Staff

Debi Deutsch, Executive Director & Board Member
Debi has over 10 years of experience directing, programming and managing youth oriented not-for-profit programs. Debi is a certified social worker who collaborated with Peter to create TORCH in September 1999. Prior to TORCH, Debi was the Youth Services Director at Ice Hockey In Harlem (IHIH) and was responsible for creating and implementing educational and social work initiatives. She is now on the IHIH Board of Directors.

Jessica Jones, Program Associate
Prior to joining the TORCH program, Jessica worked as an assistant editor at The American Lawyer. Additionally, she has written for a variety of national magazines and regional newspapers.

During college Jessica was involved with program planning at The SAFE (Sexual Abuse Free Environment) Place, was the Assistant Managing Editor for “X”press Magazine and was a writer for popandpolitics.com, a youth oriented online magazine.

Board of Directors

Peter Drakoulias, Founder, President, Chairman of the Board of TORCH
Peter has an extensive track record as a hands-on volunteer and organizer with a number of New York based youth non-profit organizations including programs at The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital and Ice Hockey in Harlem.

Tom Curley, President and CEO, The Associated Press
Alison Fahey, Publisher/Editorial Director, Adweek
Burton Goldstein, Founder, Burton Goldstein & Co. LLC
Nancy Hill, President and CEO, American Association of Advertising Agencies
Russell Simmons, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Rush Communications Inc.

TORCH Advisory Board

Juan Manuel Benitez, Reporter, NY1 Noticias
Margaret Bowani, Human Resources Associate, Wunderman
Anika Dill, New York Regional Program Manager, All Stars Helping Kids
Brian Donaghy, Vice Chairman, Structure-Tone Inc.
Dr. Lauren Goldenberg, EDC Center for Children & Technology
Ed Grassel, Guidance Counselor, Baruch College Campus High School
Amy Guss, Attorney, Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP
Sofia Hernandez, Account Director, BBDO
Linda Rosa Kalata, Senior Financial Associate, RBC Dain Rauscher
Ginny Laracy, LMSW, Primary Therapist, The Renfrew Center
Heidi Lorman, Chandler Chicco
Sara Maddox,Educational Guidance and Advocacy Program Coordinator, For Love of Children
Suzanne Sherman, Senior Manager, Marketing, National Hockey League
Marc Siden, Co-Founder & CEO, OnBoard, LLC
Tiffany R. Warren, Director, Multi Cultural Programs and Community Outreach, Arnold
Lesley Younge, Teacher, The Dalton School