Our story.
Feed The Hunger Fund feeds your capacity to accomplish what matters most to you. By working hand-in-hand with funders and borrowers in Hawaii and California, we are creating a world where access to opportunity and capital feed greater food equity, security and sustainability.
We believe everyone has a place at a diverse and bountiful table – farmers, growers, cooks, cultivators, and creators prosper through connection and shared culture – working in partnership to transform communities.
Meet our Board of Directors.
Mark Murakami (Board Chair)
Mark is a partner in Carlsmith Ball LLP’s Honolulu office and is a member of the Real Estate, Land Use & Hospitality Practice Group. He also serves as a board member of the Better Business Bureau Foundation of Hawai‘i, and is a member of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association.
Maria Soledad Teh (Vice Chair)
Maria is Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager for Wells Fargo’s Inland Empire Regional Commercial Banking Office in Ontario, CA. Sol managed a credit underwriting team for the Community Banking Real Estate Group of Wells Fargo. She is also Co-Chair of the Women on the Move network.
Eunice Azzani
Eunice is the Founder and Partner of Azzani Search Consultants. She serves on the boards of City College Foundation, SFWorks, and YMCA of San Francisco. She received the “Women Who Make a Difference Award” from the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women.
Philip Bacchus
Phil is SVP & Treasurer of American Savings Bank in Hawaii, where he leads the firm’s capital markets and balance sheet management functions. He is passionate about contributing to the wellbeing of his community and learning about the unique challenges and opportunities of island economies. Phil has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He also has an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a Global Executive Masters from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. Phil grew up splitting time between Long Island, New York and the island of St. Vincent in the Eastern Caribbean. He enjoys SCUBA diving, hiking, sailing, skiing, basketball, and island life.
Puanani Burgess (Emeritus Board Member)
Puanani was named one of Hawaii’s Living Treasures in 2009. She is noted for family and values-based economic development, mediation and storytelling processes as part of conflict transformation. She has been a lead facilitator and trainer for The Center for Pacific American Women’s Leadership since 1997.
Leticia Corona
Leticia Corona is driven by pride in her family and Mexican culture alongside her embrace of innovation and sustainability. In her current position, as the Central California Regional Lead Advisor for the Office of the Small Business Advocate within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Leticia leads strategy development for the state of California’s small business ecosystem. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her master’s degree in International Relations from the University of San Diego
Brett Melone
Brett is Director of Lending with California FarmLink, making loans to farmers across California. His passion for a more sustainable food ecosystem comes alive in his role teaching sustainable agriculture at the Monterey Institute. He served as Executive Director of Friends of MarViva Foundation and Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALABA).
Vivian Pham (Treasurer)
Vivian recently moved to Hawaii to become the Enterprise Projects Manager for American Savings Bank after serving in many key roles at Wells Fargo. She is the Chair of the Lending Committee for Feed The Hunger Foundation. She also founded and ran the board of CIELO – Community for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Opportunities.
meet Our Staff.
Patti Chang
Patti is CEO and co-founder of Feed The Hunger Fund. She has spent her entire career fighting for social justice. Some of her previous roles were: President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of California, President of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, and as Commissioner on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and on the San Francisco Commission on the Environment. Patti is originally from Hawaii and has deep roots in the islands and in California.
Aaron Ellis,
Director of Programs and Lending
Aaron’s experience spans impact investing and business development in agriculture, aquaculture, marine sciences, and conversation and restoration. He brings his unique knowledge of finance, people, and the land to his work on the ground in Hawaii.
Shanti Narasimham,
Chief Financial Officer, Consultant
Shanti has been FTHF’s chief financial officer for the last 6 years. She designs, implements, and manages financial systems, reports and strategic analysis, while working hand in hand to support the board and the loan officers. She holds a CPA in the State of New York.
Meche Sansores,
Senior Loan Officer - California
As loan officer, Meche assists our small business owners with business incubation, coaching, consulting and training in both English and Spanish. Meche is recognized for innovative programs empowering low-income immigrant Latinx throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Eric Bowman,
Loan Officer - Hawaii
Eric brings a diverse background in rural economic development to support small businesses on the neighbor islands. He is passionate about coaching owner-operators on financing, leadership, and growth.
Mike Canale,
Portfolio Manager
Mike comes to FTHF with years of experience working in different capacities for CDFIs in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to that, he worked with small businesses in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Mike is passionate about helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams and works tirelessly on their behalf.
Shandis Ching,
Business Development Specialist - Hawaii
Shandis works closely with Hawaii small business owners through the loan application process and continues to provide personalized support beyond. She has strong connections to Fiji, where her Father was born and raised.She is a passionate supporter and customer of many local small businesses, and a self-proclaimed foodie.
Juan Santiago,
Business Development Specialist - California
Juan is an indigenous Zapotec Dreamer in the Central Valley. He strives to ensure equitable access to loan capital for undeserved entrepreneurs by providing bilingual business development assistance and financial literacy. His experiences as a restaurant owner prior to joining Fund allow him to understand the needs of our target market borrowers. Juan enjoys visiting our food-trucks vendors to try their street-food.
