Lee Gordon, executive director and cofounder 
Originally from the United States, Lee lived in Israel for two decades, actively involved in Jewish-Arab dialogue. He earned an M.A. in social work from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and graduated from the Mandel Institute's prestigious School for Educational Leadership. Lee is a veteran social activist and community organizer, having worked and volunteered for numerous educational and community organizations. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and three children, where he builds a network of international support for Hand in Hand. Read Lee's recollection of Hand in Hand's early days.

Maura Milles, director, New York office 
A professional fundraiser, Maura handles public relations, donor relations and outreach for Hand in Hand's New York office. She has worked in development offices at NYU Medical Center, American Friends of Tel Aviv University, The Jewish Museum and the American Jewish Congress. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Boston University and spent a semester studying at Tel Aviv University. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Patty Smith, Portland office manager
Taking care of the day-to-day office duties, Patty, a native Portlander, has been at Hand in Hand for 10 years. Coming from a background in business and working in areas of marketing, sales and administration for almost 40 years, Patty manages all incoming donations, the donor database, mailings, correspondence, accounts payable and other miscellaneous duties. She lives in Beaverton with her husband and has three grown children and two grandchildren.

Tara Wilkinson, online media coordinator 
Part-time in the Portland office since 2010, Tara focuses on Hand in Hand's Facebook and Twitter presence, and on creating and managing content for this web site. With a professional background in print media and nonprofit development, Tara pitches in as needed with agency publications, media relations and more. She has a 2-year-old son.