The East Boston Foundation

is a Not For Profit Trust recognized under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

About Us

East Boston Foundation

Board of Trustees Foundation Members

We help make the world a better place.

Below you will find information about the Foundation Members that make up the Board of Trustees.

David Arinella

Dave Arinella is the longest serving member of the East Boston Foundation. He is a 1970 graduate of East Boston HS and a 1974 graduate of Brandeis University. He spent 30 years at the East Boston Court and became the Chief Probation Officer. During his career he has also been the Coach of the East Boston HS swim team since 1980. He has the title as the "Dean of Coaches" as the longest serving coach at Eastie. He is also the longest tenured coach in BPS athletics.

He has three children Jeff, age 33, who is a teacher and coach at Eastie, Dante, age 29, who is a member of Local 1421 and Victoria age 13. His other activities the East Boston Athletic Board and the Mass. Swim Coaches Association.

davida@ebfoundation.com

PHOTO COMING SOON

James Kearney

Bio information coming soon!

Fran Carbone

Bio on its way

franc@ebfoundation.com

Gloribell Mota

Gloribell Mota (she/her-Ella), was born to immigrant parents from El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. She is the co-founder and former executive director of Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE), a grassroots base-building organization that develops abundant leaders and supports social transformation through community organizing and building. For the past twenty years, she served in various roles in local, state, and national organizations as a trainer, coordinator, candidate, and advocate for social change. For over thirty years she has been rooted in East Boston, the island she calls home, with her two children Eddie Jr. and Genesis, her mother Maria Argelia, community dog Leia and her newest addition Kylo the kitten. Her greatest joy is dancing, singing, being with family and friends, communing with nature, and communal celebrations. She is currently at Ayni Institute, deepening her facilitation, training, and coaching skills to support social change and a more reciprocal world

gloribellm@ebfoundation.com

Jeffrey Drago

Attorney Drago is a founding partner of Drago + Toscano, LLP.  He has over a decade of experience working in government. For thirteen years Attorney Drago held senior positions in the administration of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the legendary former Mayor of Boston whose tenure spanned two decades. Attorney Drago’s critical positions included service as a Neighborhood Liaison in the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Special Assistant to the Mayor, Director of Business Development for the Department of Neighborhood Development, and Political Coordinator for the Menino mayoral campaign.

During his tenure at City Hall, Attorney Drago gained invaluable experience and institutional knowledge in the zoning, permitting, and licensing processes. In addition, Attorney Drago’s years of service led to a mastery of navigating the intricacies of city and state government.

Specializing in the areas of licensing, government relations, land use, and permitting, Mr. Drago represents a wide variety of clients, including some of Boston’s largest residential developers, hotel chains, telecommunication industry leaders, advertising companies, and cannabis dispensaries.

With a demonstrated record of success and client satisfaction, Attorney Drago represents his clients and guides them through the difficulties and obstacles of city and state government. In his real estate practice, Mr. Drago’s clients benefit from his intimate knowledge of the Article 80 process. As a lobbyist, Mr. Drago advances his clients’ interests and advocates on their behalf before governmental bodies and agencies.

Jeff’s civic engagement includes serving as treasurer of the Ward 1 Democratic Committee. Drawing on his government experience, Jeff serves as Mayor Walsh’s representative on the board of the East Boston Foundation and sits on the board of City Kids. Jeff also sits on the finance committees of Mayor Marty Walsh and Treasurer Deb Goldberg.

Before earning a juris doctorate from Suffolk University Law School, Attorney Drago graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern University

jeffreyd@ebfoundation.com

Thomas J. Tassinari

Lifelong resident of East Boston,

Graduate of East Boston High School

Bachelor of Science in Education - Northeastern University

Master of Education - Suffolk University

Chief Probation Officer,  Boston Municipal Court – East Boston Division

Adjunct Professor – Bunker Hill Community College

Vice President East Boston Social Centers Board of Directors

Member East Boston Athletic Board

Member E.A.S.T.I.E  (East Boston Alliance for substance abuse treatment, intervention and education)

Appointed to the foundation in 2012 by Judge Roberto Ronquillo Reappointed 2014 by Judge John McDonald

thomast@ebfoundation.com

Nina Gaeta Coletta

Nanina Gaeta Coletta serves as the Family Center Coordinator at East Boston High School, a position that puts her in daily contact with parents, students and community members with the mutual goal of increasing student and family success. She is a graduate of Tufts University's Urban and Environment Planning Department with a Master's in Public Policy. She holds a B.S. from Suffolk University in Journalism, and prior to her work at EBHS, was a reporter for various newspapers and the CItywide Educational Coalition (CWEC) where she wrote newsletters and special reports on BPS policies and their impacts. Nina also shares a group award from the Associated Press for local reporting.

Nina served on various boards in East Boston, including the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), and worked with the agency to start the first schoolyard renovations in East Boston at the Hugh Roe O'Donnell school. This led to other BPS schools improving their schoolyards into gardens and play space.

Nina is a third generation East Bostonian on her father's side, and her mother was a first generation Texan whose parents immigrated to the US from Mexico. She and her husband, Edmund Coletta, raised three children in East Boston, all of whom graduated from Boston Public Schools and are amazing humans.

Chris Marchi

Chris is a lifelong resident of East Boston.

As Vice President of Airport Impact Relief, Incorporated (AIR, Inc.) for almost 20 years, Chris has worked with youth and community groups in and around East Boston to develop community-based awareness about, mitigation for, and solutions to airport environmental and public health impacts.

chrism@ebfoundation.com

Kannan Thiru

Kannan (KAH-nun) is the son of an Indian farmer. He currently runs Eastie Farm, an urban farm in East Boston with a mission to increase access to fresh, local produce and to foster climate and community resilience. He serves on the City of Boston Conservation Commission, and on the Community Preservation Committee. He runs What's up Eastie? a community radio show out of Zumix on local topics. He has a background in technology, has studied climate science, and is dedicated to the creation of an equitable society where people live in harmony with each other and with nature. Kannan is also the Vice President of the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh; and the Vice President of Sierra Club Massachusetts' Executive Committee.

Audrey Nagle

Audrey serves as the Manager of Charitable Giving Programs at Massport. She started her career at Massport in 2008 as a summer intern in the Community Relations and Government Affairs Department. Audrey currently manages Massport’s Charitable Contribution Program, Community Summer Jobs Program, Scholarship Program as well as several employee volunteer and donation drive efforts each year. She is a graduate of Boston Latin School and a lifelong South Boston resident.

Lorene@ebfoundation.com   /   (617) 561-6336   /   245 Sumner Street - Suite 110, East Boston, MA 02128

The East Boston Foundation is a not for profit organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
A copy the Foundation’s organizational documents, application for exemption, letter of determination and bylaws are available and may be requested during regular business hours at the Foundation’s office.

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