About Us - The Todd & Stephanie Schnick Foundation

OUR MISSION

We are building awareness, raising financial resources, and advocating for causes we care deeply about, including (and not limited to) supporting dementia/Alzheimer's issues, literacy, scholarships, animal rescue, and providing emergency relief. We are a Chicago-based foundation, and together we will act globally.

OUR VISION

We are helping build better lives for people and animals, and working to solve difficult problems. Our foundation is a beacon for others to rise up and serve with determined advocacy and fierce kindness. “If Todd and Stephanie can help change the world, so can I!”

OUR HISTORY

In 2017 and 2018 we had significant family responsibilities thrown at us that we never saw coming. After the extended illness and then passing of Todd’s father, we became fully responsible for the life and care of his mother, who is in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In an instant, our lives were forever changed in so many unexpected ways.

While we still have a lot in front of us, we have looked to the future and the next chapter in our lives, and we landed on bettering the lives of people and animals through fundraising and community development. Hence, the formation of The Todd & Stephanie Schnick Foundation.

We target issues that are close to our hearts, because passion is an important success factor. Our areas of focus include (and are not limited to) helping dementia caregivers and families, animal rescue, literacy, and providing emergency relief.

As Maria Shriver said, "Today, my mission is clear. I want to challenge what is, imagine what can be, make a difference and move humanity forward in all areas of human endeavor. That’s what Architects of Change do — I consider myself one, and I work to shine a light on others."

We are super-excited about our new purpose, and we hope to make a real and significant impact for many loves and lives.

With love and gratitude,

Todd and Stephanie

THE IMPACT

Our work will encompass three components: fundraising, advocacy, and education. Our time is generally allocated as follows:

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Fundraising

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Advocacy

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Educate

OUR PEOPLE

Board of Directors

Stephanie Schnick

President + CEO

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Stephanie Schnick is President + CEO of The Todd & Stephanie Schnick Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. She earned a B.S. Economics from The Florida State University.

Following a corporate career in Talent Acquisition, and some time to care for family members in need, she joined forces with her husband to launch their family foundation. She is Co-Chair, Recruitment and Prospective Membership Committee for the Junior League of Chicago, and serves on the Membership and Leadership Councils, as well.

Stephanie moved to downtown Chicago from Atlanta, Georgia, in February, 2016, with her husband, Todd, and their Golden Retriever, Shiloh. They were excited to welcome English Cream Golden Retriever, Surrey, into their family in December. She is a real love, and enriches all of their lives!

In their spare time, they love exploring all that Chicago has to offer including food, libations, parks, museums, and architecture.

Todd Schnick

Co-founder + Vice President

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Todd is the co-founder and vice president of The Todd & Stephanie Schnick Foundation, and the host of The Foundation Podcast.

A retired political operative, marketing strategist, broadcaster, and author, Todd studied at Christ Church, University of Oxford and graduated with two degrees from The Florida State University.

Interests include reading, jazz, F1, documentaries, architecture, and philosophy. Todd and Stephanie live in the Chicago Loop with their dogs Shiloh and Surrey.

He is a member of The Faith-Based Coalition for Global Nutrition and the Board of Trustees of the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs.

Justin Lloyd

Chief Technology Officer

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Anthony Madonia

Treasurer

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Anthony Madonia is an Attorney and Certified Public Accountant who concentrates in the areas of Estate Planning and Administration, Business Strategy and Planning, Wealth Counseling, Corporate Law, and Taxation.
Mr. Madonia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting.

He earned his Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School while practicing as a Senior Tax Accountant. Anthony Madonia thrives on legal and tax challenges.

Mr. Madonia is highly respected for his knowledge and insightful perspectives on the complexities that affect privately-held businesses. He is dedicated to preserving the wealth of privately held firms and the families they support.

Caily O’Donovan

Member at Large

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Caily O’Donovan has worked in the Senior Living field since 2005. She is currently the Executive Director of Belmont Village Senior Living in Oak Park, IL.

She is a Certified Director of Assisted Living through Argentum and holds a B.A. in Gerontology from Miami University in Ohio.

Caily is a Chicago native who also spent over a year in Dublin, Ireland working with low-income seniors for the Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly. Caily has previously volunteered with Chicago A Capella and Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly (Chicago Chapter).

Scholarship Advisory Committee

John + Tracey Kreiling

The Kreiling Family Foundation

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John and Tracey Kreiling, of The Kreiling Family Foundation, endeavor to help create a better world, through serving charitable causes throughout Chicagoland and across the US. John, Tracey and their family, love to discover and support new charitable organizations, changing the world for the better, in their own small way. “If each of us gives a little, we can make a big difference.”

Franklin Guerrero

AARP Foundation

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Franklin Guerrero is a fundraising and nonprofit senior executive. Currently, he is the Vice President of Philanthropic Services (major and planned gifts) at AARP Foundation. Franklin and his team of ten oversee the personalized relational approach of donor development to increase their giving and tenure with the Foundation through outright and deferred gifts. The expected outcome of his team program is to maximize the lifetime value of donors in relationship management portfolios. He works with leadership to run the Annual Board Giving Fund and the Employee Giving Campaign on behalf of the Foundation. He also Co-Leads with Lynette Lee-Villanueva, the Objective 3 of the Foundation, that by 2026, will secure $757 million in refunds for the Low-Income 50+, with increasingly equitable outcomes for populations that have faced systemic racism and discrimination. He also serves on the AARP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council.

He brings over twenty years of fundraising and nonprofit experience as Chief Development Officer with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Project HOPE. Vice President for Major Gifts with Children International and as Head of Leadership Giving at the USA for UNHCR. As a result of his work, he has secured six and seven-figure gifts and board development in those roles. He began his career in ministry and community organizing in Chicago and Eastern Pennsylvania with the United Methodist Church. Franklin was also the executive in charge of contexts and relationships between the denomination and Latin America and Caribbean partners. He has also led many donors and organizational field visits globally. He has taught and led workshops on fundraising, donor development, and Caribbean History and Culture.

Franklin holds degrees from the University of Sacred Heart in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Garrett Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, and advanced certificates from Indiana University and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, in fundraising and business. He has recently completed the innovative new Certificate in Philanthropic Psychology at the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy in the UK. Franklin serves on the Board of Directors of USA for the Nature Power Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing clean energy, water, and climate-friendly income generation solutions in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean.

Carol Morgan

Denim Marketing

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Carol Morgan, founder and president of Denim Marketing, has built a career on listening to clients and personalizing plans to fit each client’s needs. Known for being reliable, creative and authentic, she creates big picture marketing strategy that utilizes public relations, advertising, social media, content, reputation management and creative to send traffic to the client’s website and garner measurable results. . . .

Carol has been attuned to trends in marketing and social media throughout her career, and she is a sought-after speaker. Carol is the author of four books on social media including her latest, “Social Media Marketing for Your Business.” She is the creator of the nationally-ranked and award-winning www.AtlantaRealEstateForum.com, Atlanta’s most popular real estate blog. Launched in 2006, let’s just say Carol saw the benefits of blogging before most people knew what blogging was. She is the founder and host of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, a podcast that airs twice a week.

She has previously chaired NAHB’s Professional Women in Building council and Membership committee, and served as one of NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde’s 2019 advisors. Morgan currently serves as the Vice Chair of the NAHB Associates committee, a committee she will chair in 2022. She also serves on the newly formed Hammack Business School Board at Oglethorpe University. A graduate of Oglethorpe University, she is the recipient of the 2008 Spirit of Oglethorpe Award, PRSA Georgia Chapter’s prestigious George Goodwin Award, the 2009 Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s Associate of the Year and 2012 Council Chair of the Year. Carol holds the MIRM (Masters in Residential Marketing), CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) and CSP (Certified Sales Professional) designations from NAHB.

When she isn’t in the office, she can be found in the barn with the horses. Carol rides and competes in dressage with her Trakehner mare Johanna. She volunteers with Canine Pet Rescue. Carol also enjoys cooking and gardening.

Anthony Madonia

Anthony Madonia & Associates, Ltd.

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He earned his Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School while practicing as a Senior Tax Accountant. Anthony Madonia thrives on legal and tax challenges.

Allyce Najimy

Foundation To Be Named Later

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Allyce Najimy is currently the CEO of The Foundation to Be Named Later. Allyce has led the Foundation To Be Named Later for most of its existence, organizing the signature Hot Stove Cool Music concerts in both Boston and Chicago and treating baseball fans to insider Business of Baseball panel discussions. She is an ever-present leader as a mentor and connector in the Boston and Chicago nonprofit and sports community. She is responsible for founding the Foundation To Be Named Later / Peter Gammons College Scholarship Program which sends deserving young people from Chicago and Boston to colleges around the country – each with a mentor and a plan for success. Allyce is an adjunct professor and founding advisory board member at the new UMass Boston Sport Leadership Bachelor Degree Program. She has consulted with The Boston Foundation, Paul Pierce Truth Foundation, The Who’s Teen Cancer Foundation, Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation, The Base and Scholar Athletes. She is the Co-Director of the Athlete and Celebrity Foundation Forum, a Trustee of the Boston Sports Museum, a trustee of Beacon Academy, a trustee of Dr. Richard Lapchick’s Institute for Sports and Social Justice and she was appointed by Governor Baker to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Allyce was previously the COO and Senior Associate Director of Northeastern University ’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society. Earlier in her career, Allyce was a founding staff member of City Year, serving in various leadership roles and helping to establish City Year in locations nationwide including San Antonio, San Jose & Seattle. A Pittsfield native, she graduated from Assumption College and earned her Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Guy Bell

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Guy Bell is a seasoned executive leader with decades of experience leading public, private, and non-profit education companies through change. His current focus is bridging the digital divide to improve access, insight into the learners, and market relevance for work ready skills. His experience developing and delivering three week certification programs to Doctoral degrees on ground, blended and online has kept him on the cutting edge of higher education trends. His most recent area of focus has been on secondary education where he see’s the greatest potential to change communities by changing the “why”.