SEEDS OF COMPASSION TEAM
VEN. LAMA TENZIN DHONDEN
Tibetan Buddhist Monk, Scholar and Artist
Co–founder Seeds of Compassion
To see Venerable Lama Tenzin Dhonden speak about Seeds of compassion at our November 2007 press conference, click here.
Seeds of Compassion has benefitted from the special relationship with and hard work by the Venerable Lama Tenzin Dhonden. The vision for Seeds of Compassion came about after a meeting between His Holiness, the Ven. Tenzin Dhonden and Dan Kranzler from the Kirlin Foundation in 2005. Having discussed concepts for the program over the past few years, Lama Tenzin traveled to India to consult with His Holiness and the program in Seattle was confirmed. In November Lama Tenzin and the Organizing Committee presented the full program to His Holiness in Dharamsala. His Holiness expressed excitement about the goals and long-term potential for Seeds of Compassion.
From the age of eight, the Venerable Lama Tenzin was trained in the monastic tradition of Namgyal Monastery, the personal monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala India. In addition to over 20 years of Monastic training, the Venerable Lama Tenzin is a master of the arts of creating traditional Tibetan Buddhist sand mandalas and butter sculptures, as well as Buddhist ritual dances. Lama Tenzin has been living part-time in the US for the past 10 years, sharing his teachings with groups across the US and internationally.
Lama Tenzin has planned and coordinated numerous programs for His Holiness the Dalai Lama throughout the United States including the following major programs:
Nova Southeastern University - September 2004 - Florida
Address on “Universal Responsibility”: His Holiness spoke to over 10,000 students and members of the public on universal responsibility and to promote basic human values, inter-religious harmony and world peace.
Sun Valley Idaho Message of Compassion - September 2005 - Idaho
At the invitation of Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and Kiril Sokoloff, at an event attended by philanthropists, business leaders, religious leaders, politicians, the public, and including a special program for children, the Dalai Lama commemorated the fourth anniversary of 9/11. In a nationally televised address on compassion and healing the wounds of suffering, the Dalai Lama exhorted the audience to commit to be ambassadors of peace in themselves and with all people around them.
A Gathering of Hearts Illuminating Compassion - April 2006 - San Francisco
His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended this historic event, embracing his Muslim brothers and sisters, to foster mutual understanding between them and other world faiths and to celebrate common humanity. The purpose of this summit was to dispel the illusion that certain religious groups are inherently intolerant and to take back the world stage from the voices of dissension and mistrust who have taken it for political purposes. The goal: a world without violence, respectful of diversity. Leaders and scholars of faith from around the world attended including over 80 top Muslim leaders. The event is considered a global success with over 300 different media organizations covering the event from around the world.
California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women – September 2006 – Los Angeles
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to over 15,000 women offering his vision of how to build a better world: more women must become leaders and schools must teach compassion. The program delivered lessons on the importance of women, motherhood, inner peace and harmony.
DANIEL KRANZLER
President, Kirlin Charitable Foundation
Dan Kranzler is President of the Kirlin Charitable Foundation, which he formed with his family in 1999 to formalize their commitment and efforts to fulfill their passion for children, education, and the health and strength of families. The foundation works as a catalyst and innovative partner in positive social change toward a vision of a global society, identified first and foremost by the grace of its empathy and compassion.
Mr. Kranzler is a wireless and technology industry entrepreneur who for 30 years has been managing, supporting, and financing start–up high–tech companies. Mr. Kranzler has been involved in senior management roles at a number of communications and Internet companies including McCaw Cellular, Accessline Communications, and Hands–On Mobile.
RAJ MANHAS
Executive Director
Raj Manhas was recently appointed Executive Director of Seeds of Compassion. He oversees this new grassroots initiative, which brings together the latest visionary thinking which brain research that demonstrates the social and emotional benefits of developing empathy and compassion both early and throughout a child’s life. Raj, who served as superintendent of Seattle Public Schools from 2003 to 2007, brings his extensive background in education, public service, finance and community building to Seeds of Compassion. A native of India, Raj came to Seattle 34 years ago to study at the University of Washington, completing his master’s degree in industrial engineering.
RON RABIN
Managing Director
Ron Rabin is the founding and current executive director of the Kirlin Charitable Foundation and came to Kirlin after a twenty–year career in the fields of clinical psychology and integrative medicine. He currently serves on the boards of CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) at the University of Illinois and Bridges of Understanding, a global education program focused on building intercultural relationships through digital storytelling. Ron also serves on the Advisory Committee for Thrive By Five, a newly established public–private partnership for early learning in Washington State. He was the founding board president of Arts Corps, serving as President until 2006.
JOHN VADINO
Executive Producer
John Vadino is Co–founder, President, and CEO of The Production Network (TPN). John’s reputation for his ability to direct major events involving multiple venues, large crowds and numerous technical challenges make him ideal to serve as the Executive Producer of Seeds of Compassion's four–day event in April 2008. John in his early years was the Production Director of Seattle’s premiere public festivals (Bumbershoot, Seattle International Children’s Festival and the Northwest Folklife Festival). He and his company, TPN, produce events and design exhibits and environments for companies around the globe – recently he produced the premiere of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
WENDIE BRAMWELL
Roots of Empathy, Key Point Person
Wendie Bramwell is serving as the liaison for the Roots of Empathy, a pilot program sponsored by Seeds of Compassion through a grant from the Kirlin Charitable Foundation and the John & Nancy Sabol Foundation. Wendie is an early childhood educator who specializes in young children’s social and emotional development. Prior to working as a program developer on an early literacy program at Committee for Children, Wendie spent many years involved with Head Start programs as a classroom teacher, supervisor and training manager.
PAMELA EAKES
Communications Chair
Pamela brings a combination of nonprofit executive leadership, a 25–year career in advertising and marketing and a commitment to community service to Seeds of Compassion. She left a career in advertising and marketing to serve as Founder/CEO of Mothers Against Violence in America for over a decade. She is now a communications and marketing consultant and serves her community on the boards of the Northwest African American Museum and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.
CHERYL ELLSWORTH
Outreach Committee Co-chair
Cheryl Ellsworth is currently a Senior Associate with EnviroIssues, a communications, community outreach, and public involvement consulting firm, and brings over 25 years of experience in governmental relations, public outreach and public policy to her role at Seeds of Compassion. Cheryl co-chairs the Seeds of Compassion community outreach process bringing her experience as a liaison with elected officials, diverse community leaders, and businesses leaders. She shares her deep reputation as a trusted advocate for outreach and facilitation, through her experience as a policy analyst for the House Democratic Caucus of the Washington State Legislature, director of government relations for Seattle Public Schools and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center and neighborhood liaison with Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods. Cheryl’s passion for education, children and healthcare help bring government agencies, businesses and community members together to collaborate to create programs that engage and educate the community as a whole.
LOIS GREENBERG
Associate Producer for Science Day
Lois Greenberg has thirty years of experience assisting corporate clients and nonprofit organizations in organizational strategy, large scale organizational change, and leadership coaching. In the course of her career, Lois has worked with Starbucks Coffee Company, SAFECO and Citicorp to achieve their organization's purpose and meet their goals using collaborative methods involving people at all levels of the organization. Most recently she has pursued her love of the arts and has worked as a stage manager and video producer.
SHERYL L. HARMER, Ed. D.
Education Chair
Dr. Sheryl Harmer is the Principal of SLPH & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in social–emotional skill building within schools and organizations, family business development, and systems change. She was formerly the Director of Program Development at Committee for Children, where she directed the process of translating prevention research into internationally acclaimed social and emotional programs. Sheryl’s thirty–year career in public schools included serving as principal of three elementary schools, teacher of special education and mainstream classes, instructor in community college and university teacher preparation programs, and service on a wide range of state and local professional advisory councils. In 1998, Sheryl was named Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal for Washington State.
EMILY HINE
Senior Director
Emily Hine brings 18 years of experience in fundraising, volunteer management and public relations to Seeds of Compassion. Over the last five years, she has been consulting with non-profit organizations helping them increase their capacity through multi–million dollar capital campaigns and strategic volunteer initiatives. Prior to that, Emily worked at Microsoft Corporation for seven years where she managed the U.S. employee giving and volunteer programs. In 2007, Emily facilitated the start–up of Taproot Foundation’s Seattle chapter.
PAGE PLESS
Program Coordinator
Page Pless brings over twenty years of experience in education and technology. She is an effective leader with experience in project management, program research/design/development, and community building. Her strengths are also in her versatility reflected in her diverse professional experience which ranges from designing children's software to coordinating volunteers for community school based programs. Page joined the Kirlin Charitable Foundation to apply her broad background and talents to a mission–driven environment where teamwork, creative problem solving, risk–taking, and focus are valued.
ANIL SINGH-MOLARES
InterSpiritual Co-Chair
Anil has held a number of senior management positions in various companies. After 12 years as Sr Director of International Vendor Relations at Microsoft Corp, Anil left in 2003 to establish a successful international services company, EchoMundi LLC, where he is the CEO.
A global citizen and entrepreneur, Anil was born in Holland, to parents from Spain and India, and raised in Belgium and the United States. In the 1980s, Anil coordinated major interfaith conferences at Oxford and Harvard universities. Anil is now in his second year as a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Visiting Fellow. He travels and lectures broadly on international business, philanthropy and multiculturalism. Anil is also a Founder of the Preeclampsia Foundation, holds a MTS (Master’s in Theological Studies) from Harvard Divinity School, and is a dedicated Flamenco guitarist.
LAURA WILLIAMS
Development and Volunteer Coordinator
Laura Williams is an accomplished volunteer manager and grassroots outreach specialist for nonprofit organizations and political campaigns. She has executed a wide variety of events from initial brainstorming to event management and has mobilized hundreds of volunteers towards reaching a common objective. Her on–line community building, Web site and technical development skills are dynamic assets to Seeds of Compassion.
