Avery Racine
Though I grew up in New Jersey, I have been living in Phoenix since 2007. Currently, I attend high school at Phoenix Country Day School. Throughout the school year, I enjoy playing a number of sports such as soccer, basketball and lacrosse. I thought of the idea of Teen2Teen after my mom’s work in Phoenix Rising for Haiti. I noticed that women and small children usually received most of the attention with relief efforts after tragedies. I wondered if and how teens were being helped during these situations. As a teen myself, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of other teens. So I founded Teen2Teen in order to aid as many teens as possible.
Jordan McDonald
Jordan is a fifteen year old sophomore at The Hun School of Princeton. He is a starting soccer player on the Junior Varsity Soccer Team. He enjoys music, movies, sports and his friends. He is very active in his church and enjoys helping others in need.He wants to help out Teen2Teen because he believes it is his duty as a privileged teenager to give back some of what he has to others who are less fortunate. He believes that even the smallest of offerings and aid can go a long way, and he hopes to do his part by participating in Teen2Teen.
Danni Pietz
Danni has graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Global Studies with an emphasis in Global Governance. Before attending ASU she was awarded as an Academic All-American for her academia work and athletic performance on the softball field at South Mountain Community College. In the summer of 2011, Danni was given an incredible opportunity to move to Thailand for three months! During her stay in Thailand, she became friends with a woman named P’Dao. This friendship changed Danni’s life and has inspired her to a greater good. P’Dao is a woman who has very little but gives all she can, even in her poverty. P’Dao’s family lives in a three room home with eight people. She shares one small room with her husband and beautiful little girl. In fact, P’Dao and her husband were never legally married because they couldn’t afford it so they only went to the village officials to get their blessing on the union. One night over dinner she explained to Danni that she is trying to save money to build a room for her daughter. Danni felt compelled to do something to help and wrote a blog about it. In one week, she and her friend raised over 2,000 USD to build a room. Danni’s journey through Thailand and the surrounding countries changed her life for the better and made her determined to have a positive impact on the world. Danni currently lives in Los Angeles, California where she works for a global shipping company, ‘British American Shipping LLC’. Also, she is the founder of, ‘Clothes By Dao’ which sells gently used and new clothing for a profit. However, half of the profit helps fund a child from kindergarden to high school receive proper education in the United States and around the world.
Spencer Cedric Vicera
Cedric Vicera is a 7th grader at Basis Scottsdale. His favorite subjects are Algebra, Biology and French. He enjoys recreational soccer as his team’s goalie and defender. He also enjoys family vacations with his parents and younger sister. His hobbies are video games, gamer magazines, and playing with his dachshund, Molly. Being a native of the Philippines, he moved to Phoenix when he was 4 years old and looks forward to his returns which help him stay grounded and grateful for the many opportunities he is given. He aspires one day to become a computer scientist.
Lukas Slipski
I am currently a student at the University of Rochester, where I will be receiving my Bachelor’s degree in Health, Behavior, and Society with an emphasis on international health. I spent this previous summer in Berlin, Germany learning about epilepsy and the German medical care system. I spent one week in October 2010 and one week in October 2011 in Haiti with the Phoenix Rising for Haiti group, where I helped run the medical team’s waiting room and conducted ethnographic interviews with patients and other Haitian workers. After graduate school, my goals are to help create sustainable, community health centers in indigent areas around the world.
Alex Price
Alex looks forward to sharing his wealth of athletic experience with Teen 2 Teen as we reach out to teens in need through the universal language of sports. A junior from Deer Valley High School in Phoenix, AZ he plays football, competes in boxing and is on the swim team and wrestling team. Alex is also an all-around student who enjoys math and is active in community service. Now that he is 16, he is working toward the purchase of his first car.
Connor Scott Evans
Connor is dedicated to service. His passion for volunteering was ignited by a life-changing mission’s trip to Nairobi, Kenya when he was only 12 years old. Each summer he serves as a Peer Leader for “Workshops for Youth and Families”, a non-profit organization that focuses on inspiring confidence and leadership in young teens. A 17 year old senior at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, AZ, Connor aptly balances his studies and volunteer work while also working as a retail computer sales rep. Connor’s commitment to helping others and his love for travel and working with his peers makes him a perfect addition to the Teen 2 Teen team.
David Price
David is the epitome of a learner. He loves a challenge and puts his heart into everything he does. At Glendale Preparatory Academy in Glendale, AZ where he is a freshman, David most enjoys geometry, French, and human letters. He is also active in cross country, chess, ping pong, and archery. He believes that the purpose of gaining knowledge is to help others and make the world a better place for everyone. He has set his professional sights on a career as an engineer and is eager to contribute his knowledge, ideas and problem-solving skills as a volunteer for Teen2Teen.
Tommy McManus
Tommy McManus is a fifteen year old sophomore at Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. He comes from a family with a long-standing commitment to serving others. A natural athlete and a huge sports fan, he is a member of his school’s baseball team and likes to play basketball and football. He is also an excellent student and a member of the Delbarton Forensics Team. When asked why he is excited about helping other teens through his role as a Teen2Teen RISE Envoy, Tommy quoted President Barack Obama saying, “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” And that is exactly what Tommy does.