OUR TEAM
The Change Reaction was founded in 2019 by Greg and Jodi Perlman and a group of like-minded Los Angeles-based donors seeking to strengthen the fabric of their communities through a whole new way of giving. Since then, the movement has welcomed dozens of nonprofit organizations and helped create countless success stories, sparking a change reaction for good across Los Angeles that we hope to ripple throughout the country.
Wade Trimmer
President
Daphna Nissanoff - Gerendash
Program Manager
As a Program Manager, Daphna facilitates helping those who are facing one-time short term emergency financial struggles. She likes to say that she is the matchmaker between the person in need and the people that want to help. She loves building relationships across the board—with her team, The Change Reaction’s partners and the individuals with whom she connects to provide assistance.
Daphna is compassionate, meticulous, dedicated and relentlessness. Daphna loves to do activities with her family when she is not working.
Favorite Quote:
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
Brooke Perlman
Communications Manager
As the Communications Manager, Brooke spends a lot of her time developing content in order to share good news and kindness that happens at The Change Reaction every day. She works closely with partners and Change Agents to be able to highlight the incredible work they do and share their stories with the rest of the world.
Brooke is thoughtful, communicative, dedicated and enthusiastic. When she’s not working, Brooke loves to play tennis, make music and read murder mystery and romance novels.
Favorite Quote:
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Charlie Portillo
Program Assistant
Charlie spends most of his time carefully reading the stories of the people in the community that are experiencing emergency financial crises and directing them to donors that are interested in helping these individuals and families out.
Charlie’s strengths are listening and being understanding. When he is not working, he likes to be outside exploring the different recreational areas that Los Angeles has to offer, as well as finding ways to challenge himself both physically and mentally.
Favorite Quote:
“The only thing there is to fear is, fear itself.” – FDR
Lee Schube
Executive Director
Lee is the Executive Director of the All Ways Up Foundation, an organization founded by Greg and Jodi in 2009. The mission of All Ways Up is to help low income and first generation youth get into and through college. Lee’s favorite part of her work is the deep connections she is able to make with the students and the leaders of the college access and success programs that All Ways Up supports. She was thrilled to work with Greg and Jodi, helping them bring The Change Reaction to life. As she often says, “I get to do this.”
Lee loves to ride her bike, practice yoga and tending to her tomato plants. She is the proud mother of two adult sons and has been married to her husband Peter for 35 years!
Favorite Quote:
“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Melissa Champion
Executive Assistant
From scheduling meetings and managing projects to brainstorming ideas and troubleshooting problems, Melissa supports the team at The Change Reaction so that they are able to do their jobs well and support more needs in our community.
Organization is a strength of Melissa’s, as she enjoys bringing order to chaos, solving puzzles, and crossing things off of lists. When Melissa isn’t working, she enjoys spending time at home with her husband and cats (Milton & Steven), as well as spending time on creative hobbies such as ceramics and stained glass.
Favorite Quote: “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien
Ielaf Altoma
South LA Program Coordinator
Ielaf’s role at The Change Reaction is to support local nonprofits in maximizing The Change Reaction’s direct giving platform to help meet the needs of hard-working individuals in their communities. Her biggest strength is the ability to connect with people and build relationships that inspire creativity.
When she’s not working, Ielaf loves going to the beach, playing paddle tennis, and dancing!
Favorite Quote: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s learning to dance in the rain.”