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Mission

Empowering refugee children through sports, health and education.

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Vision

Our vision is to create a brighter future for refugee children by providing them with opportunities for growth, empowerment and success through sports, health and education.

Our Team

Joseph E Robert III

Joseph E. Robert III

Founder & Chairman of the Board

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Joseph is a former Reconnaissance Marine and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. Expanding on his service overseas, he earned a bachelor’s in International Studies from American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C.  

 

Joseph’s international acumen and relationships were the lynchpin of the Afghanistan evacuation effort through the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), in August 2021, colloquially called Task Force 6:8 (TF 6:8). TF 6:8 was a group of military veterans that came together to evacuate approximately 12,000 refugees from Afghanistan in the final weeks of U.S. military withdrawal. Following the U.S. withdrawal, and recognizing the continued need, Joseph, along with several other members of TF 6:8, founded The Black Feather Foundation. He was an integral member of the continued rescue operations and the resettlement of more than 15,000 Afghan refugees to countries around the world. Joseph previously served as a Board Member of the Youth Leadership Foundation from 2007 to 2011 and is currently a Board Member of Fight for Children, Inc. since 2009.

Patti Katter

President & Chief Executive Officer

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Patti brings over 30 years of comprehensive experience in the nonprofit sector to her role, with significant contributions both in the United States and internationally. Her diverse efforts have assisted numerous nonprofits and encompassed a wide array of philanthropic opportunities.

 

Over the past 17 years, she has deliberately focused on advocating for and assisting U.S. military veterans, their families and caregivers. Patti's broad experience in the nonprofit sector and her personal dedication to caring for military families, continues to shape her unique and impactful approach to leadership.

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Kristen Rice

Chief Financial Officer

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Kristen brings over 11 years of accounting experience to her role, including serving The Black Feather Foundation's (TBFF) accounting and bookkeeping needs since February 2023. 

 

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from University of California San Diego, her academic achievements are complemented by her entrepreneurial background. She previously owned a sports-related medical staffing business that served local non-profit organizations for more than seven years. As a devoted military spouse, Kristen's service experiences embody TBFF's mission to uplift communities and support those in need.

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Iqbal Najimi

Regional Outreach and Programs Director

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Iqbal holds a bachelor's degree in Political Sciences and Public Administration from The American University of Afghanistan, and a master's degree in International Relations from Kardan University in Afghanistan.

 

Iqbal is a former Afghan diplomat at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., with nearly a decade of experience in the following sectors: diplomacy, strategic research and analysis, policy formulation, team management and briefing high-level clients. In Abu Dhabi, Iqbal assisted The Black Feather Foundation and provided consular services through the embassy to all Afghan guests in the Emirates Humanitarian City.

Mark Walker

Social Media Coordinator​

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Mark is bringing his social media experience he gained through multiple years working as a Park Ranger in the National Park Service where he focused on outreach and education, both in person and through social media. He is now living and working in South Africa in the conservation field, utilizing social media to help raise awareness for endangered species. 

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"I am extreamely grateful to be able to help spread the mission of TBFF and the community they are building. I look forward to seeing first hand the incredible impact this organization has and will continue to make." -Mark Walker

 

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Marc Loi

Volunteer Coordinator​

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Marc is a strategic communications manager for the Department of Defense who spent nearly 20 years in the Army, including time supporting the Afghan Evacuation Mission at Middle Eastern refugee camps. He came to America as a young child and sees in refugee children versions of his younger self. He remembers the challenges he faced as a child - and the people who mentored and loved him - and wants to ensure the children the Black Feather Foundation serves get the same opportunities to grow up healthy, happy, and confident like he did. 

The Black Feather Foundation is a 501c(3) charitable tax exempt organization est. 2021.

EIN:87-4037646

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