About Us > Board Members
Sunshine Friends, Inc has a working board of directors that is comprised of volunteers who bring experience, expertise, dedication as well as an appreciation for the human-animal bond to the table.
Like all other volunteers under the SFI umbrella, board members do not get paid for their services but work for the satisfaction gained from contributing something important to the community. The number of positions on the board varies with the size of the organization and the need to serve a particular function. If you are interested in applying for a position on the board of directors, please email or call us for an application.
About the current board:
Danielle Basciano (President)has been volunteering with SFI since 1999. Danielle oversees the organization's daily operations and volunteer coordination and serves as one of the therapy pet evaluators. Danielle is an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, one of the co-trainers for SFI's therapy dog classes, and is currently working toward certification as an animal behavior consultant. In addition to serving on the board for SFI, Danielle also serves as Vice President for Spay and Neuter Syracuse, a program of the Syracuse-Onondaga Cat Council.
Kristin Russell-Miller (Secretary) volunteers with her dog, Gordon, a 9-year-old, Shepard/Lab mix who visits at Crouse Hospital, and occasionally participates in reading programs and educational/outreach activities. Kristin and Gordon have been visiting with Sunshine Friends since 2007. Kristin is also an evaluator for SFI, as well as one of the co-trainers for SFI's therapy dog classes. Kristin is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and is employed as a Senior Recreation Therapist at Hutchings Psychiatric Center in Syracuse, NY. She has worked on adult inpatient, children/adolescent inpatient and currently works at a community based day program for adults with mental illness.
Amy Wallis (Treasurer) has volunteered with SFI since 2008. Her dog, Lily, is an adopted shelter dog who visits University Hospital and Elderwood with Sunshine Friends. Amy and Lily also do educational presentations to educate the public about SFI's mission. Amy is a certified animal behavior consultant, a co-trainer for SFI's therapy dog training classes, and serves on the board of Wanderers' Rest Humane Association. When she is not working with animals, Amy spends her days as an organizational psychologist.
Nicki Wolf is new to the central New York area and to the board of Sunshine Friends. Nicki has two Jack Russell terriers, both adopted from shelters. Nicki was a Deputy Sheriff in California prior to moving to the area. As part of her time with the Sheriff's Office Nicki helped the K-9 Officers with demonstrations, even wearing a bite suit to show the audience what it was like to be bitten by Police Dog. Nicki also worked as a School Resource Officer for the Sheriff's Department. Prior to becoming a Deputy Sheriff, Nicki worked as a Rehabilitation Aide in a hospital setting. Both the Rehabilitation Aide and Deputy Sheriff positions have influenced Nicki's desire to join an organization that connects pets with people to improve their quality of life. Since relocating to this area Nicki has been renovating and remodeling residential properties.
Beverly Lauricella has been a member of SFI since 2000. Bev has volunteered with several rescue groups where she was a coach for foster and adoptive homes. With her family, the Lauricella's have fostered over 50+ dogs, and have adopted a few hard to place foster dogs, some of whom became SFI therapy dogs that visited University Hospital and nursing homes. Currently she is an SFI evaluator as well as a co-trainer for the SFI therapy dog class.
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