About Fresh and Green
Discover More About Fresh and GreenMuday Mitiku's Story
Founder of Friends of Fresh and Green Academy
The Academy
Learn More About The Fresh and Green Academy
Board of Directors
Meet The Team Who Make Things Happen
Trish Hack
Founder and President
Trish grew up in Las Vegas, NV and is now living on the big island in Hawaii. She has recently retired after a 35-year career as a flight attendant and has done numerous volunteer projects from summer camps for troubled teens to soup kitchens.
On a life-changing trip to Fresh and Green Academy in 2008, the school was in transition and dangerously low on funding. Trish saw the need for her help and expertise. Upon her return to the United States, she helped found Friends of Fresh and Green, Inc. As President and co-founder, Trish travels to the Academy several times a year and is the cornerstone of the organization. Thanks to her efforts, the school and Mothers’ Cooperative continue to thrive.
“I have been so very blessed with amazing family, friends, and experiences. I feel it is my purpose in life to help where I can, and after being with the children of Fresh and Green Academy, I know it is my calling to do all I can to help them.”

Neil Jones
Executive Officer
Neil was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and recently retired after 31 years as Captain with Air Canada. His varied career includes running an Engineering Design and Consulting firm for the last 21 years as well as dabbling in Physics and Astronomy at York University.
Having met Trish Hack-Rubinstein by chance, he was in New York playing at the Casino Night a month later, and at the school in Addis Ababa a month after that. Seeing an opportunity to help, he was quickly involved in the website, campaigning and organizing fundraisers and has since attended several events geared towards spreading the word amongst the Ethiopian dispora in North America. He and a diverse team have established a parallel registered charity, Canadian Friends of Fresh and Green Academy, to better serve the many Canadian donors to the cause.
“I can only describe my experience in meeting Muday and the children of Fresh and Green Academy as it was reflected in my two daughters’ eyes when we went again 3 months later. What a worthy cause this is to bring a future to children who had little hope to even survive. I am glad to be a part of Muday and Trish’s vision.”


Christopher Loreck
Executive Officer
Christopher is originally from Boston, and now resides in San Francisco, CA. He is currently enrolled at American University’s School of International Service to get his Master’s in IR, while also working at Salesforce.org as a Solution Engineer. Prior to starting in his current role, Christopher worked in government consulting where he served on the leadership committee for the Middle East and North Africa to Booz Allen Hamilton, while also working with NGOs in the region providing pro-bono consultancy around youth development and empowerment with technology.
Christopher learned about Fresh & Green Academy from his work at Salesforce, a generous man working for a generous customer resource management business. He immediately used his company-sponsored volunteer time to visit the school and was an immediate hit with the kids. He gained valuable insight into the challenges these kids face and an appreciation for Ethiopian culture and history.
He brings a wealth of technical knowledge and energy to our board.