Our Heritage

Raise Funds For A Cause You Care About.

Who We Are

Friends of Guyana was created out of the desire to connect RPCVs and other returned volunteers to opportunities and information to help them continue on their life’s journey. We also wanted to continue the work we did as volunteers by funding projects and offering guidance to current PCVs as they serve Guyana.

Accomplishments

Over the past ten years we’ve funded over three dozen projects, offered fiscal sponsorship to nearly half a dozen projects, saw one project go on to the Cannes Film Festival and have counseled dozens of RPCVs, PCVs, non-profits and Guyanese host country nationals on their projects, priorities and initiatives.

We hope to see another 10 years of successes and completed projects.

Our Executive Board

Mason Richards

President + Board Chair

Mason Richards

Mason is an award-winning filmmaker, professor and creative producer of Guyanese and US heritage.

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Abigail Reese-Kelley

Vice President

Abigail Reese-Kelley

Abigail Reese-Kelley is an education advocate and consultant committed to uplifting youth and communities globally.

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Daniel Atwater

Treasurer / Secretary

Daniel Atwater

Daniel D. Atwater is an adjunct professor and management consultant specializing in high-profile leadership and strategic advisory experiences for financial services and real estate companies.

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Nalini Tiwari Greenan

Board Member

Nalini Tiwari Greenan

Greenan is passionate about supporting organizations that advocate and empower women and children.

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Jay Boodheshwar

Board Member

Jay Boodheshwar

Boodheshwar emigrated with his parents, brother and sister from Guyana in 1979, as a 6-year old. Mr. Boodheshwar currently serves as the Director of Gifts at the Oxbridge Academy.

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Monique Nelson

Board Member

Monique Nelson

Chair and CEO of UWG, insight-driven, and award-winning, agency. Her mission is to connect forward-thinking brands to the more than $1.3 trillion-dollar spending in the US multicultural market.

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Stacey Alphonso

Board Member

Stacey Alphonso

Ms. Alphonso gained international experience early in her career in Guyana, as director of communications for the country’s largest advertising agency.

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Goodwill Ambassador

Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen

Goodwill Ambassador

Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen

Princess Ariana is an American writer, arts manager, and philanthropist, and a member of the Ethiopian imperial family and the House of Solomon through her marriage to Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen.

Advisory Board

Celeste Hamilton Dennis

Member

Celeste Hamilton Dennis

Celeste Hamilton Dennis taught reading and HIV prevention to high schoolers and is currently based in Portland, Oregon, as a writer and editor in the social good space.

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Emily Johnson

Member

Emily Johnson

Johnson served in Guyana on the Essequibo Coast as a Community Health Education Promoter from 2011-2013.

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Kati Ringer

Member

Kati Ringer

After studying History and Art at the University of Vermont, she joined the Peace Corps and served as an Education volunteer in Guyana.

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Lorine Ghabranious

Member

Lorine Ghabranious

Served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Charity from 2008-10. She was a community health education volunteer working with both Charity Primary School and local NGO.

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Louise Stenberg

Member

Louise Stenberg

Served in the Peace Corps as a Community Health Education Volunteer in Guyana from 2004 to 2006.

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Mike Geurink

Member

Mike Geurink

Geurink has been involved with FROG since 2007 as a founding member and has served in various roles including a term as President.

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Patrick Southern

Member

Patrick Southern

Southern served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guyana from 2012 to 2014. He strives to make FROG’s resources and support available to partnerships with community efforts in Guyana.

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Shane Loorz

Member

Shane Loorz

A Program Specialist for Tribal Tech, LLC supporting the Administration for Native Americans. Experienced working in fields of education and community development.

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Stephanie Larson

Member

Stephanie Larson

Earned a MA in Teaching English Language and Linguistics at the University of Arizona. Has experience in the classroom, ranging from kindergarten to second-year university level.

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The GAFF returns in 2026

FROG’s quarterly newsletter — stories, projects and culture from Guyana and the diaspora.

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