Sandor and Faye Straus  

Sandor and Faye, founders of The Firedoll Foundation, met during Senator Eugene McCarthy's 1968 campaign for the Presidency. Faye received her B.A. in Political Science from the UC, Berkeley that year. Sandor completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Berkeley in 1972.

Sandor taught mathematics and computer science at the Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg in Germany, and at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has been involved in financial modeling and investing since 1980 with Renaissance Technology Corp. and Merfin LLC, a financial consulting company.

Faye worked in government at the federal and local levels, including positions in budget analysis and program evaluation for the Suffolk County Legislature and the Suffolk County Probation Department in New York. On the community level she had been active in supporting local public education, promoting the quality of maternal and child health, and participating in peace and reconciliation work, including facilitating Jewish-Palestinian dialogue.

Amy E. Goldman

Amy is the great paper shuffler in the office; keeping Firedoll's books balanced, financial documents in order and grant correspondence neat. Most importantly, she sends out the grant checks! Raised in Detroit and educated in Ann Arbor, Amy became a Californian by choice. When she isn't at work she will be found on one of the wonderful Bay Area trails, running and enjoying the gorgeous scenery. For the past decade she's been running several marathons each year with the goal of finishing one in each state before her legs give out.

Neil Sims

As Senior Program Officer, Neil evaluates grant requests and makes recommendations to Sandor and Faye Straus. He focuses primarily on Firedoll's Environmental Conservation, Middle East Peace and Immigration and Human Rights programs. He has a shallow background in too many things to mention, but does hold a graduate degree in environmental science. 

Stephen Hoeft

Program Officer Stephen Hoeft brings his passion and acumen to Firedoll Foundation's Community Development Program. A polymath - he also handles grants focused on the Sierra Nevadas. Stephen squeezes hours in at the office between the inherently hectic schedule of his children, which is why you might not hear from him for a long time. Pursuing a degree in Chemistry took him across the country, but he found a way back to his native California, the state he considers the best in the Union... and he has driven to and through each one.

Arlene Wong

Firedoll Foundation welcomes Arlene, their newest Program Officer. Having received a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, she has worked for the Hawaii State Legislature, US Congress, USEPA, and the Pacific Institute. Arlene brings formidable expertise to Firedoll Foundation in the areas of environmental policy, California water policy and environmental justice.