FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2018

RICHMOND, VA – Robins Foundation announces the hiring of two new program officers for the Foundation. Tyonka Rimawi will serve as Program Officer, Community Partnerships. Elliot Haspel will serve as Program Officer, Education Policy and Research. Robins Foundation is a family philanthropy with a 60-year history of leading transformational change in the greater Richmond community by listening, learning and engaging through innovative philanthropy that inspires solutions to society’s greatest challenges.

In her role as Program Officer, Community Partnerships, Tyonka will focus on grantmaking that elevates community voice in developing innovative solutions to the most pressing issues facing families in the Richmond region. She comes to Robins from Goodwill Industries International where, as Program Manager, she supported Goodwill operations across the country, implementing sector-focused workforce development initiatives to help individuals overcome challenges and attain family sustaining careers. Prior to that, Tyonka served as Director of Early College at the University of Indianapolis’ Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning where she supported a network of educators throughout Indiana implementing the Early College program, which significantly reduces the time and cost of postsecondary education for opportunity youth.

Tyonka graduated magna cum laude from Butler University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Indianapolis.

As Program Officer for Education Policy and Research, Elliot will focus on systems change and maximizing community impact through research-backed policy and advocacy. Prior to joining Robins, Elliot served as Policy Analyst at the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. He has held multiple roles within the education sector, beginning his career as a 4^th grade public school teacher. His background includes work with Teach for America, Leadership for Education Equity, and 50CAN: the 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now. In each of these roles Elliot worked with programs focused on providing all children the opportunity to access quality education and thrive academically.

Elliot is a member of the citizens advisory board for Richmond’s anti-poverty Maggie L. Walker Initiative. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from The University of Virginia and his Master’s in Education Policy and Management from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Robins Foundation was established in 1957 by E. Claiborne Robins and Lora M. Robins. The vision of the Foundation is to advance the greater Richmond community through strategic partnerships, collaborations and education, all of which will serve as a model for creating an environment of fairness and opportunity for everyone to thrive. To achieve this vision, Robins continues to conduct and support initiatives that encourage policy shifts, align with peers and nonprofits around community issues, and make investments that cultivate and support innovative solutions. For more information about Robins Foundation, the Robins family, or grant deadlines and giving focus, please visit legacy.robinsfdn.org.