Walk With Sally Team
FUN FACT
TASH BROOKS
Chief Executive Officer
Tash Brooks was born in Adelaide, Australia and raised on the South East beaches of Queensland, Australia. Whether she’s building a school in Malawi, developing a dance program for visually impaired children in Los Angeles, or supporting cancer impacted communities in Kazakhstan, Tash has a proven track record of driving organizational growth and fostering meaningful change in the non-profit space. Earning an award at Bond University, Australia for philanthropic marketing innovation in 2001, her dynamic career in philanthropy has spanned countries and decades. Prior to assuming the role of CEO at Walk With Sally, Tash held key leadership positions within the non-profit sector, gaining invaluable experience and insights into the challenges and opportunities facing mission-driven organizations. Her commitment to transparency, accountability and ethical best practices has earned her the respect of her peers and stakeholders both within and outside of the organization. Driven by a genuine passion for social impact, Tash remains steadfast in her mission to lessen the burden of cancer for children through innovation, creativity and transformative impact.
FUN FACT
KATI GARRIDO
Program Director
Kati was born in Mexico City and has been living in Los Angeles for over 20 years. She started her professional career working in the entertainment business at a Hollywood acting school where she transitioned to the non-profit animal rescue world. This is where she found her true calling, making a positive impact on society. Back in Mexico, Kati was an English teacher at a Montessori school where the experience of working with children and learning from them, was one of the most rewarding periods in her life. For Kati, it is very important to work in something you are proud of and passionate about, and Walk with Sally definitely embodies both! Having the opportunity to serve and help children who are in need of support, is something she is greatly looking forward to!
FUN FACT
Wendy Lewis
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Wendy has lived in the South Bay for over 30 years and practiced as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Manhattan Beach for over 25 years. After teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing children for 7 years she returned to college to become a LMFT. Her passion for helping people and making a difference in their lives has always been a big part of who Wendy is.
The opportunity to volunteer with Walk With Sally will allow Wendy to use her expertise as a therapist while continuing to help and support the WWS community. Wendy lives in El Segundo with her husband Peter, dog Tanner and two cats.
FUN FACT
Sara Peral
Licensed Social Worker
Sara has gained experience working with vulnerable populations as a case manager in a community mental agency in South LA where she serviced families facing a wide range of mental health issues stemming from involvement in the foster care system, probation youth, trauma, domestic violence, poverty and homelessness. She has worked in community mental health for the past 12 years since graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
Sara has also worked in early childhood development programs with children ages 0-3, in a treatment center for adolescents with eating disorders, and while obtaining her Master’s degree in social work, Sara interned with the homeless population in Los Angeles’ Skid Row area providing individual and group therapy to adults facing homelessness. Sara also volunteered to create community awareness on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children throughout South Los Angeles. Currently, she is working as a Psychiatric Social Worker for a school district providing therapy to children and adolescents in the Los Angeles area.
Through this combined experience, Sara has developed first-hand understanding and awareness of the many obstacles people face in accessing and accepting mental health services. She founded a nonprofit called Mind-1-1, to dissolve barriers in the way of people being mentally healthy.
FUN FACT
Michele McRae
Development Director
Having moved to California just over 20 years now, Michele is originally from Florida where she worked in Event Management and Film Production. In Los Angeles she began in the locations industry for film and television for 11 years before deciding to move towards a more meaningful career in fundraising for nonprofits. Having been a mentor for nearly 8 years, she accepted a position at Walk With Sally as Development Director in 2015. After 5 years and knowing she would like to stay in the nonprofit industry, Michele was searching for an organization that worked in climate sustainability and social justice. She found that path with the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (LANLT) in 2020, where she raised funds and communicated the organization’s impact to supporters across LA County. Michele is excited to have rejoined the Walk With Sally team, using all her experience to help the organization into the next twenty years!
FUN FACT
JEN TOMO
Program Manager
Jen, originally from New Jersey, has been volunteering since she was in 8th-grade. From being a big sister in the Big Brother Big Sister Program to Breast Cancer walks and everything in between, Jen has done it all. She has a dynamic background in marketing, working on events, project management, and copywriting. She comes to Walk With Sally to pursue her passion for helping people and working for an organization that gives back to the community; giving her purpose. Jen enjoys traveling and being outside. You can find her on the beach in her downtime!
FUN FACT
Minju Park
Registered Art Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Minju is a self-motivated and authentic registered art therapist with a strong client-centered approach and extensive experience across community, clinical, and educational settings with diverse populations from children to older adults. Graduating from Lesley University in Massachusetts with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy, Minju has developed a versatile skill set and a deep understanding of therapeutic practices.
In her practice, Minju is known for creating a respectful and comfortable environment for clients, with feedback highlighting her exceptional ability to foster artistic and therapeutic experiences. Clients often express feeling truly heard, cared for, and having achieved personal goals through participation in Minju’s art therapy session. Her commitment to excellence in service and self-awareness underpins her approach, making Minju a standout professional in the field of art therapy.
