Co-founder

Richard Foos has been in the entertainment business for over forty years, starting with a small record store named Rhino Records, and eventually growing it into the well-known audio label which was sold to Time Warner in 1998. In 2003, Foos and his partners started another company, Shout! Factory, LLC.

Shout! is a leading multi-platform media company devoted to film and TV distribution, development, and production, as well as the preservation and revitalization of the very best in pop-culture entertainment.

Foos strongly believes in merging one’s social values with business and has installed a strong sense of purpose and giving back in all his business concerns. He is Chairman Emeritus for Little Kids Rock and serves on the boards of The Volunteer Collective, The Narrative Method, LAANE, Pico Union Project, College Match, Type Media Center, Jewish Vocational Services, Hoover Intergenerational Child Care and other such non-profits that make a strong commitment to social progress.

He and his wife, Shari, live in Los Angeles.

Executive Director & Co-founder

Rick Stoff grew up in Queens, NY and moved to Los Angeles in 1976. He worked in sales most of his career but found his calling in nonprofit, volunteering, serving on boards, and ultimately working for Chrysalis.

Rick retired in 2018 after 15 years at Chrysalis recruiting businesses to hire his clients who needed second chances because of their barriers to employment like a history of homelessness or interactions with the justice system.

He will tell you that retirement is a great thing,

But Rick could not stay retired, and Volunteer Collective is his second chance to help more of our neighbors change their lives.

Board Member

Steve Ades took his first volunteer position assisting at the Los Angeles Free Clinic in 1967. Active in the Jewish Federation for a number of years during the 70’s, Steve was a fundraiser for the Toy Division of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.

For the past 35 years, Steve has been a member of the Board of Governors at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He was also a member of the ACLU of Southern California Board for a decade.

Steve has founded and sold two businesses in his professional career; with both having a core goal of donating products to those who were experiencing hardship.

He brings extensive organization and marketing skills to the Volunteer Collective to assist them in furthering their volunteer work across Los Angeles.

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Bob Israel is a producer of theater and film. He is a former entertainment marketing leader, who co-founded the agency Aspect Ratio and produced blockbuster movies. A committed political fundraiser, he also serves on several non-profit boards with a focus on social justice and the arts.

In 2013, Bob created the Broadway & Vine Fund to develop properties for the stage. Two of his projects are currently in development, The Flamingo Kid and Henry Louis Gates' Many Rivers To Cross.

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Brad is a writer of documentaries, books, and feature films.

He also founded and ran (with Volunteer Collective’s Founder, Richard Foos) "Rock the Classroom" - a literacy through music program for underserved elementary school students.

He is also a musician, but COVID clobbered his band.

Board Member

Mark is a recently retired apparel manufacturer. He and his wife owned and operated a fashion business for 35 years. Designing, manufacturing and selling multiple brands of women’s sportswear and dresses to specialty stores, department stores, on line retailers, and catalogs nationally, as well as operating their own e commerce site.

He and his wife started their business out of their home and grew it to be a successful national brand in the women’s apparel industry. Navigating through all the ups and downs that any business goes through from start up to maturity.

As a score mentor, Mark enjoys helping people build a business and reach for their dreams.

Mark served for many years on the board of the California Fashion Association., the recognized trade association of the west coast apparel industry.

Mark has experience in every aspect of running a small to medium size business, including but not limited to – Business Strategy, Finance, Management, Inventory control, Sales & Marketing, Employee relations, Merchandising, Advertising, Import/ export, Start-ups, Trade shows, Photo shoots.

Board Member

Born and raised in Mexico City. Married, mother of 3 daughters.

Lya is the owner and designer of Moonlighting Design. She is passionate about doing her part to help others, especially children.