Our Goal
To Help Schools And Others In Need
It is so easy to fall into a pattern of apathy as we go through our lives. Our organization was born out of a commitment to stop passing over the real problems of humanity, and deal with them head on. We have set out to aid those who need it the most. Seeds for Dreams is here to help, get in touch with us today to see how you can make a difference as well.
Our goal is to help children develop into responsible and caring individuals and prepare them to assume positive leadership roles within their communities, today, and in the future.
ABOUT
Seeds For Dreams® is a 501 (c) (3) public non-profit in the U.S. dedicated towards developing sustainable educational and recreational community programs for kids with the goal of helping children develop into responsible and caring individuals who are prepared to assume positive leadership roles within their communities and globally.
Seeds For Dreams® collaborates with schools, parents and local businesses to teach children valuable skills and providing educational opportunities, starting at the grassroots level.
Seeds For Dreams® helps build opportunities for all children in both developed and developing communities.
We strongly believe that education is the most promising means to eliminating poverty, violence, intolerance, and misunderstanding in our world. We also believe that young minds are most open to giving, understanding and in welcoming cross cultural diversity.
100% volunteer based and 100% of all donations go directly towards funding our projects and communities.
What We Envision
We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.
We believe that our vision for our community can and will be realized. We want to help those in need, and will not settle for a small change; at Seeds for Dreams, we want to create an impactful change. Come work with us and discover the power of making a difference. Whether it is making someone smile by a small contribution, or donating your time to our cause, every little bit will help our vision spread across the world.
Through education, recreational activities and community outreach, we give children an opportunity to become socially responsible leaders within their communities.
We Believe
Our Commitment
We are committed to funding children’s education and promoting the programs dedicated to developing healthier stronger communities.
We provide for all kids within our communities and beyond by creating and supporting sustainable school programming that teaches essential life skills and helps develop a nation of leadership, empathy, and global awareness.
We believe that education, recreational activities, and community services are essential to children’s development in understanding empathy, teamwork, collaboration, multi-cultural diversity, and community outreach. We recognize the great potential that these activities provide for kids and their communities.
We are commited to helping kids and schools fundraise for school programming, educational development, and community service.
Our Team
LENKA BERANOVA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | CEO - CHAIR AND FOUNDER
Lenka has over 20 years of work experience in the business and healthcare industries. She holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and The Wharton School, as well as a M.A. in Kinesiology from San Jose State University. She has worked as an Analyst and Consultant in Corporate Finance and Litigation Support at The Vanguard Group, Arthur Anderson, Navigant Consulting, and Peterson Consulting. Her business experience consists of preparing complex liability assessments, fact gathering, designing operation and litigation strategies, financial analysis in post-acquisition disputes and SEC investigations for Fortune 500 companies, preparing expert research and litigation reports for claims over $100 million, and analyzing industry trends in banking, pharmaceuticals, communication, insurance and healthcare.
NIL DEMIRCUBUK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | TREASURER and SECRETARY
Nil holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey and a PhD in Economics with a focus on International Finance from Clemson University in South Carolina. For the past three years, she has been highly active in the non-profit world, working as an advisor to and volunteer for various women's educational projects and non-profits around San Francisco Area, California. Most recently she has worked with Ashoka Foundation as a member of their Silicon Valley Chapter. In these non-profit organizations her roles included coordinating volunteers, fundraising, and organizing awareness events in girls' education and women's rights. Prior to her entry into the non-profit world, Nil spent nine years as a manager and Director for KMV Corporation, a finance technology company that was acquired by Moody’s in 2002.
BRUCE DALLAS
US ADVISOR
A partner and member of Davis Polk’s Corporate Department, Mr. Dallas is a founding partner of the Menlo Park office. He advises on corporate finance, derivatives, SEC disclosure and corporate governance. His transactional work includes initial public offerings (with an emphasis on high-technology and bio-technology companies), high-yield, convertible and straight debt offerings and issuer repurchase programs.
Mr. Dallas has been the primary capital markets partner for Comcast, E*TRADE, MASCO, NBCUniversal, Oracle, Roper Industries, SAIC and Texas Instruments. He also regularly represents leading underwriters. Mr. Dallas authored three recent SEC no-action letters, two for Comcast permitting its then 51% subsidiary, NBCUniversal, to be treated as wholly owned for purposes of reduced SEC periodic reporting, one confirming this relief following the acquisition form GE and one for SAIC permitting it to use Rule 14a-16 (Notice and Access) for the pending collapse of its holding company structure.
JILL HENDERSON
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jill Henderson holds a BS in Exercise Physiology with minors in Nutrition and Psychology 1993. As well as a MS degree in Exercise Physiology from California State Universty, Chico 1998. For the last 14 years she has served the greater Bay Area athletes while working as a massage therapist for Sports Medicine Institute International, a non-profit organization providing low cost therapy service to high level, low income athletes. Prior to this, Jill worked at Stanford University in Behavioral Medicine and Centers for Research in Disease Prevention doing research in childhood obesity and community heath intervention. Jill spent many years volunteering for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training as a coach and injury prevention coordinator, and currently, she and her husband Scott are involved with Swim Across America, a non-profit organization raising money for cancer research and treatment centers across the US.ou can include relevant degrees, experience or other special qualifications they may have.
DR. LAWRENCE STEINMAN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Steinman is a professor of neurology and neurological sciences, pediatrics, and genetics. He also served as the chair of the Stanford University Interdepartmental Program in Immunology from 2003-2011.
Dr. Steinman’s research focuses on what provokes relapses and remissions in multiple sclerosis (MS), the nature of the molecules that serve as a brake on brain inflammation, and the quest for a tolerizing vaccine for autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and neuromyelitis optica. He has developed two antigen specific therapies, using DNA vaccines, for MS and type 1 diabetes. He was senior author on the seminal 1992 Nature article that reported the key role of a particular integrin in brain inflammation. This research led to the development of the drug Tysabri, which is used to treat patients with MS and Crohn’s disease.
KATARINA BERANOVA
SLOVAKIA CHAPTER CEO AND DIRECTOR
Katrina has served in the teaching industry over 20 years as a TRUE mentor, a leader, and a role model, voted to be the best teacher of the year for many years. Her western influence living in United States has provided her with insight in how to help change her home community in Povazska Bystrica. She is an active member of the City Council in Povazska Bystrica. Believes in educating the public about their rights and responsibilities as citizens of Povazska Bystrica. Strongly dedicated towards reviving and developing recreational activities and programs for children. Her expertize in education and love for children makes her the heart of our organization in Slovakia and Europe. City Council Member for Povazska Bystrica.
MICHAEL JEFFY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Jaffe, M.D. attended UC San Diego School of medicine and completed his residency in Psychiatry at Stanford University. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He has worked in numerous settings, including the Palo Alto VA medical center in it's residential, inpatient, and outpatient settings, with specialized experience with PTSD and Addictions. He is highly engaged and involved with local non-profits. He has lectured at the National Center for PTSD and is on faculty at Stanford University as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor.
JOSH SPRINGER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Josh has worked in the engineering field for over 13 years. He has spent the majority of his career designing highway and transit bridges throughout the western states. He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Montana State University and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. Growing up in Wyoming, and now living in Montana, Josh enjoys spending time in the mountains hiking and biking.
