Meet the Team
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Brian Acton
Founder & Co-Chair
Ultimate frisbee player, former competitive speed cuber, and #1 Beatles fan. Executive chairman of Signal Foundation and co-founder of WhatsApp. Proud Stanford CS undergrad and engineering leader in Silicon Valley since the 90s. Previously worked at Adobe, Apple, and Yahoo. Brian is the Secretary and Treasurer of Sunlight Giving.
Tegan Acton
Founder & Co-Chair
World traveler, trail hiker, and pinball fanatic. Previously served as the Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives at Stanford, and has worked at Yahoo and the Sundance Institute. Studied Political Science at UCSB (go Gauchos!) and grew up in sunny San Luis Obispo. Tegan is the President of Sunlight Giving.
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Cedrick Andrews
Program Officer
Breakfast aficionado, cycling enthusiast, and Sunday crossword puzzler. Social sector career involved stints working on economic security, education and youth development, and policy reform at organizations including Single Stop, Meritus, and the Institute for College Access & Success. Cedrick focuses on Family Support, Housing Stability, and Safe Spaces in Alameda, Contra Costa, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
Kailyn FitzGerald
Program Officer
Avid runner, national park lover, and aspiring home chef. Previous work includes funding safety net services at the Sobrato Family Foundation and serving as a staffer for US Senator Dianne Feinstein in her Washington, DC and state offices. Kailyn focuses on Housing Stability and Family Support in Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Anna Huynh
Senior Grants Manager
Krav maga student, globetrotter, and hot cheetos enthusiast. Prior experience includes operation management at Google and volunteering at South Bay First Thursday, a nonprofit that engages the community through public discussion on topics in diversity, equality, and education. Anna manages all elements of the grants process and other foundation operations.
Adrian Jauregui
Grants Assistant & Office Manager
Movie buff, concert goer, and fan of all types of comedy shows. Previous work has included various administrative roles at organizations including L-3 Technologies, Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, and ABS Filipino TV Station. Adrian provides office management and administrative support to the grants team.
Carolyn Wall Sakata
Managing Director
Identical twin, avid reader, and amateur dog trainer. Nonprofit career has included work in direct services and public and private grantmaking for organizations including San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth, and their Families and the Medina Foundation. Carolyn oversees Sunlight Giving’s operations.
Linda Shak
Program Officer
Bananagrams whiz, skier, and globetrotting adventurer. Previous work focused on childhood nutrition and health care coverage at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and advocating for healthier communities at Prevention Institute. Linda focuses on Food Security, Safe Spaces, and Health Care Access in Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.
Anitra Smith
Program Officer
Jazz lover, outdoor enthusiast, and avid traveler. Previous work focused on health care access and early childhood nutrition at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and performance improvement and population health initiatives in community health centers and public hospitals. Anitra focuses on Health Care Access, Food Security and Housing Stability in Alameda, Contra Costa, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
Dixie
Nap Coordinator and Food Recovery Specialist
Couch warmer, occasional bike rider (in a backpack), and passionate about all things food-related. Dixie was found on the streets of Los Angeles and rescued by Muttville, a San Francisco-based organization that specializes in senior dogs. Dixie’s responsibilities include welcoming guests, begging for treats and affection, and finding various sunny spots for her naps.
