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Stand Up! Girls Announces Three New Board Members

Stand Up! Girls is pleased to announce that three new members have joined its board of directors. Coming from the arts, public, and nonprofit sectors, the new board members bring years of experience and leadership that will help fulfill the mission of Stand Up! Girls.  

The new board members are:

  • Karen Bergreen, writer/comedian/teacher
  • Hollie Harper, writer/comedian/actress
  • Sarah Pandolfi, Sara Pandolfi & Company

“These three artists and leaders will provide insight and guidance to help expand our programming in underserved communities,” said Nancy Tepper, executive director of Stand Up! Girls. “We are beyond thrilled to have their support and expertise as we navigate the challenges our programs and participants faced due to the COVID-19 emergency, and as we plan for the future.”

The three new members join existing board members Holly Weiss (HWH Mediation), Nancy Tepper (Life Coach and co-producer of MT Nesters), Bryn Bowen (Greenheart Consulting Partners), Sumi Vatsa (Compass), and Sara Solfanelli (Schulte Roth & Zabel).

Karen Bergreen is a comic and writer. She has been teaching stand-up comedy with The Manhattan Comedy School for fifteen years. Prior to that, she co-founded the teaching program at Kids N’ Comedy, where she co-wrote a comedy how-to for kids called Young, Funny and Unbalanced.  A regular on the New York City Standup scene, Karen has made multiple TV appearances, including The Jim Gaffigan Show, The View and Comedy Central. Karen has written two comic novels, Following Polly and Perfect is Overrated, which have earned praise from The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and her mother-in-law.  Karen was a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post and More Magazine. 

Hollie Harper Hollie Harper — a writer/comedian/actress —  is a member of the Board of, and a teaching artist for, Stand Up! Girls. Hollie is  a co-host of the nationally trending Twitter Storytelling Chat “BlerdDating.” Her blog “Hollie Harper INK” on Medium has Top Writer status in Parenting, Black Lives Matter and Racism. She is the creator of the popular sketch comedy show AMERICAN CANDY. They have played the Comic Strip, Gotham Comedy Club, BAM Café as well as the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Hollie is a regular host for West Side Comedy Club. As an actress she recently starred in the Off-Broadway production of Melanie Maria Goodreaux’s “The White Blacks.”

Sara Pandolfi leads her own social impact firm, Sara Pandolfi & Company, working with nonprofit organizations, foundations, companies, and philanthropists, connecting a community of voices for change. She specializes in nonprofit development, corporate and community partnerships, crisis relief management, marketing, and strategic planning. From managing enrichment programs for at-risk teens, to helping organizations develop the tools to maintain a sustainable and meaningful business operation, Sara has chosen a career path that is aligned with her passion to serve and to help others. She mentors students and young professionals, giving them unique opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world development and marketing initiatives. Sara is the recipient of the 2015 NYU Bart Lawson Alumni Award for Public Service.

To learn more about Stand Up! Girls visit: www.standupgirls.org.

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