The Calais Foundation in Whippany has selected long-time trustee and Board Vice President Richard Gentles as its new President and Christina DeOliveira, a trustee since 2018, as its new Vice President.

Mr. Gentles succeeds former Board President David Rostan, a Morristown attorney, who served as President for five years.  Mr. Gentles, who has played an active role in the board’s fundraising committee, is a resident of Chatham.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to serve The Calais Foundation board as its new President,” Mr. Gentles said. “My predecessors and the trustees have done a great job establishing a Foundation which has been successful at fundraising and supporting many important life-changing programs for special needs students. I will use my financial management, fundraising, marketing skills and experience to build upon what has already been accomplished. The more money we raise, the more good we can do to help special needs children and their families in New Jersey.”

Mr. Gentles has dedicated his career to public service and non-profits. During his career, he worked for the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Animal Care & Control of NYC and TransOptions, Inc., serving in a variety of different capacities including operations, financial management, planning and implementation of large and small events, fundraising, marketing and communications. He currently works as a paid and pro-bono consultant, and is an active board member for various non-profits including Deidre’s House in Morris County, a non-profit dedicated to helping child victims of abuse. In his spare time, Mr. Gentles is a volunteer firefighter and president of the department.

Mr. Gentles has a master’s degree in management from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and a master’s degree in public administration from Villanova University. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Marist College.

Ms. DeOliveira, a resident of Union, is a Senior Change Management Consultant with Summit Consulting and an adjunct professor at the County College of Morris. “I look forward to working with Board President Richard Gentles and the rest of our board to support the many life-changing programs offered by The Calais School to help special needs students,” she said.

Ms. DeOliveira has been instrumental in helping to plan many of the board’s fundraising events including the Foundation gala and the foundation’s first Benefit Ride & Concert June 19 at the Clinton Elks Lodge in Pittstown. She has an MBA, is a certified professional coach (CPC), certified trainer for Jack Canfield Success Principles and a Reiki practitioner. She is also the Founder and President of David’s Gift, a scholarship foundation (501 c3) dedicated to memorializing the life of her beloved brother, David, who passed away from brain cancer in 2011. The Foundation offers college scholarships to deserving inner city high school seniors at East Side High School in Newark where her brother was a teacher and athletic coach.

Outgoing President David Rostan, a Morristown attorney, congratulated Mr. Gentles and Ms. DeOliveira on their new positions. “It has been an incredible honor to serve as President and to serve with amazing fellow board members,” he said. “It is gratifying to know that our collective efforts have helped to brighten the lives of the children. I know that the Foundation will have great leadership with Rich as President and Christina as Vice President.”

This post was originally published on The Calais Foundation’s website.

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