About

Our Team

Executive Director –

Tehany Duverge was born in 1984 in La Saona, a barrio of Bani, to Carlos Eligio Duverge and María Del Jesús Valdez (Marina). This young couple were scarce in resources but rich in love – creating a family of 13 children (5 boys and 8 girls) – with Tehany the youngest of them all. She became an orphan at the age of 12 and her older brothers assumed responsibility for raising her and overseeing her education, where she excelled. She married Javier Cruz at the age of 20  and has three children of her own.

Tehany believes that losing her parents in early adolescence led to her deep dedication to working with children in this under-resourced barrio of La Saona. When she joined the Center is 2011, she had already acquired her bachelor’s degree in Education, graduating magna cum laude with a 3.97 GPA.

Tehany’s life trajectory is inspired by the legacy of her father whom she describes as her bulwark.  She models his dedication to hard work, while always having a smile and words of encouragement ready for those who need it.

After four years as Director of the Center, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in education. This involved taking the bus to the capitol of Santo Domingo several evenings per week to attend classes. Since earning her advanced degree, she has applied all of that knowledge to help the children and the teachers at the Center.  She says “the one thing in life I will never tire of is working on behalf of these children as they give meaning and color to my life.” Her colleagues at the Center describe her as responsible, dedicated and kind.

The Elizabeth Seton Foundation Board feels fortunate to know and work with Tehany.  We have all learned from her determination, courage and perseverence which has ensured that each child that enters through the gates of the Center is treated with respect and encouraged to achieve at the highest level.

 

 

Board of Directors – United States

The Elizabeth Seton Foundation (ESF) is a non-profit organization based in the US whose sole mission is to provide financial and in-kind support to the Elizabeth Seton Center (ESC) in Baní, Dominican Republic. Each member of the Board of Directors has been involved in volunteer work in and around the Center for many years. We came together in 2009 and formed the ESF, independent of the Center to support the sustainability of the local organization. There are minimal administrative expenses. All members volunteer their time to travel to the Center at least once yearly. They donate their time and talent in the areas of medical, dental, educational, nutritional training, computer training and micro finance.

 

 

Meg Clough – President

Meg is Director of Community Investments at Loomis, Sayles & Company, a $250 billion investment management firm in Boston, MA. She is responsible for all charitable giving activities for the firm,  all non-profit partner development and all corporate volunteerism.  She is Chairwoman of the company’s Charitable Giving Committee which distributes more than $1 million a year to support their mission of assisting under-served youth in the areas of health and education.  Previously, Meg lived and worked in Australia, serving as the press secretary to the Australian Finance Minister for eight years and at CSR Oil & Gas in their public policy & strategy area. She received her BA in History/International Relations from Colgate University and her MA in Financial Journalism from the Queensland Institute of Technology.

 

Susan Torrey, MD – Vice President

Sue is a pediatrician specializing in pediatric emergency medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Connecticut in 1978. She completed her residency in pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in 1981 and her fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1984. She is board certified in pediatrics, emergency medicine, and pediatric emergency medicine.

She first traveled to Baní, Dominican Republic in 2004 with colleagues from Children’s Hospital Boston to participate in an educational program for healthcare providers at Hospital Nuestra Regla, the public hospital in Baní.  Since 2006, she has been working with both the US and local Dominican board to support the sustainability of the Elizabeth Seton Center.

 

Pascale Gras – Treasurer

Pascale was raised in Paris, France where she studied pharmacy and achieved her curriculum in 1985 from the University of Pharmacy, René Descartes-Paris. Her thesis was completed in 1991 with the title of Doctor of Pharmacy. For the next five years, she worked as a pharmacist’ assistant in Paris.

During her student life, she visited several African countries: Rwanda, Burundi and South Africa. She later traveled to Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal, sparking her interest in working with mothers and children in underdeveloped countries.

She is also a board member of a French association, Boston Accueil, which welcomes new French expatriates to the Boston area.

 

Paul Clough – Clerk

Paul is a partner at the law firm of Comins & Newbury LLP, a general law practice located in Concord, MA.  Paul specializes in the formation and governance of business entities, as well as in commercial and residential real estate transactions. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts bar Association, and the Massachusetts Real Estate Bar Association.

Paul has a continuing interest in the operations of government and a great admiration for those in public service. Prior to becoming an attorney, Paul was employed in public service from 1985-1993. He worked for the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a Legislative Aide and then as the Staff Director for the House Committee on Ethics.

 

Sister Catherine McGowan

Sister Catherine McGowan has dedicated her life to the health and education of children born into poverty. She was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She earned her BS from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax in 1948 and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in 1949. Before returning to graduate school, she worked as an intern at the Halifax Infirmary and as a high school home economics teacher for five years. Eventually she became Professor of Foods & Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University and also served as Head of the Dietary Department of Halifax Infirmary. In 1961, she earned her MS in Nutrition from Cornell University.

Over the last 40 years, Catherine has volunteered in the Dominican Republic primarily in and around the small city of Baní. Her work includes:

Organization of women’s groups to learn sewing, nutrition, childcare & healthcare

Founded, constructed and directed nutrition recuperation and education centers in Limonel 1980

Founded, pre-school in Santa Cruz, 1985

Constructed & directed nutrition center and educational programs in La Saona, 1996 – now known as the Elizabeth Seton Center

Gained NGO status in 2009 and created local Elizabeth Seton Center Board of Directors to ensure the success and sustainability of her 40 years of work in the Dominican Republic

 

Anne Garbarino

As life-long teacher, Anne is committed to helping children learn and grow despite a multitude of challenges.

At the Elizabeth Seton Center, Anne has lent her expertise and time to the nutrition recovery program that supports children who have or are at risk for malnutrition. As a passionate teacher, she has also been involved in the daycare and preschool program, consulting on early childhood needs, and providing teacher training. She has also focused on raising funds for operational expenses.

Anne began her career in the classroom in 1966 and taught elementary students for over 30 years. Her specializations include early childhood education and bilingual education. She is certified in both the public and Montessori programs in Fairfax Country, VA, Dallas, TX, Toronto, Canada and the Boston area. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana and a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education with Montessori Certification from Oklahoma City University. Her post-graduate studies include course work to complete an endorsement for English to Speakers of Other Languages from George Mason University and Bilingual Education coursework from Southern Methodist University.

Anne’s late husband, Louis Garbarino was deeply committed to the Center and worked on many construction projects, including the Parquesita Garbarino, the playground within the walls of the Center which is used every day by the children. Anne has three children and four grandchildren. Although retired, she continues to stay in touch with many former students who still consult her for advice.

 

Karen Sadler, MD

 

Bill Maher

Dr. Bill Maher and his wife, Dawn Maher, have been traveling to the Dominican Republic together for the past 25 years. Dr. Maher is a retired Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon from Buffalo, NY. Through the organization, Jesse’s Children, the Mahers have organized and funded many projects over the years for the Sisters of Charity and in particular the Elizabeth Seton Nutrition Center. They have built wells, airlifted medical and clothing supplies via the Denton Program out of the Niagara Falls Air Force Base, coordinated countless medical, dental and optometric eye care operativos in and around Baní. Between them, they have seven children.

 

Marlene Stone

Marlene Stone is a full time coach at Akron High School, Akron NY, currently coaching field hockey, girls basketball and softball since 2005. Stone is the first Section 6 recipient of the NYSPHSAA Community Service Award for contributions leading to a girls’ softball league in Bani, DR. She and team members collected 7,500 pounds of equipment, transported and distributed it in 2017. While in Bani, Stone visited the Elizabeth Seton Center and has returned in 2018 and 2019 with high school students to make contributions and provide labor for the Center’s upkeep and building projects, including the organic garden. She lives in Akron, NY with her husband Kevin; they have three children Jacob, Claudia and Abigail.

 

Ruth Jasmin Riediger, MD

Jasmin received her medical degree from La Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo in 2018, after completing her associate’s in science from Independence Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. She completed both her Diplomate in Nutrition and Hospital Management in 2019. Currently, she is enrolled in a master’s program for traditional Chinese medicine in Berlin while awaiting the start of her residency program there.

She first visited the Elizabeth Seton and Nutrition Recovery Center when she was 3 years old with the founder, Sister Catherine, and dental volunteers from Tampa, including Rev. Patricia McIlwain and Dr. James McIlwain. Over the last 10 years, she has assisted the US Board on their bi-annual trips as a translator and organizer. In 2017, she conducted her Medical National Service in the medical facility of the Elizabeth Seton Center. She has remained involved in the Center and has created a lasting impact through her educational sessions with the community on the following subjects balanced feeding, breastfeeding, and youth pregnancy prevention.

 

Patricia A. Buckley

Patricia is President of Interweb Technology Group, Inc, an IT firm in Akron, NY. For over 28 years, she has been providing IT solutions for small businesses in Western New York. Patty is very active in her community. For over 24 years, she has been a member of the Akron-Newstead Rotary club. Her roles within the club include past Community Director for six years, past President, and currently the Treasurer. Patty is a firm believer in the notion that each individual has the ability to create change in their communities, both local and global. She visited the Elizabeth Seton Center in December 2019 and January 2020 with fellow Board Member Marlene Stone and students from Akron High School. Patty lives in Akron, NY with her husband Scott; they have two children, Ryan and Emily. In her free time, she likes to travel, paddle boarding, and walking her goldendoodle Teddy.