New Faces at the Foundation

New teammates bring deep experiences and a range of passions to the Community Foundation. Learn about their roles, passions, hidden talents, and favorite ways to experience our region.

Community Programs

Paige O’Connor’s role as Rural Community Impact Associate takes her all across our eight-county region, from Batavia to Lyons to Penn Yan, to advocate for rural communities. She focuses on building relationships, sleuthing out the gaps in the Community Foundation’s rolodex when it comes to rural nonprofits, elected officials, and small-town movers and shakers. Listening to community needs and collaborating with other funders to pool resources are some of Paige’s superpowers to assist our grantmaking and community impact.  

Paige has a master’s in public administration from SUNY Binghamton. 

About Paige 

• She’s a morning person

• Favorite summer beverage is iced tea

• Likes to hike, fish, and camp in the Finger Lakes

• Cooking fast, tasty, and healthy meals is her hidden talent

• Paige is passionate about Education

You can ask Paige about rural grantmaking at poconnor@racf.org.

Finance, HR, and Administration

Darlene Roloson, gift associate, brings her deep accounting background to the Foundation three days a week to make sure giving a gift is as smooth and sweet as an Arnold Palmer on a summer day. As a gift associate, she’s often on the other end of the line when you call to make a gift or to ask a question. Before joining us as a contractor from Insero Advisors, Darlene held roles across various accounting functions.

Since joining the Foundation, she has enjoyed learning more about the Foundation’s wide array of giving options, from gifts of stock to IRA rollovers.

Volunteering with Junior Achievement to help young people learn about business is one way Darlene enjoys giving back to the community. She feels strongly about financial literacy and helping people prepare to have satisfying careers. 

About Darlene 

• She’s a night owl

• Favorite summer beverage is an Arnold Palmer

• Swimming and exploring local parks is her favorite way to enjoy our region

• Growing perennials is her hidden talent

• Darlene is passionate about financial literacy

Ask Darlene a question about gift processing at droloson@racf.org.

Philanthropic Engagement

Amberlee Jones, our new philanthropic engagement officer, works with our many donor-advised fundholders, offering opportunities for education and inviting fundholders to lean on the Foundation’s insight when it comes to community needs. She also oversees an annual program that raises funds for the Foundation’s operations. 

Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Amberlee spent several years as an ASL interpreter and a mentor in the Randleman Program at RIT/NTID, which focuses on recruiting and retaining interpreters of color for the RIT campus. In 2022, she translated her passion in the interpreting field to building resources for this important work as an Associate Director of Advancement at RIT/NTID. In this role, she cultivated relationships with alumni, parents, businesses, and other fundraisers. 

About Amberlee 

• She’s a night owl

• A French 75 is her favorite summer beverage

• Loves watching lacrosse, specifically the New York Atlas and Rochester Knighthawks

• Hidden talents include swing dancing and rock climbing

• Amberlee is passionate about accessibility and disability services

You can drop Amberlee a note at ajones@RACF.org.