IMPRESSIONS

Staff
◙ MARNI ROZET, Executive Director, began her work with children as a
counselor and teacher for abused and neglected kids. She pursued her passion
for helping those in need by planning charity functions in Los Angeles, where she
organized and launched events for a number of major organizations. When her
children were of elementary school age, Marni began volunteering and working
extensively at Montecito Union School and helping with fund development at
Santa Barbara Middle School. She has been an active member of the Montecito
& Santa Barbara communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational
Studies/Human Resource Management with a minor in Psychology from Pitzer
College. Additionally, she lived in Japan and attended Obirin University while
working and studying the Japanese culture, language and business. Marni has two children, Josh &
Nicoletta who are 15 & 11 and has currently been with TBCF for 2 ½ years.
◙ NIKKI KATZ, Founder and Program Director, brings 17 years of social work
experience to the organization. She began her career by studying criminology
and sociology, and then worked as a residential counselor in a group home
facility for juveniles on probation. She has worked with a full range of people in
need, from young kids to disabled teenagers and elderly cancer patients, whom
she trained as a volunteer at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club. In addition to her
volunteer work and five-year stint as executive director of the Foundation, Nikki
has served on the Committee for the Children’s Miracle Network and has worked
closely with Hugs For Cubs and the Santa Barbara Foresters baseball team. She
established the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation in 2002, and finds love, joy and
happiness with her husband, 1 ½ year old daughter, dog and 3 cats.
◙ CYNTHIA MENENDEZ, Administrative and Development Assistant,
is originally from Los Angeles, California. She graduated from UC, Santa Barbara
in 2003 with a major in Global Studies and a minor in Italian. Cynthia joined the
Peace Corps from 2006-2008 where she served as an HIV/AIDS Health Educator in
Honduras, helped build a community training center, and facilitated numerous
training workshops for youth, teens, women, health professionals, community
leaders, police cadets and men in prison addressing HIV/AIDS and genderbased
education through community leadership education. Upon returning to
the US, Cynthia set out for a career in the non-profit sector and has since found
that place at the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.
◙ BECCA SOLODON, Spokesperson and Program Assistant, is a cancer
survivor and Teddy Bear’s first recipient. Her positive attitude in the face of adversity
has been an inspiration and example to children currently in treatment. “Visiting
kids in treatment at Cottage Hospital is one of the best experiences I have ever
had,” she says, describing her work with the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.
“Their smiles are priceless.” In addition to her role at Teddy Bear, Becca works with
the American Cancer Society, Hugs for Cubs with the Santa Barbara Foresters
baseball team, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “Take My Hand”, a song she
wrote about her own experience with cancer, was such a hit that Make-A-Wish
Foundation featured her story in the form of a doll, which is sold across America.
She has become a motivational force, speaking and singing in the media and one-on-one with
children, hospital volunteers, and community activists. Becca is currently working with professional
producers and songwriters in Los Angeles who are mentoring her on her first album project. She is now
a full time member of TBCF and looks forward to more opportunities to share her story and talents.
16 | IMPRESSIONS www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org - 805.962.7466