Lauren Profeta
Executive Director
Lauren Profeta joined the N.Y. Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund in 2013. Previously, she served for three years as the Development Director of Only Make Believe, a nonprofit organization that brings interactive theater to children in hospitals. Prior to that, Lauren was a litigation associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP where she dedicated significant time to pro bono cases and charitable causes. Lauren graduated summa cum laude from St. John’s University with a B.A. in English Literature and cum laude from Harvard Law School. She is a native New Yorker and the proud sister of three NYC First Responders.
Lauren.Profeta@answerthecall.org
646-731-9633
Rachel Trotta Macina
Development Manager
Rachel joined the N.Y. Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund in 2016 as the Office Manager, but has since changed roles to Program Manager and then Development Manager. Previously, she worked with the Benefit Fund as a Development Intern in the Summer of 2015. Rachel graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University, class of 2016, where she received her B.B.A. in International Business. Rachel was born and raised in Buffalo, New York.
Rachel.Trotta@answerthecall.org
646-731-9631
Lydia Marinelli
Operations Manager
Lydia joined the N.Y. Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund in 2018 as the Office Manager. Prior to that, she lived in Honolulu and worked in hospitality management for four years after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2013, where received a B.A. in Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution and a minor in Studio Art. Since joining the team, Lydia has transitioned roles and now serves as the organization’s Operations Manager. Lydia grew up in Connecticut and Massachusetts, but her family originally hails from Staten Island and Brooklyn.
Lydia.Marinelli@answerthecall.
646-731-9632
Veronique Shaftel
Development Associate
Veronique Shaftel joined the N.Y. Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund in 2023. Veronique previously worked as a Development Associate at the Osborne Association and has worked on staff at other nonprofits in New Jersey and Ohio. Prior to her career in development, Veronique received her Master’s in Music Education and her Masters in Arts Administration from Ohio University. Veronique currently resides in Connecticut with her partner, dog, and bunny.
Veronique.Shaftel@answerthecall.org
646-731-9635
