Amy Armstrong
Founder & President
When she isn’t coordinating service trips to Mexico and running NGP, Amy Armstrong serves as the Director and Grant Coordinator for the Kiita Foundation and Grant Advisor of the Armstrong Family Foundation. In addition to her foundation roles she is also an active member of Social Venture Partners Arizona, an Advisory Board member of the Salvation Army and a board member of P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E. Center®.
Amy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The Art Inst
itute of Colorado in Interior Design as well as being a Certified Kitchen Designer and Associate Bath Designer. After several years as the Design and Project Coordinator with a cabinetry company in Denver, she and her family moved back to her native Arizona in 2008 where she began following in the footsteps of her in-laws, beginning her philanthropic career here in the Valley.
Along with her husband Patrick, she is the parent to Emily (7) and Taylor (5) and enjoys being involved at their school as well as in their favorite hobbies.
Patrick Armstrong
Vice President
Patrick Armstrong is an Analyst for Canal Partners. In this role Mr. Armstrong is responsible for evaluating potential investments, performing industry and financial analysis, due diligence, and providing additional support for internal operations and portfolio companies.
In addition to his role with Canal Partners, Mr. Armstrong is Vice President and Co-Founder of JDA Investments (US), Inc., which was formed in 2008 to manage his family’s partnership. Prior to his role at JDA Investments, Mr. Armstrong founded and operated Armstrong IT Services, in 2005. Armstrong IT Services acted as an Information Technology consultant for several small and medium-sized companies with focuses on health-care, digital media, accounting, education, and IT Services. Prior to that, Mr. Armstrong was a Support Specialist at Sungard Availability Systems. He began his career in the Information Technology Services department at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Mr. Armstrong works with both of his family’s foundations – the Armstrong Family Foundation and the Kiita Foundation - is a member of the Arizona Technology Investors Forum, and is a member of Social Venture Partners of Arizona, serving as Chair of the Fast Pitch Steering Committee and as the Vice-Chair of Finance on the Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for SEEDspot, an incubator for innovative social enterprises in downtown Phoenix.
Mr. Armstrong earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Additionally, he received a certificate from the Venture Capital Executive Program at the University of California at Berkeley and is a Microsoft Certified Professional.
Mary Ann Marasco
Mary Ann is employed by The Dial Corporation, a Henkel Company, in Scottsdale, AZ. Her current role included sales, marketing, broker management and financial responsibility to the military channel. Past roles have included financial & marketing supporting Mass, Drug and Dollar stores. She is currently a member of the Professional Women’s Forum which is a cross functional network operating to help women at Henkel achieve their career potential in support of Henkel’s Vision and Values and Henkel’s business goals. Through Henkel, Mary Ann is a member of NEW, Network of Executive Women, Phoenix Chapter, where mission is to attract, retain and advance women in the retail and consumer products industry through education, leadership and business development. She is on the Board of 
Directors as Treasurer for her neighborhood association, Rancho Ventura and been involved in numerous community activities over her 18 years as a board member.
Along with her husband, Mike, she enjoys spending time with her children and especially her grandchildren. They enjoy traveling to new countries as well re-exploring some of their favorite cities.
James Plotnik
Interesting Fact: James lived in Italy for two months studying Art History, is a certified scuba diver, has summited more than 10 Colorado 14ers, has ridden his bicycle 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the AIDS/LifeCycle, skydived twice and been snorkeling in underground caves in the Yucatan.
James has experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, as well as entrepreneurship. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor’s degree in economics, James obtained his Series 7 license and started his career as a Licensed Banker with Wells Fargo Bank. He was then presented with an opportunity to work in non-profit as a Director of Development for a 501(c)(3) that provided education to gifted children in grades k-12. After completing his Master in Business Administration at 
the University of Colorado at Denver, he relocated to Chicago, IL where he ran his own consulting business. James served as a Program Manager for P.O.P.S.I.C.L.E. Center®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Scottsdale, AZ whose mission is to provide educational tools and resources that serve the needs of infants and children with feeding difficulties, their families and the professionals who care for them. Currently, James serves as the Vice President of YNPN (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network) Phoenix and has served on the board of several organizations in the past, including the American Marketing Association Colorado Chapter, the University of Colorado Denver Marketing Club and the Between Friends Young Professionals Group in Chicago, IL.
Amanda Weisberg
Amanda Weisberg is a Registered Nurse with varied experience, focused primarily on Public and Women’s Health. She began her journey in philanthropy with Next Generation Philanthropists’ first planned experience, the Agua Prieta service trip. She was assured on that trip that it would change her life, and that philanthropy was addictive, and both proved to be true. While on sabbatical from Arizona State University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, Amanda has been an active member of Social Venture Partners and volunteer for a number of non-profit organizations. In addition she has co-sponsored a new club, HOPE (Health Occupations, Projects, and Education) at Camelback High School (a Title I school in PUHSD). 
HOPE’s mission is to introduce and attract students to Health Professions, and to prepare them to participate in the very competitive process for admission into post-secondary health care programs.
Amanda came to the Valley 10 years ago, married shortly after, and is raising her 2 beautiful children Asher (7) and Sam (5) with husband Charlie. She is looking forward to returning to her graduate studies in Fall 2012 to complete her DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) in Family Health. In addition to her philanthropic and educational pursuits, Amanda is a frequent traveler, and aspires to soon complete her first Olympic distance triathlon.
Amy Lindsey Program Assistant
Amy is finishing up her final semester at ASU pursuing concurrent degrees in Nonprofit Leadership and Management and Family and Human Development. Additionally, she is earning credentials for the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance’s nonprofit professional certification and the Special Events Management certification. Amy is excited to complete her capstone internship experience with Next Generation Philanthropists as the Program Assistant.
Amy is passionate about youth in philanthropy and that is exemplified through her membership and past presidency of Phi Chapter of Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority. Additionally, Amy is an ASU Alumni Medallion Scholar where she helps coordinate and participates in community service and professional development opportunities.
Amy has maintained involvement with advancing women’s lacrosse throughout Arizona. She played for six years (middle school, high school, and some college) and now referees high school games and out-of-state tournaments. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and perfecting her caramel macchiato recipe!