OUR board
Kelly Biren Atterton
Second generation Angeleno, Kelly Atterton, began volunteering at a temporary housing facility for abused and neglected youth. Taught by her mother the importance of giving back, Kelly participated in a college pilot program at the Department of Children’s Services, working as a liaison between children and their attorneys.
Moving to New York to pursue publishing, she spent two years working for Vanity Fair, while running the weekend playroom program at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Back in L.A. she worked with Vogue, and then as the West Coast Editor at Allure, where she remained for almost two decades. Currently, the Beauty Director at C Magazine, Kelly also works as a brand consultant, and is developing her own personal care line for teenagers. Kelly lives in Laurel Canyon with her husband Edward, and their children David, Piper and Rex.
Kelly Egarian
Kelly Egarian was born and raised in New Jersey and currently resides in Los Angeles. As the head of V.I.P. marketing at The Goop Lab, Kelly created multiple experiences for her clients that served to both surprise and delight them as well as provide information. Currently Kelly is the marketing coordinator at Stella McCarney’s Fashion Label and a board member of HEART of V.I.P.
Patricia Gordon, M.D.
Patricia Gordon MD (Harvard ’78, UCLA School of Medicine ’82, Cedars-Sinai Internship ’84) has been a radiation oncologist for 28 years. For most of her career, she was a partner at Beverly Hills Radiation Oncology and served on the medical team at Beverly Hills Cancer Center. In August 2014, she formally retired from clinical practice to lead Cure Cervical Cancer. As a non-profit leader and an international women’s health advocate, Patricia has dedicated her life to overcoming the tragic epidemic of cervical cancer. To date, Cure Cervical Cancer has screened over 120,000 women, treated 7,800, trained 600+ healthcare professionals, 150+ community health educators, and established 93 sustainable cervical cancer prevention clinics in 9 different countries. Patricia not only is a leader and advocate; she is also a philanthropist continuously serving HEART for over a decade.
Astrid Heppenstall Heger, M.D.
Dr. Heger received her bachelor’s degree and M.D. from the University of Southern California. In 1984, she founded the Center for the Vulnerable Child (CVC) at LAC+USC Medical Center for the evaluation of child abuse, which would grow to become the multi-disciplinary, public-private partnership known as the Violence Intervention Program. Dr. Heger is the Executive Director of VIP, as well as a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and has extensive knowledge and background working with victims of violence. She is highly respected in government, is well versed on policy matters and is considered a world-renowned expert in the field of child sexual abuse and assault. She has received the President’s highest award for victim advocacy, and continues to be a powerful advocate for the rights of children and families impacted by violence.
Ali Kay
Alison (“Ali”) Kay co-manages KIDS Capital, a long-biased and long-term-oriented, concentrated hedge fund based in Beverly Hills. She also publishes a monthly financial newsletter called “AK’s Memo”. Her deep-seated passion for children’s well-being and her belief in localized philanthropy underlie her personal mission to materially improve the lives of children in Los Angeles. Along with serving as a board member of H.E.A.R.T of V.I.P, Ali works as an “Angel” for Baby2Baby. Ali holds a BA in Political Science from Columbia University. She resides in Beverly Hills with her fiancé, Alex, her six year old son, Leon, and her teenage stepchildren, Tassilo and Talita.
Staci Koondel
Staci Koondel was born and raised in New York.
Her career path began as a Stock Broker for Smith Barney and then shifted to fashion where she discovered her true passion.
She began her fashion career in Product Development and Merchandising for The Limited and Donna Karan in New York.
She has additionally done wardrobe styling for television and commercials and helped a Brazilian Activewear company launch their brand and store in Los Angeles. Staci designs her own line of women’s clothing. She also runs the Sea Goddess Circle, a healing and empowering group for women.
Staci resides in Los Angeles with her family. She previously served on the board of One Simple Wish. Staci and her family have been committed to helping women and children and foster kids for many years as this close to their hearts.
Fran Lasker
Francine Lasker is a New York native residing in Los Angeles and is a practicing psychotherapist, for 32 years. It is Astrid Heger’s ability to see every patient as a person that inspired Fran to join HEART. Fran has a fervent commitment to mental, physical and spiritual well-being. She started her career out as a ballet dancer and has been a life long member of the wellness community and the environmental movement. Fran has been married to husband John Lasker for almost 31 years and they have two daughters together, who are also involved in supporting HEART. Fran is a contributor is Huff Post and in her spare time plays with art and design.
Mareva Marciano
Mareva Marciano was born and raised in Tahiti. She graduated from le Lycee du Taaone in Papeete and attended the Chamber of Commerce, receiving a degree in Economics and Social Studies. Shortly thereafter, Mareva left Tahiti to attend the University of Aix en Provence. In 1990 and 1991, Mareva was crowned Miss Tahiti and Miss France, giving her the opportunity to travel the world representing the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. That experience, as well as being raised in Tahiti, has grounded her in gratitude, something she practices daily. In 1993 Mareva lived in New York City working as a model for several years. In 2000, she moved to Los Angeles to work in PR for the Tahiti Tourism Office.
Mareva credits her husband Paul, and a committed group of philanthropic women in Los Angeles, who inspired her to become involved with Safe at Home and join the board of HEART. Mareva has chaired numerous committees at The Center for Early Education and Harvard Westlake, but she has always been a fierce advocate for the women and children of her beloved country, Tahiti. Mareva will be opening the first Margaret’s Place in Tahiti in partnership with the Tahitian Government and the Lycee du Taaone. Mareva lives in Los Angeles with her husband Paul and their lovely children, Ryan and Gia.
Alison Petrocelli
Alison Sanders Petrocelli is a board member of the Violence Intervention Program and HEART After graduating with a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1992, Alison earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Southern California Law School and has been admitted to the California and USDC, Central District of California since 1998. Her early professional experience includes working as a financial analyst for Salomon Brothers Inc., a research assistant at RAND, and as a litigation associate at the law firm of Mitchell Silberberg and Knupp LLP. Alison has always been a children’s rights advocate particularly after being a certified law clerk at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office’s Sex Crimes Unit during law school in 1997 -1998. In addition to being a HEART advisory board member since 2003 and a VIP board member since 2015, Alison is a board member of the Safe at Home Foundation founded by Joe Torre to end the cycle of domestic violence. Alison is married to Daniel Petrocelli and has two children, Anna and Sammy.
Linda Bernstein Rubin
Linda Bernstein Rubin is Chairman of the Board of Directors of V.I.P. and on HEART’s Advisory Board. She is on the Board of the Geffen Theatre and co-produced “Ruth Draper’s Women” starring Annette Bening as well as co-produces their annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraisers.
Linda is on the Board of Councilors of USCDA., is a founding member of The Everychild Foundation, a Trustee of the Washington Institute, and has been a longtime supporter of The Friends of the Israel Defense Force (FIDF), of which her husband Tony is President of the Western Region Los Angeles Chapter.
Linda has appeared On Broadway, off Broadway, in Films and TV as well as having produced theatre, most recently on Broadway for the 2018 Tony Award winning revival of “Angels in America. Linda and Tony have two children Jacob and Gena.
Tawny Sanders
Tawny Sanders is a founding member of the Everychild Foundation and has served on several non-profit boards in the Los Angeles Area. Joining VIP in 2002, she helped establish the Sanders Family Activity Center in the main campus buidling as well as contributed to the renovation of the building itself. She is also a founding member of HEART.
Molly Isaksen Sures
Los Angeles native Molly Isaksen began her career in fashion. After several years working with Ron Herman, one of L.A.’s most iconic clothing stores, Molly designed a line of women’s ready-to-wear. A brief stint in styling lead to the launch of her design firm Molly Isaksen Interiors Inc. in 2000. Molly’s international design portfolio includes residential and commercial design projects in Los Angeles, New York, London and Holland. Her work has been featured in many notable publications including Vogue, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, C Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Town & Country and Super Yacht World.
A long time children’s advocate, Molly has been involved with The Violence Intervention Program for over twenty years and has been on the board of HEART since it’s inception. She is also a member of C.H.I.P.S. the Los Angeles organization that supports Children’s Institute, Inc.
Today Molly lives in Brentwood with her husband Jay Sures, daughter Catherine and step-daughters Emily and Claire.
Gillian Wynn
Gillian Wynn has lived in Los Angeles since 1991. She is a mother to four children, ages 13 to 20. Her son, Asher, serves on the board of Heartbeats, the youth fundraising organization that supports the work of VIP. Gillian is an active philanthropist and serves on the board Alvin Ailey Dance Company as well as the Leadership Council for Conservation International. Professionally, Gillian is the co-founder and CEO of Julie Simon Cakes, creators of luxury bespoke cakes based in Los Angeles.