Ariyonna Wright is the Clinical Operations Lead at an eye surgery practice, where she supports high-quality patient care through effective clinical coordination and operational leadership. A Rutgers University graduate with a BS in Exercise Science, she brings over eight years of experience in the non-profit sector, demonstrating a deep commitment to service and building meaningful connections within the communities she serves. Ariyonna is inspired by her late uncle, Judge E. Ronald Wright, whose dedication to community has shaped her own drive to give back.

Ariyonna’s passions lie in psychology and mental health, and she is actively working toward a career in the field with the goal of promoting healing, resilience, and overall well-being. She is driven by a genuine desire to support others and advocate for mental health awareness and access.

Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Ariyonna enjoys exercising and traveling, which allow her to stay grounded, energized, and curious about the world. She values personal growth, balance, and service, and brings those principles into every space she enters.

Elizabeth Boeckman is an Associate on the Asset Management team at W. P. Carey, a diversified net lease real estate investment trust with over $20 billion in assets under management and a portfolio of 1,500 commercial and industrial properties across North America and Europe.

Elizabeth graduated from Princeton University, magna cum laude, with a B.A. in Anthropology and a concentration in American Studies. She was a member of the Varsity Women’s Swimming & Diving team and Cannon Dial Elm Eating Club.

Elizabeth was drawn to The New York Foundling Junior Board because of its long-standing commitment to support underserved children, families and communities across New York. The Junior Board is comprised of a group of passionate and committed individuals united by the shared goal of making a meaningful impact for the community around them. Elizabeth is very proud to be a member of the Foundling’s Junior Board!

Mel has been on the Jr. Board of the New York Foundling for over 3 years. She first became involved with The Foundling after recently moving to NYC and wanting to get involved with a local charity that impacts foster children due to her own experiences in foster care. In 2022, prior to joining the board, she hosted and organized her own charity gala to benefit the children which raised over $10k to give toys for the holidays.

Mel earned an M.S. in Global Finance from Fordham University in NYC and a B.A. from Arizona State University, where she was a co-founder and president of the women’s gymnastics club and held various leadership positions as a member of Omega Phi Alpha sorority.

Professionally, she is a Credit Analyst at a global investment firm. In her role, she supports portfolio management teams through credit research, analysis, and trading. She also provides analysis and expertise through related to the investment grade finance industry. Prior to joining her current firm, she was an analyst at Rothschild & Co where she worked in investment banking as a generalist covering M&A, equities, and debt.

Outside of work she is involved in many charitable causes in additions to NY Foundling. She is an active member of the NYJL (New York Junior League).

In her spare time, she enjoys staying active with yoga, gymnastics, walking her dog (Pomsky), painting, and skiing in the winter. She enjoys traveling around the world and exploring new places, food, music, and the arts whenever she can.

Scott Valencia is currently an Associate on the First Line Exposure and Optimization team within Markets at BNY. He was previously a Markets and Wealth Services Rotational Analyst at BNY. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a member of several volunteering organizations committed to giving back to the community, and wants to continue making a positive impact on others.