Walk With Sally Team
FUN FACT
TASH BROOKS
Chief Executive Officer
Details coming soon.
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
Melissa Ostrowski
Development Manager
While attending Southwest Minnesota State University, Melissa found her love early for fundraising. She started working with her college athletic department to expand relationships with major donors to raise funds for athletic scholarships. Previously working with other cancer organizations focusing on the science behind finding a cure for cancer patients, Melissa joins Walk With Sally excited to work alongside others to empower children experiencing trauma through a loved one’s cancer journey. Melissa lives in Redondo Beach with her husband, Ryan, son, Garrett, and their dog, Brody!
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!
