Anne Heller

Anne brings a rich, diverse background spanning corporate sales, international education, and nonprofit leadership to the FoNR board. She began her career in sales with Ryerson Steel in Seattle and Chicago before transitioning her professional skills into high-impact fundraising. Over eight years in development, Anne successfully chaired several large-scale benefit events for the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, raising over two million dollars. After relocating to California, she continued her community leadership by chairing events for Domestic Violence Solutions in Santa Barbara. Later, while living in Madrid, Spain, she taught private English classes to senior business executives. Throughout her professional journey, Anne and Andy also raised three children—an experience that deeply rooted her commitment to expanding educational opportunities for young people.

Responsibilities at FoNR
Having served as a dedicated student sponsor for the past two years, Anne is excited to step into a larger strategic role on the Board of Directors. She leverages her extensive background in development, event chairing, and fundraising to help FoNR meet its growth goals, strengthen donor engagement, and expand resources for the students in Nairobi.

Why I Became Involved

My connection to FoNR truly deepened during my two visits to Nairobi. Witnessing the direct impact of the transformative programs, seeing the students flourish academically, watching them thrive during Saturday activities, and spending meaningful time with my sponsored student gave me a profound, firsthand appreciation for the life-changing community FoNR builds. Inspired by the incredible resilience of these young people and the dedication of the staff, and the beauty of Kenya, I am honored to serve on the board and support our mission of empowering Kenya’s youth through the transformative power of education.