Our Board Members are amazing! For over a decade, they have committed whole-heartedly to providing access to clean water for the people of Burundi. We want you to get to know the people who make the mission possible.
Andi Gillentine serves as Vice President of our Board and has been involved with the Gazelle Foundation since its beginnings. When she is not helping the Gazelle Foundation, Andi works as the COO for FidelisCare, a health plan in NY that serves vulnerable New Yorkers and ensures their access to the highest quality of care through Medicaid, Medicare, and the health insurance marketplace. She brings her considerable expertise and compassionate spirit to all of her endeavors - the Gazelle Foundation included!
How did you get connected to the Gazelle Foundation?
I’ve been running with Gilbert’s Gazelles since 2006, and I learned about the Gazelle Foundation when it was first started. I participated in fundraising and Run For The Water. It was a way to reach out and help people in a new and different way!
I have a degree in public health - epidemiology - and I still work in health care. I continue to be amazed at how transformative clean water is to a community. One of the things that is so great about the Gazelle Foundation is the immediate impact of your dollars - they go directly to building water systems that get people clean water.
What motivated you to join the Gazelle Foundation Board?
I found myself contributing more and more to the foundation as years went by. When my youngest got into high school, suddenly I wasn’t commuting to soccer practice and driving kids to school, and I had more time to give back to my global and local community.
How does your unique background and perspective help move the mission forward?
One of the things that I do in my professional life is to manage and execute a lot of large projects and initiatives. I bring the ability to execute projects at scale – not in Burundi, where our project manager Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe handles things – but within the foundation itself; for instance, how to expand the donor base and continue to build the mission. On top of that skill set, I bring a good deal of business and financial management experience.
What accomplishments or projects keep you motivated and engaged in the Gazelle Foundation mission?
Right now we’ve been working on ways to provide materials to schools and scouting groups to educate them and raise awareness about the need for clean water. For many kids, the idea of not having clean water come out of taps is unthinkable. We want to educate them that there are millions of people in the world who don’t have that experience. We want them to understand the effects and risks of not having clean water – health-wise, with regard to education, and not being able to build the economy. So it works both from a social justice perspective and a science and environment perspective. So I’m really excited about that project. See tools to introduce young minds to clean water and philanthropy
On the lighter side: what do you like to do in your (limited!) spare time?
I like to read – a lot of sci-fi and fantasy, especially by N.K. Jemison. She’s definitely at my imaginary celebrity dinner!
During the pandemic, I learned how to knit. I’ve made several hats (including one for my husband) and a bunch of scarves. Next up is a dog sweater for my daughter’s puppy!
What book is on your nightstand currently?
I just finished N.K. Jemison’s The City We Became. The concept of it blew my mind. She’s so creative – I’d love to go for a long run with her and find out what’s going on in her head.
And recent favorite movies, music, or podcasts?
I’ve been recommending Mare of Easttown to everyone - I watched all 8 episodes in 3 days, which for me is serious bingeing! We’ve also been watching some of the new Marvel series. I particularly liked WandaVision because it was so intriguing and different.
Anything else you'd like to share about yourself or the Gazelle Foundation?
I’ve really enjoyed getting to work with this group of people and it’s been an honor to get to help extend this mission.
