George Ferrari, CEO

Community Foundation of Tompkins County

George has been a committed and active participant in the Tompkins County community since 1980 with a special focus on mission-driven organizations that combine alleviating individual suffering and injustice with working for societal change. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Tompkins and Tioga Counties and as Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service’s Crisis Line Manager. George was the founding Executive Director of AIDS WORK of Tompkins County. He has also served in positions with Head Start as well as in residence life at Cornell University.

George is a past board president of the Grantmakers Forum of NYS, now called the NY Funders Alliance. He is a member of the Ithaca Rotary club and the Estate Planning Council of Tompkins County. George serves on the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Kendal at Ithaca Board of Trustees and the board of directors of NYCON, a statewide membership organization which enriches communities by building the capacity of nonprofits through services and advocacy.

Katie McConville Strickler (she/her), Scholarships and Youth Philanthropy Program Associate 

Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc

Katie McConville Strickler moved to the Finger Lakes Region from Cold Spring, NY after graduating with a degree in sociology. As the Scholarships and Youth Philanthropy Program Associate at the Community Foundation since 2016, Katie manages the program that awards almost $500,000 annually. Her favorite part of her job is learning about the big hearts in our region’s youngest residents! Katie has expanded the Foundation’s youth programming to give students a place to explore their passions for giving in elementary school through 12th grade.

As an AmeriCorps member early in her career, she was introduced to several youth serving organizations in the area and continues to work with them. As the recipient of the 2022 Corning Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Leadership Award, Katie is a volunteer mentor and Advisory Board Member for Youth Mentoring of the Southern Tier, an ELNoST Advocacy Committee Member, and serves on the Board of Capabilities, Inc.

Qiana Williams, Program Officer, Community Investment

Central New York Community Foundation

Qiana Williams is program officer of community engagement at the Central New York Community Foundation. Williams works toward building equity and access for historically excluded communities through programs that help build capacity for grassroots and nonprofit organizations and through participatory grantmaking initiatives. She is a long time educator and arts administrator having previously served as Humanities Educator for the Syracuse City School District, Curator of Public Programs at the Everson Museum of Art and Education Consultant at the Community Folk Art Center.  

Mauricio Palma, Director, Community Partnerships

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mauricio Palma has held several integral positions at Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) since joining the organization in 2005. Currently, Palma serves as SVCF’s director of community partnerships, where he leads the community foundation’s arts and culture, faith, neighborhoods and local journalism grants programs. Palma also works closely alongside SVCF's president and CEO to steer the Community Advisory Council – a group of more than 20 local nonprofit leaders of color who advise the community foundation on advancing its organizational strategic vision and mission. A champion for racial justice and equity, Palma works with community leaders, donors and other funders to identify and support ideas and catalyze and amplify community-driven solutions to achieve a more equitable, economically secure and vibrant Silicon Valley.