our Team
Get to know the inspiring team of visionaries, mentors, and changemakers who are committed to empowering foster youth, unlocking potential, and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Meet the team behind home of champions
Judith Halbreich
Founder & CEO
Judith Halbreich
Judith Halbreich, MSW, LCSW R (Founder and Executive Director of the Home of Champions, Our Home Base, Inc.) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a successful executive career in social services, mental health, and clinical research, serving on many Boards of Directors.
During Ms. Halbreich’s tenure at a New York City Foster/Adoption agency, she led the agency to the rank of number one social service agency of 47 foster care agencies monitored by the New York City Commissioner of Social Services. There she established a groundbreaking foster care program in the eighties for HIV babies, an award-winning independent living program and retreats for adolescents, Judith Halbreich’s lifetime of advocacy work is focused on the importance of all children having a home base and continuous mentorship. “The power of one caring adult, a mentor, can change a child’s life.” Ms. Halbreich is the author of The Audacity to be Divine.
Board of Directors
Constance Silveri
Philanthropist & Entrepreneur
Constance Silveri
Constance Silveri is a philanthropist /life and business coach. Ms. Silveri practices and teaches the many aspects of a healthy mind, body and spirit. She is a successful Entreprenuer and owner of her business called Revelations N Design for over 35 years. Ms. Silveri knows what is necessary to get result without wasting time.
Peggy Brooks-Bertram, PhD
Author
Peggy Brooks-Bertram, PhD
Peggy Brooks-Bertram, PhD received her first doctorate from the John Hopkins University- School of Hygiene and Public Health and her second doctorate in American studies at the state University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Bertram is the Founder and CEO of Jehudi Educational Services, and independent consulting firm specializing in K-12 curriculum development, staff development, training, and conference planning. Dr. Bertram is an independent scholar in African American woman’s history and is a well-known lecturer and only known authority on the life and writings of Drusilla Dunjee Houston. She is the author of. Numerous articles on health and mental health, and she co-authored two books: Uncrowned Queens and Uncrowned Queens II, and she is the author of Dear Kamala.
Melanie Siben
Media and Marketing Specialist
Melanie Siben
Melanie Siben, BA Is a Realtor and New York’s first female Master Certified Negotiation Expert (MCNE). Ms. Siben has taught Mindful Meditation to more than 3,000 students in the past ten years. She has lived and worked in Japan, Europe, and Guam. She was a TV news reporter and Founder of American’s first anti-child trafficking organization Called media for Humanity in New York City.
Amy Bugyis
Engineer, Accountant
Business Strategist
Amy Bugyis
Amy Bugyis, MBA, CPA is a Financier and Transactions (Merger and Acquisitions) Expert who is at Honeywell and has over 15 years of industry and advisory experience. As an Accountant and Engineer, Amy creates profitable and sustainable business strategies across multiple industries. Her Passion is teaching, mentoring and supporting STEM education (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics).
Tracy Patterson
World Champion Boxer & Honorary Board Member
Tracy Patterson
An American former boxer who became a two-weight world champion, he is the adopted son of former Golden Gloves and world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. He won the WBC super bantamweight title and later claimed the IBF super featherweight title.
Advisory Board
Samantha Mott
HOC Consultant
Public Administration
Human Resources
Samantha Mott
Penny Stenzel
Foster Family Peer Advocate
Mental Health Specialist
Penny Stenzel
Michelle Sanabria
CASAC-T, Conflict Analysis & Resolution
Michelle Sanabria
New York State Office of People with Disabilities
Melinda Schultz
Federal County Probation Department
Criminal Justice,
Human Services
Melinda Schultz
Takima Howze
Author
Takima Howze
Founder & Creator of the BRAVE Life™
Corina Caracci
Director of Residence Life
Corina Caracci
State University of New York at New Paltz
Uriel Halbreich, MD
Prof. of Psychiatry Director of Biobehavioral Research
Uriel Halbreich, MD
State Univeristy of New York at Buffalo
Poul Jensen
Child Welfare Assistant Commissioner
and Executive Director
Poul Jensen
Meg Kline
Website Designer
Meg Kline
Kim Cummings - Williams, MSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Specialist & Certified Case Manager
Kim Cummings - Williams, MSN, RN
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Case Manager with 25+ years in healthcare experience working with Children, Teens & Adults
Dimitri Chatzpetros
Architect
Dimitri Chatzpetros
Sarah Schuppenhauer
Website and Design Strategist
Sarah Schuppenhauer
Nicholas Martino
MSED – Educational Consultant
Nicholas Martino
The Community