Board & Staff

Board Members

Roberta (Bert) Harper
Hugaroo, Inc. CEO/CFO

Roberta(Bert) Harper

Hugaroo, Inc. is about our daughters. The memory of Morgan who lost the cancer battle and honoring Jenna who learned that "life is not fair, but life is good" and took the first steps to "make a difference". I believe that God has a larger plan for our family that would hold Morgan close to us, "only a prayer away". Hugaroo is the opportunity for us to give back the love, prayers, courage, care and hugs that Morgan and our entire family received in that short/long 6 months of fighting cancer. Everyone has a story and becoming a donor allows many to "pay it forward".

Vicki Alfano
Board Vice Chair: Colorado Hugs Regional Director

Vicki Alfano

I’ve known Berta and Mike for 47 years and consider them dear friends. Our marriages were six months apart. My family grew with theirs over the years —my two boys and their two girls. The loss of Morgan was hard. We have gone through a lot with each other and to be a part of Hugaroo is just another strand of the rope that binds us close.

Kevin Ward
Board Secretary

Kevin Ward

I learned about Hugaroo while looking for opportunities for my family to do volunteer work together. It can be challenging to find opportunities for children, especially young ones, to volunteer. My family helped with a bag and tag and had a great experience as we learned about Hugaroo and its’ mission. We have participated in every bag and tag since that first one.

Jia Lin-Bothe
Board Chair

Jia Lin-Bothe

I think about Hugaroo's mission to deliver and provide stuffed animals to children who have experienced life-threatening illnesses and traumatic events, and just hope that their companionship with a stuffed animal (preloaded with love!) will make their lives a little easier.

Ashley Fowler
Board Member

Ashley Fowler

I serve on the board of Hugaroo because I believe every child deserves to feel seen, loved, and supported; especially during hard times. A small gesture, like a stuffed animal, can bring real comfort and remind them that someone is thinking of them and that they are not alone. It’s a simple but powerful way to spread compassion, and I’m proud to be part of this mission.

Vanessa Sencherey
Board Member

Vanessa Sencherey

I was excited to learn about the amazing mission of Hugaroo and inspired by Bert and the organization’s passion to do good. Having had the privilege of working in healthcare for many years, I have seen first-hand the impact that care and compassion can have on a child. A hug can mean so much to someone in a time of need, so I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to putting a smile on many faces and bringing comfort during what is likely a difficult time for a child and their family.

Pam Masek
Board Treasurer

Pam Masek

Once I started volunteering, I discovered what a great organization Hugaroo is and the benefits a hug gives to children who have experienced traumatic events and life altering situations. I believe strongly in Hugaroo’s mission and passion to help make a child’s experience a much better one, one hug at a time.

Advisory Board

Jennifer L. Thrasher Advisory Board Member, Past Board Chair and Founder

Jennifer L. Thrasher

Hugaroo Inc., is about bringing comfort to someone. Sometimes words fail and all we can do is give a hug. If we can’t be there in person, something as simple, soft, happy, and silly as a stuffed animal is the next best thing. My sister and my family have been on the receiving end of peoples’ hugs and love and this is how we pay it forward. Making the world a better place doesn’t always require a big, complicated plan. It can be as simple as giving a hug.

Annmarie Mancusi
Advisory Board

Annmarie Mancusi

A silent hug mean s a thousand words.

Aaron Thrasher
Advisory Board Member, Past Board Chair

Aaron Thrasher

Every child deserves happiness and hope, no matter what the circumstance is or the form. That's why I love Hugaroo - we give children hope and happiness even when they're experiencing the toughest of situations. A stuffed animal lets these children know they are loved and cared for, and to be hopeful for the future.

Michael Harper
Advisory Board Member, Past Board Chair

Michael Harper

It is all about the “smiles”. When I went with Jenna to make the first delivery of new stuffed animals to Levine Children’s Hospital, we saw a 4-year-old girl with her Grandmother waiting in the pick up / drop off area. She was holding her Grandmother’s hand tightly and obviously overwhelmed at all the activity. Jenna took 2 stuffed animals over and asked if she would like one. She looked up at her Grandmother wide eyed not knowing what to do. Her Grandmother said it was OK and she selected one and immediately crushed it with a hug with the biggest / brightest smile you can imagine. We didn’t know what was going to be the outcome of this first delivery but after giving over 12,000 new stuffed animals, the wonderment and satisfaction will still be with every “smile”.

Darleen M. Schauer
Advisory Board Member

Darleen M. Schauer

When you share a hug with an animal, it will hug you back. The Hugaroo animals will provide comfort when you are sad and not feeling well, it becomes a friend.

Ted Susac
Advisory Board Member, Past Board Chair

Ted Susac

Although Hugaroo's core idea is simple, I've had the privilege to observe the attentiveness that helps Hugaroo operate smoothly. Here's one example(among many) of thoughtful, collaborative, creative attention to details. If you think back to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, it wasn't clear whether the virus could be transmitted via touch-so,understandingly, Hugaroo's hospital partners weren't accepting outside donations. Of anything.From anyone. Collaborating with the hospitals, the team improved the tag-and-bag process. One important step was to "double bag" the hugs after they had been prepared and then wait at least one week before delivery. The hospital removed the outer bag at arrival and knew the inner bag hadn't had any outside contact for at least one week. Simple...yet effective and approved by all the participating hospitals. With the improvements...Hugs! could be safely delivered - to all organizations(not solely the hospitals)

Tory Susac
Advisory Board Member, SC Lowcountry Regional Director

Tory Susac

“They call me Aunt!” For an only child, who will never have a chance to be an Aunt by blood, this opportunity to be part of a larger family is very special. These two delightful young ladies, Morgan and Jenna, have been a part of my life since they were born. When Morgan died it wounded us all to our very core. When Jenna decided to honor her with this project that later came to be Hugaroo, Inc., how could I not be a part of that!

Kathy Knollman
Advisory Board Member, Financial Consultant

Kathy Knollman

For me, being a part of Hugaroo is the ability to honor a friendship by serving. And there is no better symbol of friendship than a hug when you need it most.

Mary Pat Buskard
Advisory Board Member

Mary Pat Buskard

I am excited to join Hugaroo in providing hugs to children.

Jeanie M. Fisher
Advisory Board Member, Georgia Regional Director

Jeanie M. Fisher

I learned about Hugaroo through Tory Robertson-Susac and became a volunteer for the holiday season. I enjoyed being involved with a non-profit with such a great and necessary mission. I understand we live in a challenging time and our world is changing constantly; so I'd like to help in any manner that Hugaroo deems appropriate.

Matthew Emmer
Communications Specialist

Matthew Emmer

Hugaroo is one of those minimalist charities with a maximum impact. Every donation goes directly into the arms of a child who is in desperate need of a little comfort in their lives. The simple concept resonated deeply with me and I knew I wanted to help in any way that I could. I'm fortunate to be able to work alongside some amazing people doing some incredible things to make the world a little better, one hug at a time.

Interns

Caden Masek
Communications Intern

Caden Masek

Since first learning about Hugaroo, I’ve felt a compassion to help this organization. I genuinely believe that stuffed animals or any selection of objects which help children grow attachments greatly contribute to their development and ability to cope through traumatic events. I hope more children can experience this sense of love felt by a stuffed animal, which Hugaroo helps bring to children. As a child with a great selection of stuffed animals that were a big part of my childhood, I understand the importance of this organization and yearn to help it as much as possible to reach new sights.

Grishma Howale
Technology Intern

Grishma Howale

I deeply admire Hugaroo’s commitment to bringing emotional and physical comfort to those in need especially through innovative, community-driven solutions. I’m eager to apply my technical skills to protect sensitive data and improve digital systems, ensuring your mission reaches more people safely and efficiently. Beyond the technical aspects, I’m drawn to Hugaroo’s compassionate approach and would be honored to contribute to a team that turns empathy into tangible impact.