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    • About Us
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      • Join the Family
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The Underdog Foundation
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Our Team

Chin Weerappuli - Founder and President

Chin Weerappuli - Founder & President

Darian Nocera - VP, Technical Operations

Chin Weerappuli - Founder & President

 A Sri Lankan - American first generation Immigrant, Chin was born in Baltimore and grew up just outside Detroit Michigan. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2011, Chin has been working in Implementation and Project Management for Epic Systems, which took him to Madison, Austin, and Chicago before finally settling down in

 A Sri Lankan - American first generation Immigrant, Chin was born in Baltimore and grew up just outside Detroit Michigan. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2011, Chin has been working in Implementation and Project Management for Epic Systems, which took him to Madison, Austin, and Chicago before finally settling down in Denver. A current EMBA student at The Ross School of Business, Chin enjoys hiking, biking, EDM Music, and traveling the globe!  

Derrick Knudsen - VP and Board Director

Derrick Knudsen - VP & Board Director

Darian Nocera - VP, Technical Operations

Chin Weerappuli - Founder & President

  A German-American second generation immigrant, and the youngest of six, Derrick was born and raised in New York. After graduating with a dual-degree from Syracuse University and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Derrick entered the non-profit world as a Community Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension. Since leaving in 2016, 

  A German-American second generation immigrant, and the youngest of six, Derrick was born and raised in New York. After graduating with a dual-degree from Syracuse University and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Derrick entered the non-profit world as a Community Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension. Since leaving in 2016, he has found entrepreneurship as his calling. Now, he's looking to give back to the community he cares so much about! In his free time, you can find him playing team sports, hiking, snowboarding and taking as many road trips as possible!   

Darian Nocera - VP of Technical Operations

Darian Nocera - VP, Technical Operations

Darian Nocera - VP, Technical Operations

Ez Gadson - Director of Community Engagement

 Darian was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Since then, she has had a diverse career path in IT and is recently certified in web development. She has always taken an interest in technology and is passionate about using it creatively to improve live

 Darian was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Since then, she has had a diverse career path in IT and is recently certified in web development. She has always taken an interest in technology and is passionate about using it creatively to improve lives and help others succeed. She enjoys coding, camping, hiking, mountain biking, yoga, reading, writing, and traveling.  

Ez Gadson - Director of Community Engagement

Ez Gadson - Director of Community Engagement

Ez Gadson - Director of Community Engagement

  Ez is a Colorado native, born and raised in the heart of the city. He attended Howard University, where he graduated with a degree in Business Management. Ez would later earn his MBA at San Diego State University. He has spent the past 5 years working for Denver Public Schools and specializing in Career and College programing. Ez is cur

  Ez is a Colorado native, born and raised in the heart of the city. He attended Howard University, where he graduated with a degree in Business Management. Ez would later earn his MBA at San Diego State University. He has spent the past 5 years working for Denver Public Schools and specializing in Career and College programing. Ez is currently an Operations Manager and works on initiatives ranging from Building Improvement projects to Diversity and Equity projects. Ez enjoys sports, gaming, film, and spending time with his children. Ez leads TUF’s community engagement efforts with a focus on our youth and future leaders in the city.

Lindsay Puckett - Events Coordinator

Lindsay Puckett - Director of Events

Ez Gadson - Director of Community Engagement

Justin Nedell - Director of Content & Design

Lindsay is a Colorado native, born and raised in Boulder. She attended the University of Kansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, with a focus in Marketing and Strategic Communications. Post-college, Lindsay worked in the fashion industry in Chicago and Los Angeles, before returning to Colorado after a 10 year hi

Lindsay is a Colorado native, born and raised in Boulder. She attended the University of Kansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, with a focus in Marketing and Strategic Communications. Post-college, Lindsay worked in the fashion industry in Chicago and Los Angeles, before returning to Colorado after a 10 year hiatus. In her free time she can be found eating and drinking her way through Denver's culinary scene, searching for live music and enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Justin Nedell - Director of Content & Design

Justin Nedell - Director of Content & Design

Ez Gadson - Director of Community Engagement

Justin Nedell - Director of Content & Design

Originally from Ohio, Justin graduated with a degree in International Business from Ohio University and left his home state to discover the world. His curiosity was piqued by volunteering, teaching English, learning new languages, and exploring ~30 countries before he finally settled in Denver to focus on a career in Product Marketing. Tr

Originally from Ohio, Justin graduated with a degree in International Business from Ohio University and left his home state to discover the world. His curiosity was piqued by volunteering, teaching English, learning new languages, and exploring ~30 countries before he finally settled in Denver to focus on a career in Product Marketing. Traveling, hiking, camping, writing, learning French, and minimalism are just a few of the things he enjoys outside of supporting TUF's mission & brand!

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

JT grew up in East Tennessee and studied Environmental Science at the Univ. of Tennessee. Throughout his life, he has volunteered countless hours at hospitals, park cleanups, & the USDA. After college, he spent time teaching English in Thailand and gaining cultural experience traveling and living throughout parts of SouthEast Asia. JT now

JT grew up in East Tennessee and studied Environmental Science at the Univ. of Tennessee. Throughout his life, he has volunteered countless hours at hospitals, park cleanups, & the USDA. After college, he spent time teaching English in Thailand and gaining cultural experience traveling and living throughout parts of SouthEast Asia. JT now runs a digital marketing firm, Aggregate Digital, based out of Denver and was brought on the team to help The Underdog Foundation and our partners gain exposure through social media & growing our online presence. 

Lauren Ruppenthal - Recruiting Manager

Lauren Ruppenthal - Recruiting Manager

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

Lauren Ruppenthal is a Long Island native and Buffalo-to-Denver transplant as of May 2019. Lauren graduated in 2017 from the University at Buffalo with a Masters in Social Work and is working towards obtaining her LCSW licensure in the next couple of months. Socializing with friends at a local brewery, lakeside camping (& giving wakeboard

Lauren Ruppenthal is a Long Island native and Buffalo-to-Denver transplant as of May 2019. Lauren graduated in 2017 from the University at Buffalo with a Masters in Social Work and is working towards obtaining her LCSW licensure in the next couple of months. Socializing with friends at a local brewery, lakeside camping (& giving wakeboarding yet another shot), and wintertime snowboarding in the mountains are a few of her favorite activities. Lauren was a recruitment chair for her college sorority and is excited to be back in the game.

Clara Balestrieri - Events Manager

Justin Tomlinson - Director of Marketing

Alyssa McDonald - Director of Client Relations

 Clara spent her childhood in Arlington, Virginia and Brussels, Belgium, when she was younger. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a focus on Communication Studies and relocated to Denver in November 2018. Clara’s passion for events was ignited when she volunteered for amfAR’s Cine

 Clara spent her childhood in Arlington, Virginia and Brussels, Belgium, when she was younger. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a focus on Communication Studies and relocated to Denver in November 2018. Clara’s passion for events was ignited when she volunteered for amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS gala at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, she has worked with Group Nine Media’s family of brands to help bring their experiential extensions to life for media advertisers. In her free time you can find Clara skiing in the mountains, creating candles, spending time in Alaska, and discovering all the new and exciting things that Denver has to offer. 

Alyssa McDonald - Director of Client Relations

Alyssa McDonald - Director of Client Relations

Alyssa McDonald - Director of Client Relations

 

Alyssa grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and graduated front the University of Pittsburgh before moving west to Madison, WI for four years. After deciding the mid-west wasn’t west enough, Alyssa and her dog Mav moved to Colorado in May 2020.

Alyssa has always had a passion for building relationships and fostering strong partnerships.

Paige Millburg - Lead Photographer

Alyssa McDonald - Director of Client Relations

Volunteer Network - 114 and counting!

Originally from central Illinois, Paige traveled her way across the country (and the world) before finding her fit in Denver. Paige graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Spanish and has worked across a spectrum of projects in healthcare IT. Her professional goal has always been to help others and s

Originally from central Illinois, Paige traveled her way across the country (and the world) before finding her fit in Denver. Paige graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Spanish and has worked across a spectrum of projects in healthcare IT. Her professional goal has always been to help others and she loves the creative ways TUF supports the Denver community. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, knitting, exploring breweries and cideries, attending more weddings than she can count, and hiking across Colorado with her pup Despereaux.

A photo of volunteers from the Underdog Foundation's volunteer network

Volunteer Network - 114 and counting!

Alyssa McDonald - Director of Client Relations

Volunteer Network - 114 and counting!

TUF would not be TUF without our amazing network of dedicated volunteers and donors that make all of our events and initiatives possible. 

Copyright © 2021 The Underdog Family, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All Rights Reserved.

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