CO-FOUNDER, CEO

Patricia is the Co-Founder of the William Trippley Youth Development Foundation, created to honor the memory of her son, William Trippley. Patricia Demiranda was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, to the late Jake Earl Sr. and Anna Mae Earl and was educated in the Chester Upland School District and graduated from Chester High School. She continued her education and received her B.S. in Accounting from Virginia State College. She also graduated from Neumann University with her Master of Science degree in Organizational and Strategic Leadership.

CO-FOUNDER, BOARD MEMBER

Neal founded the Trippley Foundation with Will’s mother Patricia to honor the memory of his best friend Will. Shortly after, he developed the Trippley Foundation’s first programs and one of the city’s most prominent youth soccer organizations - Chester City United. Neal is a graduate of Muhlenberg College with a BA in Business Administration and is currently a partner at Evolution Financial Group.

BOARD MEMBER

Gwen Owens served on the Camp Encouragement Board from 2019 to 2021 before becoming a member of the Will Trippley Foundation Board. The retired award-winning TV news veteran brings her communication, public relations, and marketing skills to the foundation. Gwen serves as Managing Editor of her church newsletter and plays a pivotal role in its Multi-Media Ministry. In her spare time, she enjoys writing children’s books, doing voice-overs for various businesses, and performing in corporate training videos. Her desire is for all children, regardless of background, to have opportunities to better themselves and grow.

BOARD MEMBER

Brian has worked globally facilitating community development, arts initiatives, and social benefit projects. As the executive director of Halloran Philanthropies, Brian has overseen initiatives that introduce creative structures to empower underinvested and unrepresented change agents in the philanthropic and impact space. Brian has an MFA from Bard College and brings an artist's sensibility to his work.

BOARD MEMBER

Sunny is currently a partner at Wildflower Schools, a non-profit that helps teachers launch their own Montessori micro-schools with funds for training, entrepreneurial support, coaching, and seed capital. Sunny has been a lifelong educator and has taught nationally and internationally in both public and private schools. Before joining Wildflower, she was a teacher and administrator at Shipley School in Bryn Mawr where she taught high school English and Interdisciplinary Studies. Often working closely with teachers and administrators, she developed and oversaw the school’s mentoring program, served as a grade dean, and chaired the Interdisciplinary Studies department. She also has served as a mentor for young educators at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She lives in Philadelphia.

BOARD MEMBER

Nicole Cogdell is a passionate project manager with several years of experience in the public sector. She received her Master of Science in Organizational and Strategic Leadership from Neumann University. A longtime friend of the Will Trippley Foundation, Nicole helped Pat Demiranda start Camp Encouragement, and over the years has assisted the foundation with fundraising and mental health programs. She also collaborated with the Philadelphia Union on behalf of the foundation to bring about programming to give community children more opportunities. She aims to empower and support the people we serve with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and succeed.

BOARD MEMBER

Rob Smith has enjoyed 35+ years of success in soccer at every level: as a player through college, as a Nike and MLS executive, as well as a former Vice President with the Philadelphia Union. He now serves on the Union’s Board of Directors for their Foundation and sits on the WTF Board of Directors. Committed to bringing soccer to under-served youth, Rob has been instrumental in creating exciting programming thousands of young people have enjoyed over the years. He led his suburban Philadelphia girls high school team to five Pennsylvania State Championships and also helped create and nurture one of the most successful elite club teams in the nation – FC DELCO-- where he served as club president for 10 years.