FOUNDERS

  • Sophie Donay, Co-President

    Sophie is a freshman at Barnard College of Columbia University. Having volunteered for over five years to tutor and read books to elementary school students from low-income communities in Los Angeles, Sophie co-founded Booksustain to provide books to those with limited access. To avoid waste and preserve these valuable resources, the books the organization collects and donates are already in circulation.

    sophie@booksustain.org

  • Davin Donay, Co-President

    Davin is a Junior in high School. For the last four years Davin has volunteered throughout the school year as a tutor and mentor to elementary school students from underserved communities. He has also volunteered as a Junior Literacy Leader, leading students in literacy and camp enrichment activities in the summers. Motivated by his experiences teaching young students, Davin co-founded Booksustain to further advance literacy. While continuing his volunteer activities, Davin is focused on expanding the reach of Booksustain to serve more children, youth and adults relying on community service organizations and increase the number and diversity of books donated.

    davin@booksustain.org

TEAM MEMBERS

  • HEAD OF OUTREACH

    Sawyer Standford-Hill

  • HEAD OF FUNDRASING

    Dimand Waters

  • HEAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY

    Halle Siegel

  • HEAD OF OPERATIONS

    Shaida Shirazian

 Negar Vahidi     

Ms. Vahidi specializes in federal and California environmental regulatory compliance (i.e, NEPA and CEQA). She has extensive experience managing a variety of federal, State, and local environmental, planning, and analytical documents and permits for large-scale water and energy infrastructure projects. She currently serves as Aspen’s Planning and Public Policy Director focused on land use, socioeconomics, environmental justice, and public policy development and analysis.

Rachelle Badal Daryoush

Ms. Badal-Daryoush is a highly experienced in-house technology attorney specializing in complex transactions. Currently as AVP and Deputy General Counsel at Marvell Technology, Inc., she leads a large group of legal professionals. Ms. Badal-Daryoush collaborates with every business unit at the company and serves as a trusted business and legal advisor to corporate executives on commercial risk management. Her experience includes compliance, cybersecurity, export controls, and data privacy. She has expertise in SEC reporting and corporate governance, intellectual property development and licensing, complex commercial contracts, international and domestic business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, drafting and implementation of corporate policies and procedures, and subsidiary management.

BOARD MEMBERS

  Donna Yamini     

Ms. Yamini has over 25 years of experience in civil litigation. She has litigated in State and Federal courts across California, handling all aspects of litigation from inseption through trial. Ms. Yamini’s representative categories of cases include business disputes, intellectual property counseling and litigation, professional liability defense, defamation, employment litigation, partnership disputes, and anti-SLAPP motions. Ms. Yamini has spent significant time representing clients pro bono, including advocating for students seeking Special Education services, and individuals seeking refugee status. Ms. Yamini also serves on the Board of Directors of Stephen Wise Temple.

Bess Blank

Currently retired from the practice of law. Ms. Blank was a cIvil litigation attorney for over 30 years.  Ms. Blank has extensive experience and expertise in a variety of practice areas, including construction, construction defects, products liability, business disputes, real estate disputes, employment, and trade secrets.

 

Kristine Puich

Ms. Puich has been an educator for three decades. She began her career as a founding teacher of the Law and Public Service Magnet at LAUSD’s Dorsey High School, where she designed a fully integrated, interdisciplinary, law-based curriculum. She then taught at Oakwood School and was quickly appointed the Upper School Director. In 2011, Ms. Puich was selected to be the founding principal of the Los Angeles River High School, an LAUSD, STEAM-focused, pilot school. Currently, Ms. Puich is principal of Thomas Jefferson Senior High School. Throughout her career, Ms. Puich has focused on initiatives that create innovative and meaningful experiences for students. She has navigated the political landscape of LAUSD, which involves working closely with instructional and operational directors, local superintendents and school board members. In recognition of her outstanding leadership, Ms. Puich has been awarded the Cahn Fellowship.