Board Members

Patricia Silverstein, Board Chair

Patricia Silverstein is a licensed counseling professional with a background in Team Sales Management and Executive Coaching. 
 
Patricia prepares and leads activities for youths and adults, fostering meaningful relationships with community partners increasing engagement in the community through her leadership skills, encouraging individuals to achieve heightened personal and spiritual awareness and success.  
Patricia holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Organizational Communication from the University of Barcelona.

  • Patricia was born In Barcelona, where she developed her business and sales career, she also lived in Madrid and Australia, where she became very familiar with anglo Saxon culture, years later she moved to New York where she started her next professional chapter as a counselor and life coach and developed her brand Coaching X Humanity.

    During her first years in New York, her younger sister became very sick due to her acute diabetes, she felt helpless being in the US, in that moment when she realized her life was going to be dedicated to helping her sister overcome her disease and complications.

    She has created a program dedicated to teaching marginalized communities about Diabetes Prevention and Nutrition.

    Patricia started her first fundraiser Gala in August 2021, The Hamptons Garden Gala, where she has raised over $750.000, those funds were directed to pay for the first pilot trial done in the US to cure kidney disease and improve diabetes with Stem Cell Therapy infusion. Her sister was the recipient of the trial. The Hamptons Garden Gala has become one of the most successful fundraiser events in the Hamptons for Diabetes Research.

    She was the first honoree woman elected in the history of the Foundation at the Empire Ball Gala in December 2022, hosted by the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation In New York.

    She has a clear goal to find a cure for Diabetes and to educate and help humanity to find empowerment to overcome their physical condition, for she will dispose of all her possible resources throughout her lifetime.

Roger Silverstein, Board Co-Chair

Roger Silverstein is an Executive Vice President of Silverstein Properties responsible for Tenant relations. He is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and a member of the Council of National Trustees of National Jewish Health and co-founder and chair emeritus of the AIR Society, a fundraising arm of National Jewish which has raised over $8 Million Dollars during its 30-year tenure.   Roger has a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and has three children.

  • Roger and his wife, Patricia, have been supporters of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation since 2020, at the time when Patricia’s younger sister, who has type 1 diabetes, was diagnosed with kidney disease. Since that time, they have been deeply committed to helping find a cure for diabetes. In 2021 they founded the Hamptons Garden Gala, hosted at their home, raising over $500,000 as well as greater awareness for this disease.

Carrie Packin, Board Member

The commitment to live each day to the fullest and to celebrate and be grateful for all of life’s blessings no matter how big or small is the root of everything that Carrie Packin embodies. Philanthropy and giving back are among her core values and the warm and welcoming hospitality that is the hallmark of her business, City Nights Hospitality, is an extension of her progress in sharing with others, this very important mission.

  • Carrie Packin, co-founder and partner of City Nights Hospitality, an award-winning trend-defining company dedicated to creating unique restaurant, event and nightlife experiences where luxury meets comfort, product meets quality and service meets kindness.

    Recognizing that her hospitality venues could be the perfect platform to support their personal devotion to philanthropy, Carrie Packin along with her husband and business partner, Brian Packin began supporting and partnering with foundations and charitable organizations that are not only making a difference but are changing the world. They support Foundations and charitable organizations, such as the Navy SEAL Foundation, the Diabetes Research Institute as well as the Institute For Vision Research at the University of Iowa, just to name a few. They have drawn on their resources and their network to support their greater mission. Together Carrie and Brian Packin were the 2022 recipients of the Irving Bernstein Award for their efforts in supporting the New York Air Society and National Jewish Health.

    The passion and purpose for living life to the fullest while working to support those changing our darkest futures was ignited by the loss of her mother, Joann to terminal stage four lung cancer in 2006.

    Since then, she has been devoted to supporting the organizations and foundations focused on funding and driving forward the research and medical advancements needed to alter the diagnosis process and treatment plans for the individuals suffering from our world’s most awful diseases. To her the dream of a cure is not a dream at all but a reality as we all should believe that with our individual support it is inevitable. Carrie continues every day to teach her two young daughters, Cosette and Elle, the importance of taking care of people, helping others and above all living each day to the fullest.

Elena Ulansky, Board Member

Elena Ulansky is an executive at Gorlin Companies, significantly influencing the firm growth and strategic direction. Gorlin Companies has a storied history of developing and nurturing enterprises within the Biotechnology and Medical Technology sectors for over four decades, and Elena has been central to this success. Her role transcends traditional executive duties as she expertly fosters connections with a broad investor network, identifying and pursuing growth opportunities that align with the company's objectives. Elena’s deep industry knowledge and vast experience have positioned her as a vital contributor to the company's journey toward innovation and success, marking her as a leader within the organization.

  • Beyond her corporate achievements, Elena has an affinity for the arts, which she expresses through her founding of the Tethys Art Gallery in Southampton, NY. This gallery is not just a space but a vibrant community where emerging artists find support and a platform to exhibit their talents. Elena’s commitment to the arts is further exemplified by her educational background, holding a Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art, which enriches her contributions to the art world, including her active role in the prestigious NYAA Tribeca Ball annual gala.

    Elena’s passion extends into philanthropy, where her involvement with Many Hopes reflects her dedication to making a significant difference in the lives of children facing adversity. As a board member, she applies her resources, network, and energy towards initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty for children, offering them hope and opportunities for a brighter future. Her efforts showcase a deep commitment to leveraging her position and influence to support and uplift those in need.

    Elena Ulansky’s multifaceted career is a testament to her dynamic capabilities, seamlessly blending professionalism, creativity, and compassion. Through her work in the corporate world, her advocacy for the arts, and her philanthropic endeavors, Elena exemplifies the impact of dedicating one’s skills and passions to not only succeed in business but also to enrich the community and provide for those less fortunate.