an associate director in cardiovascular clinical research. He has extensive clinical and regulatory develop experience in phases II, III, and IV. He played a key role in the Cozaar and Hyzaar development programs and publications. These products are successfully marketed worldwide in over 80 countries. In 2000 he joined Worldwide Product Safety and Epidemiology where he was responsible for post-marketing safety surveillance for Aggrastat, Maxalt, Singulair, and the ophthalmic products. In July 2001 he joined USHH as senior medical director in the Mid-Atlantic region in the regional medical director program and subsequently was promoted to executive medical director in the mid-Atlantic region in the regional medical director program. He is currently an executive scientific director in U.S. Human Health at Merck & Co., Inc.

In addition, Dr. Goldberg has been the chairperson for the Pennsylvania Merck & Co., Inc. blood donation program since 1997, and has served the American Red Cross Pennsylvania-New Jersey Southeast Region board of directors including chairman of the board (2005). Currently he is serving on the American Red Cross Board of Governors.

Bianca Kahlenberg (Member)

Bianca Kahlenberg began volunteering for the Red Cross the summer before her freshman year of high school when she was 13 years old. Her experience as a volunteer began with her attendance to the Martin County, Florida Chapter’s Youth Leadership Development Camp. Following the camp she decided to come back and volunteer that summer. She joined a committee for a silent auction fundraiser and quickly became involved. The fundraiser was a great success, raising over $8,000 and motivating Bianca to do more. Over the next three years Bianca became a leader in her local youth program. She became the coordinator of many community service events. The first of many was when she became Director of Emergency Skills Boot Camp, a camp originating at the Martin County Chapter. This camp's objective is to teach youth in the community basic first aid skills and give them the confidence they need to respond to everyday emergencies such as broken bones or sudden illnesses. Bianca also became a counselor at the Youth Leadership Development Center where she started as a youth volunteer. Through her work and progression with the program Bianca became involved in all areas of Red Cross Services such as Disaster and Health and Safety. Bianca volunteered after local areas were struck with hurricanes by answering phone calls from the community, delivering meals, and working with adult correspondence.

In her senior year of high school Bianca was appointed as Youth Council Chair of her local youth program and placed on the Executive Board. As Youth Council Chair she oversees over 200 youth volunteers and the coordination of over 40 different service projects each year. In June of 2007 Bianca was also asked to serve as the Southeast Service Area Youth Liaison, mentoring youth programs in a five-state region. Bianca was appointed to the National Youth Council in July of 2007.

Bianca currently still a senior in high school is planning on attending a four-year university with a major in Business Administration. She hopes to one day work with non-profits such as the Red Cross and inspire others to follow along in the mission of the American Red Cross.

Wendi Keeler (Field Rep for Pen State, National Youth Council advisor)

Wendi graduated from Penn State University with degrees in health and physical education and medical technology. She worked as a Program Director and Physical Director in the YMCA system for about 10 years in both State College, PA and in West Chester, PA. While working as a medical technologist, she became the American Red Cross blood drive sponsor for her company.

She was hired by the American Red Cross, Greater Alleghenies Blood Regions in 2001 as the field representative for the already successful Penn State University blood collection program. Since that time, she has grown the program by 36%, last year collecting record high 8,211 units of blood on campus. She is the advisor for the Penn State Student Red Cross Club which has more than 300 participating members each semester. She resides in State College, PA with her partner; has one dog and two cats.

Shruti Mathur

Shruti first started volunteering with the American Red Cross through the National Capital Area Chapter, a home away from home that firmly cemented her beliefs in and passions for the organization. Within weeks she had helped organize a regional blood drive, participated in a summer leadership camp, and had been dispatched on a DAT during a national disaster in D.C. Shruti also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Chapter’s monthly youth publication, represented her chapter as a national convention scholarship recipient at the 2002 convention in Phoenix, and as one of the principal organizers and emcee of a tri-chapter recognition ceremony for the Pentagon workers just weeks after 9/11. Even before she was a freshman at Johns Hopkins University, Shruti was recruited to serve as the International Services Chair of the JHU Red Cross, and as a National Measles Champion.

Through these roles she successfully raised over $20,000 for the Measles Initiative through innovative local and regional fundraisers. Her leadership experience founding Red Cross school clubs on the high school and college levels led her to be appointed as the Mid-Atlantic Service Area Liaison, a position where she represented and promoted youth activities across 7 states and Washington D.C. Currently Shruti is serving on the National Youth Council where among other national campaigns, she has successfully implemented a multi-city fundraiser for the Measles Initiative through the National Measles Task Force (www.measlestaskforce.org). She is a New York based correspondent for Press TV and freelances as an editor at a fashion magazine.

Lucas Pierce (Member)

Lucas currently volunteers with the Eastern Panhandle Chapter in West Virginia. He began volunteering when he was 16 years old, when he asked to take more Red Cross courses. He began taking the basic Disaster Services courses, and has been working on with Disaster Services for over 4 years now. After volunteering for a year, he was asked to serve on his Chapter’s Board of Directors, to help start a Youth Services program. In high school, he started and ran a Junior Red Cross club during the last part of his senior year. Since then, he has also started one at his university. Lucas has been very involved in Disaster Services, and serves on his local team and goes out to do single family disaster responses, like house fires, ensuring they have the needed items to begin recovery (like food, shelter, clothing). He has also helped with his Chapter Disaster Response Plan, changing the structure of his chapters Disaster Action Team, and helping out at any other event possible. He now serves as a Disaster Services Instructor, and also goes out on National DSHR assignments. He has recently been promoted to Supervisor.
Lucas has been to 2 national conventions, several Disaster Training Institutes, and currently volunteers with a second chapter, and will be instructing for a third. He also recently became authorized to instruct CPR/First Aid/AED courses.

Besides Red Cross, Lucas goes to Shepherd University where he is majoring in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology. He also owns his own business, which is focused on advertising by way of in-store promotions.

Elizabeth Quintana

Elizabeth began volunteering at the American Red Cross Arlington County Chapter in the summer of 2002. She became a member of the Chapter’s Youth Team, and a youth safety educator teaching children basic water safety and disaster preparedness. Elizabeth enjoyed her experience at the Red Cross so much that she decided to continue volunteering through the school year.

In 2003, Elizabeth helped execute the Youth Team’s first major fundraiser, Rummage 4 Relief. In 2004, she received a scholarship from the American Red Cross to attend National Convention in St. Louis, MO. It was at National Convention where Elizabeth heard about the National Youth Council for the first time. She was so impressed by the Council’s passion to increase youth involvement that when she returned to the Arlington County Chapter, she became a spokesperson for youth involvement. She became the first youth to serve on the Chapter’s Board of Directors in 2003 and served for four years. There are currently two youth representatives on the Board. Elizabeth also served on the Youth Advisory Board for the Arlington County Chapter and helped plan Youth Team events.

Elizabeth has recruited youth to the Red Cross at volunteer fairs and has led the summer orientation for new youth volunteers. Fluent in Spanish, Elizabeth has translated an emergency preparedness video for the Chapter and used her skills in video production to film the Chapter’s major fundraiser, Community March Mania, in 2007.

Elizabeth has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award three times and was awarded the Gabrielle DeThomas Outstanding Youth Award by the Arlington County Chapter. In 2006, she received the James B. Hunter III Community Hero in the Making Award by the Arlington Community Foundation. In 2007, she was awarded the regional Gold Medallion youth award in Community Service by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

Once a shy girl, Elizabeth’s Red Cross experience helped her become a leader and a spokesperson. She credits much of her leadership qualities and professionalism to her volunteer experience at the Arlington County Chapter. During her senior year of high school, Elizabeth applied for the National Youth Council. She is a first year undergraduate student at the University of Virginia.

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