OUR BOARD MEMBERS:
FOUNDER: Mary E. Grenchus
International
Mary E. Grenchus ~ is the founder of The Grenchus Foundation. She has post Master’s classes in Spirituality from Fordham University, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (with a focus in Moral Theology) from Boston College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development (with a Focus in psychology and black adolescent development / community and public affairs) from Binghamton University. Mary has spent so much time helping on a Vatican level, has many Jesuit friends, as well as spent much time with the Jesuits in her education, was influenced by the Jesuit saints in her childhood, with her grandparents, and her children were born on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s birthday (the founder of the Jesuit order). She also has friends in many religious orders included but not limited to the Dominicans, Franciscans, Benedictines, Marian’s of the Immaculate Conception, and much more. She is well-respected as a female lay leader in the church and as a mother. She contributes to major discussions in the Church, and is highly involved in World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day. She is part of different consultations in relation to the Catholic Church, and different government and world organizations. She is a former Director of Youth and Young Adult Formation and Family and Youth Ministry. She also taught: Moral Theology, Bible, Religion, Performing Arts, Music, Applied Behavior Analysis (Special Needs), French, and in Early Childhood Education. Mary has experience within higher education, private schools, parish ministry, campus ministry, inter-religious dialogue, women’s ministry, hospital chaplaincy, and diocesan/archdiocesan offices - philosophy, layers of politics and ethics, as well as major events planning, fundraising experience and qualitative and quantitative research. Mary also has modeling experience, arts experience, social media advancement experience, has studied abroad in France, traveled to different parts of Europe, and has many connections in third-world countries. She is connected to many arts groups and organizations domestically and internationally. Mary also has corporate (investment banking and private equity), finance, and small business experience. Mary has also been apart of the Diocese of Bridgeport WYD planning committee and advocated for their Women’s Commission. Mary has been apart of the Diocese of Syracuse Women’s Commission. As well as many other Women’s groups/commissions etc.
Mary consults on a domestic and international level with world leaders, religious leaders, global organizations, nonprofit organizations, arts organizations, health organizations, and individuals, helping them to overcome issues and crisis and to transform themselves, their organization, as well as the communities, societies, and countries they are in. She is an advocate for social justice, human rights, ethical issues, and environmental concerns. She is also a promoter of peace, nonviolence, reconciliation, and collaboration. Mary is also a life and transformation coach, as well as a health, fitness and well-being coach. She engages in ministry with youth, families, and women. Mary is a marathon runner, and loves yoga, pilates, and dancing. She is a singer, musician, composer, dancer, writer, photographer, performing arts director, and artist (oil, acrylics, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels), with fashion and a little interior design/architecture design experience. She loves supporting the arts, and making deeper connections with artists and within the arts community as she continuously uncovers what brings her soul happiness and joy. Mary creates the programs offered by the Grenchus Foundation and offers support in arts, faith, culture, health and well-being. She has a deep spirituality which can be seen in her work, her creations, and in her aspirations, goals dreams as well as the vision for the Foundation. Mary also advocates for culture as she has come into contact with many different cultures, and as her grandfather was Lithuanian-American and grandmother was Irish-American. She shares ethnic cultural traditions, enthusiasm and respect for different cultures and promotes others to do the same. She was also highly influenced by her first employer - a Female Jewish Argentinian Entrepreneur - who owned her own small business in Fashion and the Bridal Industry. As a female Entrepreneur and founder herself, Mary promotes a deep sense of love, well-being, and flourishing, in others ~ all of which we find present here at the Foundation. Mary is the Grand-daughter of Paul Peter and Mary Francis/Frances Grenchus. Mary saw Paul and Mary F. as her parents through most of her life. Mary is also the mother of two children; both of her children have been very active in the creation and founding of The Grenchus Foundation, and have also been part of her inspiration in creating it. Both of her children are current interns for The Grenchus Foundation as well.
- for more information, please see our ABOUT page
CO-FOUNDER: Michael T. Naess
International
Our Co-Founder, Michael T. Naess is a philanthropist in music and the arts. He is also a fitness coach, personal trainer, and Consultant. Michael’s passion for the arts was awakened in early childhood when he took drum and piano lessons. He fell in love with classical music after witnessing a 12 year old pianist perform Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata. He loves works by Beethoven and many other classical artists. While Michael went to a military boarding school he played piano, sang in various choirs, as well as male acapella groups. In College he continued with playing drums in rock bands, singing, and playing piano, while also enjoying classes in biology. Michael holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music with a focus on Renaissance and Baroque Choral Music and Performance with a minor in Biology from Bowdoin College. He also has two years of organ instruction. He engaged in fundraising via telemarketing for National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center. He spent eight years as a campaign manager, then an account executive for two different performing arts telemarketing and telefundraising companies, working on campaigns for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre, Detroit Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Alliance Theatre, Toronto Symphony, Art Gallery of Ontario, Arts Center of Ontario, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
He worked at Carnegie Hall in marketing for over 8 years, was a Director of Marketing for Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony and Vice President of Development at Grand Rapids Symphony. He loves attending performances in NYC at Lincoln Center, New York Philharmonic, Caramoor, and when traveling. He is an avid record collector and holds subscriptions at Carnegie Hall, Orpheus, Young Concert Artists, St. Cecilia Music Center, and has held subscriptions at many other locations. He also supports Naumburg Band Shell.
While Michael’s father was in the military and served different presidents closely, Michael cares deeply about different political and world issues, thus helping with consultations via the foundation, when needed. Michael’s father opened him up to the love of running as well. Michael has run over 25 marathons including NYC Marathon, Berlin Marathon and more… although he has suffered major injuries during running, he still runs on average 5 – 10 miles as our founder does. He has also done long run training and running, and has run/coached with different running groups nationally. He is avid about fitness, health and well-being. He loves the environment and supporting environmental conservation including BIOS in Bermuda. He is related to the philosopher Arne Naess the founder of deep ecology, and Diana Ross. He loves cultural programming as well as he used to run an AirBNB in NYC that was acclaimed for receiving international travelers, and would open them up to the cultural experiences in NYC, while also sharing in their diversity and cultural traditions. Michael T. Naess is of German Heritage, which he delights in celebrating Oktoberfest as well as many other german holiday/cultural traditions.
Board Member and International Liaison:
Jack Bambo
International: Kenya:
Founder of Light Uriri School
Jack Bambo is a trained teacher by profession, with a Bachelor's Degree in Education Maths and Geography and a Masters in Environmental Planning and Management. He is an environmentalist, Girls, Women and Human Rights Defender. Light Uriri School is an orphanage and a Girls Rescue Centre. Non Profit Organization that feed, cloth, shelter and educate orphaned, abandoned, street children and abused girls. He is also a member of the East African Wildlife Society, Member or Red Cross Kenya, Member of Kenya Climate Change Task Force
Member, Speaker, Presenter: IUCN: INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE: Presenter and Speaker on REDD & Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation,
Member, Speaker, Presenter: UNDP: UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM on REDD & Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation.
Jack is also a proud father of one child.
Please see more here:
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/author/jackson-bambo
Ayse Ozkan:
International: Turkey
Ayşe Özkan is a Turkish mezzosoprano graduated from Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory / Opera in Turkey. During and after her graduation she has performed with Ankara State Opera both as a soloist and as a chorus singer. Some of these beginning roles were Un Musico in Manon Lescaut, Barbara in Eine Nacht in Venedig, Mrs. Nolan in The Medium. She was a young artist in Florence Voice Seminar in Italy in 2007 and performed Maddalena in Rigoletto and Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte partially as a young artist. Some of the masterclasses she had in these years were with Benita Valente, Prof. Julian Rodescu, Antonio Marceno, Prof. Helge Dorsch. After her graduation she moved to New York City. She has performed Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with New York Vocal Productions, had her Carnegie Weill Hall debut as Maddalena in Rigoletto with New York Lyric Opera. Her other roles with the company were Suor Angelica in Puccini's Suor Angelica and the title role in Carmen. She was an Intermezzo Foundation Elardo Young Artist and she has performed the role of Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro in Sint Walburgaerk Opera House in Brugge / Belgium. Later on she was a resident artist of Opera North in New Hampshire and she had performed Angelina in Rossini's La Cenerentola, Tigrana in Puccini's Edgar, Lucretia in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia. She has worked with faculties of Manhattan School of Music, Westminster Choir College, Juilliard School of Music during her United States years. Later on she has moved to Berlin / Germany and she has started working with opera professionals there. She had masterclasses of Dolora Zajick and Prof. David Jones. She had performed in Verdi's Aida as Amneris and La Forza del Destino as Preziosilla with Izmir State Opera in Turkey. She was a contracted singer of Istanbul State Opera and with the company she has sung Second Lady in W. A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Asteria in Vivaldi's Bajazet, Arinna in Ninatta ( a modern Turkish opera) as well as singing as a chorus singer in Rossini's Stabat Mater. She has sung as soloist in countless concerts with the company. She has sung the mezzosoprano part in Brahm's Love Song Cycles. She has sung the role of Amneris in Aida with Maccedonian State Opera. She has won first prize in Ankara Voice Association Competition in Turkey and The Hariclea d'Arclee Foundation Prize in Romania. She was finalist and semifinalist of many prestigious international opera competitions. She has completed her Master of Music / Opera degree in 2023 in Başkent University State Conservatory / Ankara with an Erasmus term in Musikhochschule Lübeck. She has switched her repertory more to German opera roles lately and worked on roles like Wagner's Venus in Tannhauser, Ortrud in Lohengrin, Sieglinde in Die Walküre. Other than singing she has been teaching singing for almost twenty years. She can also give voice / speech classes to people with vocal chords problems. She has worked with people in different ages, backgrounds for different vocal genres as well. She had taken trainings of Biodynamic Breath work Trauma Release System and Myofascial Energy Release System which she was also being interested with because of her own healing journey. She has also attended and assisted Osho Active Meditations trainings and helps people to build active meditation practice in their daily lives. She believes in creating healing and especially music, human voice to be a healing way. She is doing research in this area and her further plans include doing a PhD on this topic.
Board Member and United States Liaison: Honorarium: Max Kaiser Jr. (Max died in January this year 2022)… please see our The Grenchus Foundation Memorial Fund in honor of Max
United States (International):
MAX KAISER, JR. is a longtime Catholic activist, Max is a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and was named a Pontifical Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 for his numerous long-term historical preservation, artistic, cultural, philanthropic and religious efforts. He is a professional historian, urban preservationist, feature/news writer, and previous radio reporter/writer (KMOX-CBS Radio) and host, advertising, marketing and media communications executive, and architecture, liturgical metalsmith, craftsman, and design expert. He also serves as a USAF officer, veteran, and advocate.
Active on the Knights of Columbus History and Heritage Committee, and the KofC Veterans Affairs Committee, Max also serves as a Vice-President of the Old Cathedral St. Vincent DePaul Society in St. Louis, MO (founded in 1845). He was a founding member of the Young Adult St. Vincent DePaul Society of Greater St. Louis. He is a life-member of the Latin Liturgy Association, the Society for the Preservation of the Catholic Artistic Heritage (SPORCH), a founding member of the National Museum of Catholic Art & History (New York City), and other liturgical arts and ecclesiastical organizations.
Max is a member of the White House Jesuit Retreat League in metro St. Louis, and serves as a joint chair of the Father William B. Faherty History Fellowship Committee at his college alma mater, honoring his longtime history professor, friend and mentor. He is an active member of the St. Louis University Alumni Association. Max was also a student under Cardinal Dolan in Church History, and Cardinal Dolan invited Max to his installation as Archbishop of Milwaukee and later, his installation as Cardinal for the Archdiocese of New York. He is also very familiar with St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and other landmarks and historical places in NYC. Max is a is a board member of the Central Verein in of North America and the Jaycees Foundation, trained professional judge for oratorical and scholarship contests sponsored by Toastmasters International, Jaycees Foundation, Optimists International and Junior Achievement, among others in relation to public interest among young Americans. He lends his accomplished public speaking, civic leadership and charitable abilities generously to the community, serving as an active member and volunteer, professional contest judge, the Public Relations Society of America, and other national media and communications industry groups.
He has served as an Officer and Instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Luke AFB, McConnell AFB, and other military installations around the country. A U.S. Air Force officer and veteran, He holds a Bachelors degree in History and English from St. Louis University, and has participated in graduate studies in history, media, crisis management, audio/visuals and marketing communications. He is active in a wide array of civic and community groups, veterans organizations, arts, marketing communications and religious groups in the Midwest and elsewhere. He is a widely published editor, reporter and feature writer for print and broadcast in local, regional and trade publications, as well as a religious, cultural, American and military historian. He has served in professional public relations, advertising and marketing management and executive capacities for major civic, community, historical and sporting events and projects. He was also the first college student in the history of St. Louis County to be appointed to a municipal board of a Fire Department (at age 18), serving as Secretary and Fire Department Commissioner for eight years in the St. Louis County suburb of Crestwood, MO.
Max is an advisory board member to the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, and a board member of the St. Louis County (MO) Historical Society. He is a member of the St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Association, which promotes cultural understanding and international trade between designated "sister cities" worldwide. He also serves on the board of the Jaycees Foundation. Max serves on the St. Louis 250th Anniversary Commemoration Committee of the Missouri Historical Society, and is an active member of the American Catholic Historical Society. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta International History Honor Society, and was named to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities." He is also a member of Pi Kappa Delta Forensics Honor Society, an international university public speaking, debate and forensics organization promoting oral communications excellence and achievement among college and graduate students as well as the general public. He is an advisory board member for a number of historic preservation groups for churches and houses of worship, including Partners for Sacred Places, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that deals with the conservation, preservation and respectful re-use of historic churches, synagogues and houses of worship throughout the U.S.A. He also was a founding member of the Young Adult St Vincent DePaul Society, and a supporter of Runners for Life. . He also is an officer/veteran in the USAF, having served at the USAF Academy, and the Gateway Arch 50th Anniversary Committee. He is a member of the Catholic Historical Association, and is a published historian and Journalist.
Max is a member of the Ellis Island National Monument Preservation Committee, where his grandfather of the same name arrived in the U.S.A. from Stuttgart, Germany in October, 1896. (His grandfather MAX J. KAISER's name is now inscribed on the "Ellis Island Immigration Wall of Honor" at the museum). Max, Jr. is an active member of the American Legion. Max was with KMOX - CBS Radio as a news reporter/writer for 2 years with Kent Martin and the late John McCormick.
In addition, Max has extensive Family Business Experience as his Family Founded Mueller Kaiser Plating Co. (1911) and Speh Monument Co (1882) and has extensive experience in monumental design, fabrication, restoration, placement and memorialization. (He recently planned, supervised and completed the skilled restoration of Supreme Knight of Columbus (1918-65) LUKE E. HART's upright monument at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis). He has worked extensively in the design, fabrication, restoration and sale of stained glass and devotional metalware for churches and other houses of worship, cemeteries and other institutions throughout the U.S.A. Max has also designed notable custom ornamental stone work as well as interior settings for churches and houses of worship around North America. He has been involved for many years in the expert fabrication, restoration, refinishing and conservation of fine religious metalware, vessels and fixtures throughout the U.S. and overseas, serving on a number of international cultural, arts and craftsmanship panels. He was actively involved in Mueller Kaiser Plating Company where he acquired extensive metalsmithing and finishing skills. Max, Jr. is a life member of the Society of American Silversmiths (SAS). His scholarship of American, European and military history and his discerning appreciation for ecclesiastical, memorial, and historical architecture and its historical preservation is nationally acclaimed. Max also has an extensive working knowledge of famous North American cemeteries--denominational, public, private, commercial and military--from all historical periods. He is very active in the preservation of historic churches in the Archdiocese of St Louis and elsewhere, as well as their liturgical artworks and music. Max is an advisory board member for a number of historic preservation groups for churches and houses of worship of all denominations, including Partners for Sacred Places, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that deals with the conservation, preservation and respectful re-use of historic churches, synagogues and houses of worship throughout the U.S.A.
Interns and Volunteers:
Board Member & Internship: Ethan Allen 2020 - Present (see our Youth Board for more details)
Board Member & Internship: Andrew Allen 2020 - Present (see our Youth Board for more details)