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Community Corner

Team Rubicon Selects South Orange Resident to Lead Fundraising Efforts

Appointment comes as vet-led nonprofit experiences rapid growth

Team Rubicon, a disaster relief organization which unites the skills of military veterans with first responders, is pleased to welcome Laura Atwell as its first director of development.

Atwell most recently was the major gifts director at Overlook Foundation, in Summit, N.J. She brings more than 25-years of experience in development, having raised funds for hospitals, educational institutions, and human service organizations.

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"There is a history of civic and military service in my family, so it’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to support our veterans who have sacrificed so much for so many,” said Atwell, who resides in South Orange, N.J., and will be based in New York.

In her new role, Atwell will develop and execute the strategy to build, implement and manage all aspects of Team Rubicon’s fundraising activities, to include major gifts, corporate contributions, foundation grants, and grassroots fundraising.  

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Headquartered in Los Angeles, Team Rubicon enlists volunteers from across the country. The nonprofit has experienced explosive growth—from a team of eight to more than 16,000 members—since its founding in 2010.

“Over the last four years, we’ve raised more than $10 million without a professional fundraiser, yet with our growth it has become increasingly difficult to manage our prospects,” said Jake Wood, CEO and cofounder of Team Rubicon. “Laura not only has a proven record, she has the vision necessary to take Team Rubicon to the next tier as we look to not only grow our organization, but afford our members the training and resources needed to perform our mission.”

Team Rubicon was founded in the wake of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake by Wood and William McNulty, both Marine veterans. It now has more than 60 operations under its belt, including Haiti, Superstorm Sandy, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The nonprofit has already responded to more than a dozen tornadoes and floods this year. Beyond disaster relief, Team Rubicon helps veterans find a renewed sense of purpose—vital as many return to civilian life after more than a decade of war.

Atwell holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from West Virginia University, and a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

To learn more about Team Rubicon’s mission, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org.

About Team Rubicon Team Rubicon (TR) unites the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. TR offers veterans a chance to continue their service by helping and empowering those afflicted by disasters, and also themselves. For more about Team Rubicon, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org.

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