Outreach Committee​
The Outreach Committee promotes our scholarship to potential applicants, provides support to Morelli Scholars, and educates and informs on the needs of students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
Committee Members
Barbara Morelli, Committee Chair
Barbara Wirostko (Morelli) MD is the mother of the late Joseph James Morelli and the founder of the Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation. Barb received her BA from Cornell University and her MD from Columbia University. She is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship trained glaucoma specialist with an Adjunct Professor appointment at Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. She is an entrepreneur and serves on several local boards and committees. Barb lives in Park City, UT with her husband and children.Â
Anne Ivanhoe, Director of Mentoring
Anne has a degree in English from Carnegie-Mellon University and an MBA in marketing from Columbia Business School. Now retired, Anne’s professional focus was on new business development, first as a product manager at Kraft Foods and later as an independent consultant. Her volunteer experiences have been concentrated on working with children and troubled teens. Anne’s dedication to the Morelli Foundation stems from the challenges dyslexia has presented to members of her own family.
Eveleen Babich
Eveleen enjoyed a 33-year career with Mariott Hotels and Mariott Vacation Worldwide prior to retiring. She held several executive positions in operations, revenue management, sales and marketing, call center management, and corporate communications. Eveleen also led multiple corporate business integration initiatives focusing on system development, training and development, and change management. Her passion for the environment also presented an opportunity to design and launch a global corporate-wide green initiative. Eveleen and her husband David reside in Park City, UT.
Nicole Blumin
Nicole is the current Year 12 & College Coach for Bright Futures, which helps first-generation students get to and through college, in Park City, UT. She was Associate Dean of Students at a hospital-based College of Nursing in Syracuse, NY for 17 years. There she was responsible for the implementation of all 504 plans in addition to supervising all student services and admissions. She serves as a volunteer for the National Ability Center and is on the Admissions Committees for Syracuse University & UCLA Medical School and the Blumin Family Foundation.
Stewart Cohen
Stewart has over 50 years of experience in the retail industry. He and his wife Marcia own two apparel companies, both located in Maryland. One business focuses on the on-line sale of officially licensed U.S. Military apparel, accessories and gifts; while the other business works with many of the country’s best known retailers. Stewart is passionate about the foundation’s mission and looks forward to bringing some of his experience in helping with this great cause.
Charlie Matthews
With degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University, Charlie has worked with high school students for over 30 years. He has been an AP Physics teacher at Park City High School from 1992 to 2016. As the engineering facilitator for the Park City School District Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Charlie has had the opportunity to immerse students as engineers into work-based projects. Charlie now serves as STEM Coordinator for the Park City School District. He lives with his family in Park City.
Katie Thacker
Katie has a degree in Health Education and Psychology. After completing her degree, Katie worked with students in the Business Office at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Here, she coordinated scholarship and grant accounts, while also helping students better understand their financial obligations while pursuing their education. She was also the assistant coach for the men and womens rugby team and helped student athletes balance their athletic and educational commitments. Katie started an art business in 2020 that she still runs in her spare time today. She now lives in Montana, and works for an engineering firm as an Administrative Assistant.
Donell Pons
Donell Pons is a reading specialist and dyslexia specialist in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pons started her career in education when her youngest son was diagnosed with dyslexia, going on to receive a dual master’s degree in Education and Teaching from Westminster College along with a certification in Special Education. She is also a tutor in several Orton-Gillingham based reading programs and is a certified dyslexia screener and consultant. Donell’s mission is to identify, screen, and remediate every student who struggles with reading and engage every K-12 teacher in the reading process.
Marie Venezia
Marie received her BS in Applied Economics from Cornell University and her MBA from University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Her career spanned the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors as well as the Washington DC, Tokyo, and New York geographic areas. For the past five years, she has coached and helped navigate the college application process for first-generation students. Marie and her husband Tony reside in Park City.Â
Monique Ward
An accomplished and detail-oriented Bookkeeper and Tax Preparer with over 25 years of experience in financial management, payroll administration, and tax preparation. Proven expertise in preparing and analyzing financial statements, reconciling transactions, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Adept at implementing and training accounting software, maintaining accurate records, and assisting with tax filings. Holds an Associate Degree in Accounting and is a Registered Tax Preparer and Authorized IRS E-File Provider. Proficient in QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, and various payroll and tax software. Dedicated to delivering precise financial services to businesses and individuals while staying current with industry trends and regulations.
