Welcoming Newest Members to Staff and Board

Madison Esposito joins Rochester Area Community Foundation Initiatives as program administrator. She is a recent graduate of the University of Rochester, where she double majored in English and History, tutored students in writing (all subjects), and served as president of the Ballet Performance Group. Madison spent the past three summers as an editor, reviewer, and marketer for Interlink Publishing, a Massachusetts-based independent publishing house devoted to adult and children’s literature from around the world. Her organizational and communication skills will be a great benefit to ACT Rochester, GRASA and RENEW.

Coralis Laboy is our new executive assistant in the president’s office. She brings a wealth of experience from previous roles, including as an attendance clerk at the West Irondequoit Center School District and as executive assistant for two consecutive commissioners at the City of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services. At the Community Foundation, she is responsible for managing the calendar of President and CEO Simeon Banister and ensuring smooth operations at the reception desk.

Raegena Lawrence is the new executive director of the Greater Rochester Afterschool & Summer Alliance (GRASA), a Community Foundation initiative. She succeeds Chris Dandino, who retired in June 2023. With more than 15 years of experience in direct service in higher education, community schools, and youth advocacy, Raegena is a youth and community development pioneer. She was born and raised in Rochester, but spent the previous 25 years working in the public and private sectors in Florida, Maryland, and South Carolina on projects for the SCDSS, SCDHS, and Baltimore City School District. After moving back to Rochester, she joined RMAPI as the organization’s collective impact manager. She has dedicated her professional life to improving outcomes for children and families and will continue this work as GRASA’s leader.

Rob Gallina is the senior project manager at Gallina Development Corporation, a family-owned and operated business that manages approximately 3 million square feet of commercial space in more than 85 buildings and seven office parks in and around Monroe County.

Rob serves on the local Advisory Board for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Along with his entire extended family, he also has been active with events and campaigns for both United Way and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies. In 2019, the Gallina family chaired the United Way’s annual community campaign, sponsoring a $100,000 challenge grant. Rob is a successor advisor on the Gallina Family Foundation Fund, established at the Community Foundation in 2021.

David Ferris, Esq. assumed the role of board chair on April 1, a two-year term that will end March 31, 2025. He joined the Community Foundation’s board in 2014 and most recently served as counsel. A senior counsel at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP and a trusts and estates attorney, Dave is passionate about helping families pursue their charitable goals and often enlists the help of the Community Foundation. Dave also has provided decades of service to the Foundation as a member of the Professional Advisors Liaison Committee.