Group of diverse women working at ESF

Celebrating the Women of ESF

03.24.2021

 

March is Women’s History Month and ESF is celebrating by honoring all of the women that have helped shape the ESF we know and love today! Learn more about some of these amazing women below and how they have made an impact living out the ESF mission daily. 

Susan Gambescia

Director, Customer Engagement
Team Member: 14 years 

“I believe my contributions, over the last 14 years, have helped shape ESF to be an organization that understands the value and importance of commitment, building a culture that drives performance, and infusing fun while working hard.

ESF’s mission is what keeps me inspired to continually strive to be the best version of myself.  Working at an organization that helps others believe in themselves and reach their full potential is rewarding.”

“As the first full-time Team Member of ESF since 1991, I am so proud of what we, as an organization, have built! From my very first day, our every thought and action has been to deliver the finest experiences for people of all ages! We consistently follow our mission and guiding light of safety, quality, and excellence in all we do.

We dream big and deliver big, and I am proud to be a part of an organization that is making a huge impact on the lives of the campers and staff that we call our ESF family.”

Debbie Russo

Director, Programming & Marketing
Team Member: 31 years 

Stephanie Lim Capello

Director, Admissions, Business Development & Marketing
Team Member: 2 years 

“I am a big believer in “time and space” and this past year has shown me that I’m at ESF for a specific purpose and reason and that is to provide strong support and leadership through the pandemic. We had some setbacks but ESF has such a strong foundation and core mission that I’m 110% sure that we will be around for another 40 years or more. I truly look forward to being a part of the comeback and being better and stronger for our families. The Comeback is Always Greater than the Setback!

ESF’s mission to provide opportunities for young people to believe in themselves and to achieve their full potential is at the heart of what I do both professionally and personally. In the end, I want my contributions to make a positive impact in making my community a better place. We all deserve better and in order to be better, we need to do better one day at a time.”

“My professional career at ESF began as an undergrad Education student working at Dream Camp at Trinity College. I quickly fell in love with the mission and vision of both Dream Camp and ESF and believed so deeply in inspiring young people to “achieve their full potential”. ESF has many strong models of leadership within the community. Working alongside the most dedicated and versatile team motivated me to believe in myself and stretch beyond what I thought I was capable of.

Having “grown up ESF” professionally has afforded me many opportunities to learn, grow and lead and I have worked with some of the most talented and inspiring women and men in leadership. Not only do I get to be part of this special team but I get to share the experiences I have with my own children now as they attend camp.”

Melissa Williams

Director of Training & Development & Regional Director (CT, NJ, NY)
Team Member: 19 years 

Christine Rouse

Founder & Executive Director, Acting Without Boundaries
Team Member: 29 years

“ESF was my launching pad to success. Christine Rouse, Founder and Executive Director of AWB, created Acting Without Boundaries in 2004 because of her personal experiences growing up with Cerebral Palsy. In high school, Christine tried to fuel her passion for acting by auditioning time and again for school and community plays but disappointingly, she was never cast in a lead role. It was extremely difficult for her to fit in and to feel a part of the “in-crowd” because of her physical disability. What’s more, there were very few outlets and opportunities for Christine to engage in activities with other physically challenged teenagers. Christine’s personal experience with Cerebral Palsy coupled with the lack of resources for children and teenagers with physical disabilities provided the impetus for Christine to launch a life-changing and nationally recognized acting program for young people in similar situations. 

Christine has become one of the country’s leading advocates for people with disabilities and has received numerous awards for the inspirational work that she does with youth and adults.

 

Dream Camp has changed the course of my life over the past 12 years and has given me another family that I did not know I needed. Dream Camp’s commitment to our families over the entire course of their child’s schooling provides the support and structure to change lives every day.

Seeing our children grow from shy 1st graders that are learning how to make friends and read, to helping them apply to college and have the opportunity to attend graduation is something not many programs are able to achieve. Thanks to the ESF Dream Camp Foundation, Dream Camp does this every single year, and it makes me proud to be a part of this organization.

Adah Gillon

Program Director, ESF Dream Camp Trinity
Team Member: 12 years

Taschet Murphy

Program Coordinator, ESF Dream Camp Philadelphia
Team Member: 7 years 

“Being a part of Dream Camp allows me to build the most meaningful relationships that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do elsewhere. I get to continuously be a part of the great things our campers accomplish, in and out of program. It’s such a great feeling to know that our families believe we always have their best interests at heart and that we will do whatever we can to get them on a path to success.

We are truly one big happy family that will continue to grow, and a family that our campers can continue to count on for life! I will always thank this organization for helping me to become the person I am today.”