The SI Sandy Relief Fund is a registered 501(C)(3) charity. The founders of SI Sandy Relief Fund are friends most of whom either originated from Staten Island or currently live there. We all have families and can sympathize with the people affected by SuperStorm Sandy and decided to donate our hearts, time and contacts to help good people get back on their feet. We do not make or take a single penny from any of the donations made. In fact the only costs to run the organization were funded by the founders themselves. Below you can find bios and contact information for all of our founders and members.
Bradley Vaiana (Board MemBER)
Brad Vaiana grew up in the New Springville section of Staten Island. Brad graduated Port Richmond High School in 1993. Following high school Brad attended Binghamton University where he graduated in 1997 cum laude with a double major in English and Political Science. Brad obtained his law degree from Emory University, graduating in 2000 with highest honors.
Brad is currently a partner in the private equity group at Winston & Strawn LLP, a highly regarded international law firm. He is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Global Private Equity Group and is a member of the firm’s audit committee. Brad’s clients are some of the largest private equity funds, corporations and alternative asset managers in the world. Brad is currently serving as outside pro bono counsel to the Newark Mentorship Movement, a 501c3 organization based out of Newark, New Jersey that was formed to implement educational reforms put forth by Newark Mayor Corey Booker.
Brad currently resides in Wyckoff New Jersey with his wife Nadine and three children, Geoffrey (7), Jolie (5) and Jordan (1). Brad continues to have significant ties to Staten Island with family and friends on the Island. He is an active member of the Wyckoff community coaching his son’s soccer team and football team. When not working Brad’s favorite thing to do is spend time outside, be it hiking, mountain climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking or rock climbing.
You can contact Brad at brad@sandyfundsi.org
Brad is currently a partner in the private equity group at Winston & Strawn LLP, a highly regarded international law firm. He is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Global Private Equity Group and is a member of the firm’s audit committee. Brad’s clients are some of the largest private equity funds, corporations and alternative asset managers in the world. Brad is currently serving as outside pro bono counsel to the Newark Mentorship Movement, a 501c3 organization based out of Newark, New Jersey that was formed to implement educational reforms put forth by Newark Mayor Corey Booker.
Brad currently resides in Wyckoff New Jersey with his wife Nadine and three children, Geoffrey (7), Jolie (5) and Jordan (1). Brad continues to have significant ties to Staten Island with family and friends on the Island. He is an active member of the Wyckoff community coaching his son’s soccer team and football team. When not working Brad’s favorite thing to do is spend time outside, be it hiking, mountain climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking or rock climbing.
You can contact Brad at brad@sandyfundsi.org
lee maschler (board member)
Lee Maschler grew up in Heartland Village on Staten Island. Lee graduated from Port Richmond High School in 1993. Following high school Lee attended Cornell University where he graduated in 1997 and is currently a visiting lecturer for the Cornell Financial Engineering in Manhattan master’s program.
Lee is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trillium Trading, a premier proprietary trading fund that excels in short term equity trading and portfolio management. He is the manager of Trillium Asset Management, LLC a multi-strategy medium term trading and investment fund which focuses on distressed opportunities in the financial markets. In 2007, Lee co-founded Lion Cave Capital, a proprietary trading firm staffed by a world-class team of computer scientists. Lee founded Hubb Solutions in 2001, a retail direct market access broker dealer catering to high frequency intra-day quantitative hedge funds, which was later merged into Lightspeed Financial where he is a board member and part-owner.
In 2012 Lee, together with his wife Marjorie, launched the Lee and Marjorie Maschler Charitable Fund, which supports education, the arts, and the sciences.
Lee resides in Princeton, NJ with his wife and three children. An avid runner and skier, Lee can be seen early every morning training for an upcoming marathon, or the skiing season.
You can contact Lee at lee@sandyfundsi.org
Lee is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trillium Trading, a premier proprietary trading fund that excels in short term equity trading and portfolio management. He is the manager of Trillium Asset Management, LLC a multi-strategy medium term trading and investment fund which focuses on distressed opportunities in the financial markets. In 2007, Lee co-founded Lion Cave Capital, a proprietary trading firm staffed by a world-class team of computer scientists. Lee founded Hubb Solutions in 2001, a retail direct market access broker dealer catering to high frequency intra-day quantitative hedge funds, which was later merged into Lightspeed Financial where he is a board member and part-owner.
In 2012 Lee, together with his wife Marjorie, launched the Lee and Marjorie Maschler Charitable Fund, which supports education, the arts, and the sciences.
Lee resides in Princeton, NJ with his wife and three children. An avid runner and skier, Lee can be seen early every morning training for an upcoming marathon, or the skiing season.
You can contact Lee at lee@sandyfundsi.org
IAN neckin (president)
Ian Neckin grew up in the Bulls Head section of Staten Island. Ian graduated Port Richmond High School in 1993. Ian then pursued his studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Criminal Justice. After his undergraduate studies, Ian attended Northeastern University in Boston, MA and attained a MS in Criminal Justice. Ian became a New York City Police Officer in July 1999 and was assigned to the 120 Precinct on Staten Island for five years as a patrolman and youth officer. In 2004, after completing a rigorous sixteen week course as a Basic Agent Trainee (BAT) with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ian fulfilled his goal of becoming a Special Agent with the DEA. After the DEA academy, Ian was assigned to the New York Field Division, where he is still currently assigned.
Ian is the proud father of three beautiful children and currently resides with his wife, Alishia, in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island. Ian is active in the community and is a member of the Staten Island Athletic Club (SIAC). Ian’s true passion is endurance running. To date, Ian has completed seven marathons, countless smaller races and a triathlon. Ian hopes to complete a full Ironman Triathlon and a 50 Mile Ultra Marathon race in the near future.
You can contact Ian at ian@sandyfundsi.org
Ian is the proud father of three beautiful children and currently resides with his wife, Alishia, in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island. Ian is active in the community and is a member of the Staten Island Athletic Club (SIAC). Ian’s true passion is endurance running. To date, Ian has completed seven marathons, countless smaller races and a triathlon. Ian hopes to complete a full Ironman Triathlon and a 50 Mile Ultra Marathon race in the near future.
You can contact Ian at ian@sandyfundsi.org
nadine vaiana (chief financial officer)
Nadine Vaiana grew up in New City, New York. Nadine graduated from Clarkstown South High School in 1993. Following high school Nadine attended Albany University where she graduated in 1997 cum laude with a major in Accounting. Following college Nadine was an auditor with Ernst & Young until 2000 and became a CPA. Subsequent to leaving Ernst & Young, Nadine took a job in the accounting department of West LB where she worked for 12 years. Nadine is currently taking care of her family and working part time as an accounting consultant at Portigon AG.
Nadine currently resides in Wyckoff New Jersey with her husband Brad and three children, Geoffrey (7), Jolie (5) and Jordan (1). Nadine has significant ties to Staten Island in large part due to the fact that her husband grew up in Staten Island. Nadine is an active member of the Wyckoff community and an active member of Temple Beth Rishon. When not working or caring for her children Nadine enjoys traveling, hiking, attending Broadway shows and spending time at the beach.
You can contact Nadine at nadine@sandyfundsi.org
Nadine currently resides in Wyckoff New Jersey with her husband Brad and three children, Geoffrey (7), Jolie (5) and Jordan (1). Nadine has significant ties to Staten Island in large part due to the fact that her husband grew up in Staten Island. Nadine is an active member of the Wyckoff community and an active member of Temple Beth Rishon. When not working or caring for her children Nadine enjoys traveling, hiking, attending Broadway shows and spending time at the beach.
You can contact Nadine at nadine@sandyfundsi.org
russell falcon (chief operating officer)
Russell (Russ) Falcon grew up in the New Springville section of Staten Island and lived there for 20 years of his life. He gradated from Port Richmond High School in 1995. Following high school Russ attended the State University at Albany where he graduated in 1999 with a bachelors degree in Sociology.
Russ has worked on Wall Street in the technology field for the past 12 years and is currently launching a new startup business.
Russ currently resides in Marlboro New Jersey with his wife Sherri and three children, Marley (5), Gabrielle (3) and Dean (2). When not working Russ enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, playing tennis, running and rooting for the New York Jets.
You can contact Russ at russ@sandyfundsi.org
Russ has worked on Wall Street in the technology field for the past 12 years and is currently launching a new startup business.
Russ currently resides in Marlboro New Jersey with his wife Sherri and three children, Marley (5), Gabrielle (3) and Dean (2). When not working Russ enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, playing tennis, running and rooting for the New York Jets.
You can contact Russ at russ@sandyfundsi.org
suzanne vaiana (vP Family affairs)
Suzanne Vaiana was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Suzanne has worked as an Event Planner for over ten years, currently working with the Nicotra Group, LLC planning events at Nicotra's Ballroom and Above at the Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island. Suzanne has been a proud resident of Staten Island for over eight years living with her husband, Nicholas and son Brady.
You can contact Sue at sue@sandyfundsi.org
You can contact Sue at sue@sandyfundsi.org
Alishia neckin (VP human relations)
Alishia was born in Buffalo, NY. Alishia graduated Lockport High School in Lockport, NY. In 1995, Alishia graduated Buffalo State College with a Bachelor of Science of the Arts degree. After graduation, Alishia became a high school teacher at Riverside High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. Two years later, Alishia moved to Staten Island and became an elementary art teacher at PS 225 in Brooklyn, NY. Alishia attained her Master of Science in the Arts degree from Brooklyn, College in 2001. Alishia is currently a photography and graphic design teacher at Wagner High School.
Alishia is a multi media artist with strengths in painting, sculpture and photography. When Alishia is not creating art, she enjoys frequenting museums, travelling and spending time with her three beautiful children. Alishia and her husband Ian live in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island.
You can contact Alishia at alishia@sandyfundsi.org
Alishia is a multi media artist with strengths in painting, sculpture and photography. When Alishia is not creating art, she enjoys frequenting museums, travelling and spending time with her three beautiful children. Alishia and her husband Ian live in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island.
You can contact Alishia at alishia@sandyfundsi.org
CAROLYN FOSTER (VP family affairs & real estate)
Carolyn Foster grew up in the Great Kills section of Staten Island. Carolyn graduated Francis School in 1994. Following high school Carolyn attended Grace Institute where she graduated in 1996 and joined Frank, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson working in bankruptcy, litigation, reinsurance, technology and the managing attorney’s office.
Carolyn joined Goldman Sachs Asset Management in 2004 supporting the mutual fund board complex; later joining the finance area to develop a custom e-billing solution. In 2012, Carolyn founded an entertainment company and has since begun humanitarian movements.
Carolyn currently resides in Great Kills, Staten Island with her two children, Alexis (19) and Kailey (9). Carolyn has been working in relief efforts since the arrival of Sandy. When not working Carolyn’s favorite thing to do is research as well as meeting people and offering solutions to any issues they may be dealing with.
You can contact Carolyn at carolyn@sandyfundsi.org
Carolyn joined Goldman Sachs Asset Management in 2004 supporting the mutual fund board complex; later joining the finance area to develop a custom e-billing solution. In 2012, Carolyn founded an entertainment company and has since begun humanitarian movements.
Carolyn currently resides in Great Kills, Staten Island with her two children, Alexis (19) and Kailey (9). Carolyn has been working in relief efforts since the arrival of Sandy. When not working Carolyn’s favorite thing to do is research as well as meeting people and offering solutions to any issues they may be dealing with.
You can contact Carolyn at carolyn@sandyfundsi.org