About Us

One Industry,
One Mission.

In partnership with the Alternative Investment industry, Help For Children prevents and treats child maltreatment by funding programs that use evidence-based methodologies.

The HFC Difference

Help For Children raises much-needed funds to combat child maltreatment in multiple locations across the globe. Academic and social welfare experts from renowned universities and institutions provide consultation throughout the grant process. Funds raised in each HFC location are granted out locally within that community. HFC has a local impact with a global footprint.

Global Statistics

$61M

in grants since inception

1.1M

lives transformed

1IN4

children are abused, this can be prevented

1BN

children suffer from some form of violence each year

Our History

Help For Children (HFC) was founded in 1998 after one fundraising gala in New York City by veteran financial industry executive Rob Davis (pictured in the middle), with the goal of raising funds for the prevention and treatment of child maltreatment. HFC has since grown to include multiple locations across the United States and worldwide. HFC events are the primary source of fundraising while providing marketing and networking opportunities for the Alternative Investment industry. Events now range from galas, golf outings and more. Since its inception, HFC has invested more than $61 million USD to fight child maltreatment, transforming the lives of more than 1.1 million individuals.

HFC Global Board Chair Dean Backer (Goldman Sachs), HFC Founder Robin Davis (McAlinden Research), and former HFC Global Board Chair John Budzyna (KPMG).

HFC (UK) Gala 2022

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Perform at HFC Rocks 2021 held at Sony Music Hall!

HFC's New York Gala in 2018 held at American Museum of Natural History.

Rob Davis, Founded Help For Children in 1998.

After consultation with leadership at Columbia University School of Social Work, the HFC model was created. Today, HFC has Academic Experts in all locations, guiding grant-making with Grant Committees made up of finance industry professionals. Currently, Mr. Davis serves as Chairman Emeritus of the organization, and remains deeply committed to helping children and families heal from the trauma of maltreatment.

Help For Children is pleased to recognize our Global Sponsors whose generous support and passionate dedication to our work help us to fund programs to prevent and treat child maltreatment. For more information contact Lynn Fisher, Senior Director of Development & Events, lfisher@hfc.org, 212-991-9600 ext. 345

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Our Partners

Our Team

Dean Backer, President

Dean is the Chairman of Global Prime Brokerage of Goldman Sachs.

Dean Backer, President

Goldman Sachs

Robert Schultz, Vice President

Rob is a Partner at Capricorn Investment Group, and the former founding partner at Greentech Capital.

Robert Schultz, Vice President

Capricorn Investment Group

Glen Dailey, Vice President

Glen is the Managing Member of Glen Capital Management. Prior to that he was the Managing Director and Head of Prime Brokerage at Jefferies & Company.

Glen Dailey, Vice President

Glen Capital Management, LLC

Natalie Deak Jaros, Treasurer

Natalie is a Partner/Deputy Vice Chair of Ernst & Young LLP US.

Natalie Deak Jaros, Treasurer

Ernst & Young

Rob Davis, Founder & Chairman Emeritus

Rob founded "Help For Children" in 1998 while working in the prime brokerage industry. He served as Chairman for ten years and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus.

Rob Davis, Founder & Chairman Emeritus

McAlinden Research

Jonathan Barrett

Jonathan is the president of Luminus Management, a private equity and hedge fund management company focused on the power sector.

Jonathan Barrett

Luminus Management, LLC

John Broadhurst

John was a partner at Shartsis Friese LLP, a San Francisco commercial law firm.

John Broadhurst

Shartsis Friese LLP (retired)

Karl Cole-Frieman

Karl is a Co-Managing Partner at Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP.

Karl Cole-Frieman

Cole-Frieman & Mallon LLP

Jennifer Collins

Jennifer is a Director with Carne Global Fiduciary Services (Cayman) Limited, a firm that specializes in fund governance and fiduciary services.

Jennifer Collins

Carne Global Financial Services (Cayman) Limited

Rhonda Eldridge

Rhonda is founder of Haddison Advisory Partners and Harness All Possibilities (“HAP”) and a director at Dunewood Advisors. She has worked 25+ years in the alternative asset management industry.

Rhonda Eldridge

Harness All Possibilities (HAP)

Joseph Fisher

Joe is a Senior Lead Partner, Alternative Investments at KPMG.

Joseph Fisher

KPMG

Kara Friedenberg

Kara Friedenberg is a Tax Partner in PwC's Asset Management practice and provides tax compliance and consulting services to hedge and private equity funds.

Kara Friedenberg

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Basil Godellas

Basil is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Financial Services Practice Group at Winston & Strawn LLP.

Basil Godellas

Winston & Strawn LLP

Todd Goldman

Todd Goldman is a retired audit partner based in KPMG’s Walnut Creek office. Todd served clients in the alternative investments industry.

Todd Goldman

KPMG (retired)

Alice Hackett

Ali Hackett is a Senior Global Financial Services Executive

Alice Hackett

William Haggerty

Bill was formerly the COO/CFO at Sentinel Rock Capital, LLC. He was also previously a principal and Chief Operating Officer of Seasons Capital Management.

William Haggerty

Formerly Sentinel Rock Capital, LLC

Vanessa Hemavathi

Vanessa is the Director of Investment Services at Privium Fund Management.

Vanessa Hemavathi

Privium Fund Management

Cindy Hislop

Cindy Hislop is a Partner in the audit department of Deloitte, Cayman Islands specializing in alternative investment funds.

Cindy Hislop

Deloitte

Jack Inglis

Jack is Chief Executive Officer of AIMA (Alternative Investment Management Association) and has been in the financial services industry for over 30 years.

Jack Inglis

AIMA

Baron Jacob

Baron is a partner in the Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands market segment of EY's Financial Services Organization.

Baron Jacob

Ernst & Young, Ltd.

Mikael Johnson

Mikael serves on the Global Investment Management practice leadership team of KPMG and leads the Firm’s effort to focus its resources in the hedge fund market.

Mikael Johnson

KPMG

Rob Leonard

Rob is a partner at Dechert. He has represented hedge funds and their managers for almost 30 years.

Rob Leonard

Dechert

Robert Mirsky

Rob is the principal of National Practice Leader - Asset Management Tax at BDO.

Robert Mirsky

BDO

David Mulle

David is co-head of Seward & Kissel's Family Office Group as well as a partner in the Investment Management Group at the Firm.

David Mulle

Seward & Kissel LLP

Peter G. Naismith

Peter is a partner at Schulte Roth & Zabel, where he advises hedge funds, private equity funds, hybrid funds, and investment advisers.

Peter G. Naismith

Schulte Roth & Zabel

Joe Patellaro

Joe is a Managing Director, Private Markets at SS&C Technologies.

Joe Patellaro

SS&C Technologies

Jay Peller

Jay is currently the Head of Fund Services and Managing Director at Citco.

Jay Peller

Citco

Ingrid Pierce

Ingrid is Walkers' Global Managing Partner and head of the Cayman Investment Funds Group. She represents major institutions, fund managers and fiduciaries.

Ingrid Pierce

Walkers

Joel Press

Joel formed Press Management LLC to provide consulting services specializing in succession planning, compensation, and business strategy, for hedge funds.

Joel Press

Press Management LLC

Eric Roper

Eric currently has a private law practice. Prior to opening his own practice in 2013, Eric was a Senior Partner in the law firm of Gersten Savage LLP.

Eric Roper

Law Offices of Eric R. Roper PC

Geoff Ruddick

Geoff Ruddick is a Partner at Paradigm Governance Partners Limited, a firm that specializes in fund governance and fiduciary services.

Geoff Ruddick

Paradigm Governance Partners Limited

Mark Salameh

Mark has over 20+ years of management, sales, and marketing experience in the alternative asset management industry.

Mark Salameh

Alternative Asset Management Industry

William Taggart

Will is was Tax Partner in the New York Office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (retired). He was the firm's Global Financial Services Tax Leader.

William Taggart

PricewaterhouseCoopers (retired)

John Tavss

John E. Tavss was Senior Counsel in Seward & Kissel’s Investment Management Group.

John Tavss

Seward & Kissel (retired)

Eugene Tetlow

Eugene is the Head of Venture Capital & Private Equity Strategy at Juniper Square.

Eugene Tetlow

Juniper Square

Michael Vranos

Michael is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ellington Management Group.

Michael Vranos

Ellington Management Group, LLC

Beth Wiener

Beth is the Partner-In-Charge of Marcum LLP's Alternative Investment Group. They provide audit, tax and consulting service to the fund industry.

Beth Wiener

Marcum LLP

Christopher Zaback

Chris is the Chief Financial Officer and a managing director at the D. E. Shaw group. He oversees the firm’s accounting, tax, and financial operations units.

Christopher Zaback

D. E. Shaw

Lance Zinman

Lance A. Zinman is a Partner and Global Co-Chair of the Financial Services Practice at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.

Lance Zinman

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Ramona Alaggia, PHD

Dr. Alaggia is the Factor-Inwentash Chair in Children’s Mental Health, University of Toronto. Her work focuses on child abuse and gender based violence.

Ramona Alaggia, PHD

University of Toronto/Academic Expert for HFC Canada

Marian Bussey, PHD

Dr. Bussey is a research consultant and adjunct social work faculty at the University of Denver. Her fields of interest are trauma, substance use and mental health.

Marian Bussey, PHD

University of Denver/Academic Expert for HFC Denver

Clifton Emery, PHD

Dr. Emery is an Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong. His research interests include child abuse and child maltreatment.

Clifton Emery, PHD

University of Hong Kong/Academic Expert for HFC Asia

Christina Feliciana, MSW

Christina is the Project Coordinator for the Child Welfare Scholars (Title IVE) Program at University of California Berkeley.

Christina Feliciana, MSW

University of California Berkeley/Academic Expert for HFC San Francisco

Kristine Langhoff, PHD

Dr. Langhoff is a Professor of Social Work in the Department of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex.

Kristine Langhoff, PHD

University of Sussex/Academic Expert for HFC UK

Julie Lance, PHD

Dr. Lance is in direct practice as a School Social Worker. Her interests include advocacy with children and families and child abuse prevention.

Julie Lance, PHD

Cobb County School District/Academic Expert for HFC Atlanta

Robin Perry, PHD, MSW

Dr. Perry is a professor in the FAMU Department of Social Work. His research interests include child abuse prevention and funding models for child welfare systems.

Robin Perry, PHD, MSW

Florida A&M University/Academic Expert for HFC Cayman Islands

Tina Rzepnicki, PHD

Dr. Rzepnicki is the David & Mary Winton Green Professor at the University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. 

Tina Rzepnicki, PHD

University of Chicago/Academic Expert for HFC Chicago

Ovita Williams, PHD

Ovita is the Associate Director of Field Education for Family, Youth and Children Services at Columbia University School of Social Work.

Ovita Williams, PHD

Columbia University/Academic Expert for HFC New York

Sumudu Waas

212-991-9600 ext. 343
swaas@hfc.org

Sumudu Waas

Executive Director/COO

Lynn Fisher

212-991-9600 ext. 345
lfisher@hfc.org 

Lynn Fisher

Senior Director of Development & Events

Cristina Arduino

212-991-9600 ext. 348
carduino@hfc.org 

Cristina Arduino

Operations and Financial Services Manager

Fern Gray

UK Coordinator

Cori Weiss

Event Coordinator

Kartika Fitrianingsih

212 991 9600 ext. 344
kfitrianingsih@hfc.org

Kartika Fitrianingsih

Grants Manager and Board Liaison

Financials

Help For Children’s current 990 is available upon request. Please contact us at globaloffice@hfc.org.