Foundation Staff
Travis Roy
Founder
In 1996, nine months after a tragic, paralyzing injury playing ice hockey for the then NCAA champions the Boston University Terriers, Travis and his family founded the Travis Roy Foundation to raise money and awareness for other quadriplegics and paraplegics and to support research for a cure. Following his accident, Travis received an incredible outpouring of public support. In an effort to give back and help others who were unexpectedly paralyzed after a physical trauma, Travis created a tax exempt charitable entity to raise money for others. On October 29, 2020, Travis died from complications resulting from the paralysis that he endured for 25 years and 9 days. See more of Travis' story here.
Lisa Kielt
Director
Lisa Kielt is excited to join the Foundation as the Director of Operations, helping promote hope and independence to the SCI community.
Lisa has deep experience providing strategic operational, communications, public affairs, and fundraising counsel to a mosaic of nonprofit sectors, including medical research, pediatric health, education and social services environments.Read More
"Working alongside Travis and the extraordinary volunteers that have guided the Foundation since its inception will be incredibly gratifying," she says. "What I find most compelling is the Foundation's two-fold mission to support the SCI community by funding cutting-edge research, while improving the quality of life for patients and caregivers at the same time. I am excited to join the team to help enhance operational infrastructure and support the expansion of such an impactful organization."
A former hockey mom, Lisa lives in Boston with her husband, teenage son, and one exceptionally quirky Scottish terrier.
Daniella Colombo
Program Associate
As a program associate, Daniella coordinates the Foundation’s Adaptive Equipment Grant process. Playing a facilitative role in enhancing the independence of and inspiring hope among SCI survivors is the most rewarding of her day-to-day responsibilities. Daniella graduated from Amherst College with a major in Psychology and looks forward to implementing skills and competencies built upon by various internships and extracurriculars to further the mission of the Travis Roy Foundation. In her time here so far, she has enjoyed learning about the behind-the-scenes work driving the growth and success of a non-profit, as well as becoming acquainted with the current state of Spinal Cord Injury research.
Board of Trustees
Arthur B. Page
Hemenway & Barnes, LLP
Art has been an active supporter of the Travis Roy Foundation since its birth, and has seen the organization expand its reach from funding sorely needed adaptive equipment for a limited number of grantees to granting $300,000 annually to applicants across the United States and funding an equal amount annually for well vetted research. Read More
Benton Burgess
Cadence Design Systems
A Boston native, Benton remembers feeling amazed at the outpouring of support that Travis received from the city after his ice hockey accident. About a year later, Benton’s own son Garrett injured his spinal cord in a car accident and became a quadriplegic. Read More
Brenda Roy
Travis' mother & Co-Founder
Brenda Roy credits so much of the Travis Roy Foundation’s success to Travis’ infectious spirit, which she says is not only an inspiration for those involved in the organization, but for her and Travis’ family as well. She says she is most proud of the way Travis has stepped up to provide leadership for the Foundation, and for his commitment and desire to give back in search for a cure. Read More
Dan Ronan
As a Boston University freshman, Dan Ronan was recruited to play hockey for the Terriers. He was on the ice for the first time that season when Travis, his roommate, was injured. Over the past 25 years, Dan and Travis have remained close friends and in that time Dan is proud of the foundation's exponential growth. Read More
Ed Farrington
Natixis Global Asset Management
A native of the Boston area, Ed Farrington and his family recently returned from three years abroad in London. Ed is a long-time friend of Keith Van Orden and through that friendship, has always been aware of the work of the foundation. Read More
John Butterworth
CBRE/New England
John Butterworth grew up locally in Newton, MA. He is a graduate of Providence College. Growing up in New England, John has been involved in the hockey community and through that community was connected to Travis Roy and The Travis Roy Foundation.
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Keith VanOrden
BlackRock, Inc
Keith VanOrden was one of the original members of the Travis Roy Foundation board at its inception in 1997. After several years of serving on the board, he took some time off to start a family of four, move from Boston to Rochester, NY, and then to Canada before finally settling back in Boston in 2013. Read More
Lee Roy
Travis' father & Co-Founder
Lee Roy says he could not have imagined that the Travis Roy Foundation would be where it is today when the family started the organization in 1997. He is very grateful for the time and dedication that so many gave during the Foundation’s establishment, and to those who have continued to support the Foundation with their resources, time and talent. Read More
Stephen McLaughlin
McLaughlin Family Foundation
Steve moved to Cleveland, Ohio from Boston in 1993. A former student at Milton Academy and Dartmouth College, he was familiar with Travis' incredible ability as Travis competed against Steve's younger brother in hockey. What started out as an innocent phone call wishing to make a donation to Travis, and a subsequent conversation with Travis' Dad, Lee, at the rink in Yarmouth, ME; has evolved into a strong and meaningful relationship between Steve and his family; and the Roys, along with their Foundation. Read More
Steve and his four children reside in Hudson, Ohio.
Tobe Berkovitz
Boston University
As an advertising professor and former Dean at Boston University, Tobe was honored to have Travis speak to the freshmen in the College of Communication introductory course. Read More
Leadership Council
Jason Currier
Vice President, Special Projects
As a student of North Yarmouth Academy, Jason spent his days playing on the school's hockey team alongside Travis, and his nights at the Roy's home, where they hosted him as a boarding student. Read More
A graduate of Quinnipiac University, Jason is the Vice President of Finance at General Atlantic, a global private equity firm with a strong history of philanthropy. He lives in Fairfield, CT with his wife and three young daughters, who all enjoy visits with the Roys in VT.
Paula McDonald
Research Liaison
Paula was teaching at Boston University in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Department of Health Sciences and working as a physical therapist when Travis had his injury and when he returned to BU to complete his education. Their relationship has progressed over the years from Physical Therapist and patient to a great friendship that includes their families. Because of Paula’s interest in neuroscience, Travis frequently called on her with questions about current research. Read More
Paula is a sign language interpreter, and is still thrilled to be involved with the Foundation during this very exciting time as researchers strive for the cure.
George Ogin
Financial Manager
George Ogin helps with the financial reporting for the Travis Roy Foundation. He initially joined the Foundation in the fall of 2013 when he was given the opportunity to run the 2014 Boston Marathon for the Travis Roy Foundation in memory of his mother. Read More
He lives in NH with his wife Deb and growth kids Nicole and David and works in the Finance Dept of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Andrea Richmond
Foundation Advisor
Andrea has worked with the Travis Roy Foundation since 2014, when she says she quickly fell in love with the foundation, its mission, and its people. As an advisor in the Family, Office and Philanthropic Services group at Hemenway & Barnes, LLP, Andrea provides advisory services to the Foundation for grant writing and management; assistance with financial, tax, audit, and legal issues; and supporting the board of trustees. Andrea is a graduate of Fairfield University and a member of the Massachusetts Bar, and lives in Boston.