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FREEDOM IS NOT FREE STAFF
Rodney Smith - COO / Director of Development
Rodney Smith joined FREEDOM IS NOT FREE in October 2006. He brings
with him close to 20 years of non-profit organization and consulting experience,
and a very strong sense of personal commitment and drive. In 1991 Rodney launched
Future for Kids, an Arizona based non-profit for at risk children. As its Executive
Director and President, Smith grew Future for Kids from inception to an organization
that served more than 6,200 at risk children in 2006. Rod earned a full athletic
scholarship at University of Nebraska. He was the leading NCAA punt returner in
1986 while playing for the Nebraska Cornhuskers under the legendary Coach, Tom Osborne.
By his own admission, though, Rod’s most notable accomplishment was the college
degree he earned. After a short run in the NFL with the Raiders and the Chiefs,
Rod began the journey of finding his real life’s work. In 1991 Rod was offered
a baseball coaching position. Unfortunately, what he found was a group of 20 children
with no sense of direction or positive self-esteem. It was at that time, that the
passion and mission for Future for KIDS was born; providing developmental opportunities
in the areas of leadership, mentoring, sports competition and academic skills for
boys and girls ages 8 to 18, with a special emphasis on supporting at-risk youth.
Rodney has dedicated his adult life to serving the community. In his current position
with FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, Rodney has big plans for the organization including an
array of new programs targeted to easing the lives of our wounded, their families
and the families of the fatally wounded.
Business Phone: (858) 847-999
Fax: (858) 793-5357
E-mail: rsmith@FreedomIsNotFree.com
Liz Wegman - Program Director
Liz Wegman joined FREEDOM IS NOT FREE in April 2007. Her aspirations for a career
in the non-profit world have motivated her professional decisions since her graduation
from Benedictine College, in 2002. Following a year in Gstaad, Switzerland, Liz
joined People to People International, an organization founded by President Dwight
D. Eisenhower in 1956 with a mission of furthering peace through understanding.
Liz served as Managing Director of Operation Iraqi Children (OIC), a program founded
by actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand in 2003 under the People to People
umbrella. OIC was established to send school supplies to U.S. troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan as a show of support for our troops' relationship and community-building
efforts. Her involvement in the project fueled Liz’s fervor to assist those who
serve our country. She was instrumental in establishing OIC’s organizational structure
enabling OIC to send hundreds of thousands of supplies overseas. As OIC continues
to thrive, Liz looks forward to new challenges in her position with FREEDOM IS NOT
FREE. She is excited by this opportunity to take part in what she describes is a
"worthwhile and needed cause".
Business phone: (858) 847-9999
Fax: (858) 793-5357
E-mail: lizw@FreedomIsNotFree.com
Ariel Peterson- Intern
Ariel Peterson joined FREEDOM IS NOT FREE in January 2008. A senior
at the University of California, San Diego, Ariel hopes to begin a career in the
non-profit world following graduation. After taking a class on War and Masculinity
while studying in the Netherlands, she became fascinated and concerned with the
military’s treatment of wounded soldiers and veterans. In order to explore this
newfound interest, Ariel decided to participate in the Honors Thesis program at
her university. She is currently writing her thesis about soldiers and veterans
with posttraumatic stress disorder in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and their subsequent
poor treatment by the military. Through her research on this topic, Ariel realized
that she wanted to do more than just write about the difficult situations of soldiers
and veterans. By joining FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, Ariel hopes to put her academic interests
to action through improving the lives of the wounded and their families.
Business phone: (858) 847-9999
Fax: (858) 793-5357
E-mail: arielp@freedomisnotfree.com
For press inquiries, please contact:
Cindy West INK Inc.
PR Tel: 816-753-6222
Email: cindy.west@inkincpr.com
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