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ABOUT THE ORG
TAUTIRA FOUNDATION

Our mission is to provide custom palliative care with integrated,
on-the-water therapy programs that put patients and caregivers facing cancer

and terminal illness back in the driver’s seat

WHAT WE DO

While we intend to service the broader Bay Area cancer community, and are particularly interested in doing more for patients and caregivers impacted by a terminal prognosis, we realize that this is only the beginning; there is no telling how this endeavor may take shape. We aspire to remain open-minded in how our water-based outings may grow to include all those impacted by chronic illness

Possible charters include:

Free packages for cancer patients & caregivers
(oncology psychotherapy, support groups, integrated wellness like bodywork/acupuncture, EMDR, respite for caregivers, place of solace to create legacy content, end of life support, etc.)

For-profit packages to offset operational costs of the organization
(ash scatterings, living wakes, fundraising events, etc.)

Board Members &
Volunteer Staff

Lauren in dinghy
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Founder & Executive Director; Board Member (President)

USCG Merchant Mariner (up to 100 tons), Oncology Patient Navigator, Wilderness First Responder & Academic Program Manager at UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences

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Aaron Strout

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Board Member (Secretary)

Integrated marketing leader with expertise in paid & earned media within healthcare. Held previous executive leadership roles at Fidelity Investments, WCG, and Real Chemistry

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Ibis Teasdale (Wells)

Board Member (Assistant Secretary)

Elementary school teacher with a Masters in education and experience with app development as a startup co-owner; passionate about public health and youth advocacy

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Sylvia Aranda

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Communications & Media Engagement

A decade of PR and communications experience at pharmaceutical ad agencies helping clients tell inspiring stories. Held previous roles at FleishmanHillard and Ogilvy; currently Group Director, Real Chemistry

WaiMay Cheng Andrew Yeoh

WaiMay Cheng & Andrew Yeoh

Branding

Over 20 years of experience in design leading rich media projects and creating motion graphics; co-founders of a multi-disciplinary animation and design studio, Bandit

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Joey Sbarro

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UX Strategy

Senior user experience designer with 10 years as a visual storyteller, with an interest in AI product design; previous Associate Experience Director at Real Chemistry, current Associate Director of UX at Propeller

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Ethan Bliss

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Web & Graphic Design

Previous Design Director at American Express and Product Design at Meta; VP of Design at Skipify

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Agata Sulczyńska

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Legal Advisor

Attorney providing legal services to non-profit organizations with environmental needs; principle consultant at Weiss Associates supporting a diverse portfolio of clients with regulatory compliance strategies

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Jennie Sarkodie

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Post Production (Motion Video)

Over a decade of experience editing and producing video projects from concept to completion; currently accepting freelance projects, former Video Producer at emotion studios

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Kaare Iverson
(pronounced "Cory")

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Director + Photographer

Freelancer who shoots outdoor adventure, lifestyle and commercial product photography; owner of Kaare Iverson Photography​, Canadian-born and - coincidentally - named after a boat

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Matthew Psyllos

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Director of Photography,

Videography

Freelance cinematographer (click here for reel) with a BFA from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, specializing in promotional content, documentaries and music video

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Silva Rolla

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Email Marketing

Over a decade of CRM expertise in a multitude of industries, advising small-to-medium sized companies grow their B2B or B2C business through a simplified, effective approach; owner of Silver Anchor Marketing

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Rachel Lerman

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Advertising & Print Design

Freelance senior art director and hybrid creative with a superpower for simplifying complex information and creating engaging creative for healthcare communications

Alan Olson

Alan Olson

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Nonprofit Advisor

Founder of Call of the Sea established in 1984, visionary leader behind the construction of the educational tall ship, Matthew Turner; holds over 60 years of maritime experience, winner of the 2018 Leadership Award from Tall Ships America

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Paulo Simas

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Fundraising Advisor

Branding and business strategy leader with over 25 years of agency experience; a deep understanding of analytics, Managing Partner at Kadiko and active volunteer for Camp Okizu

A special thanks to all who have contributed to the idea of Tautira Foundation since it's inception in 2018 - either directly or indirectly - including but certainly not limited to the above individuals who have donated their time, expertise and continue to put in the work to support of our greater mission.

"We are hoping to foster collaboration alongside other institutions, organizations and professionals who resonate personally with our organization’s mission, and want to work with us to fill the gaps in outpatient care in a multitude of ways. Whether you are a retired oncology nurse, hospice organization, body work/mindfulness practitioner - we'd love to connect with you to discuss how our space might be mutually beneficial the future of outpatient, palliative care."

  • Healthcare Institutions

  • Hospice Organizations

  • Cancer Community Nonprofits

  • Private Hospitals

  • Pharmaceutical Companies (for digital campaigns / sponsorship matching)

  • Private, retired healthcare professionals with oncology experience

  • Clinical Research Experts (for future podcast)

PARTNERSHIPS

Helping Hands

CANCER IS THE SECOND-LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CALIFORNIA, EXCEEDED ONLY BY HEART DISEASE

“Cancer accounts for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths in California. In 2023, it is
estimated that 59,830 Californians will die of cancer” 

 

American Cancer Society, California Department of Public Health, California Cancer Registry. California Cancer Facts & Figures 2017. Alameda, CA: American Cancer Society, Inc., California Division; 2017.

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