Board of Directors

Lee Rush- Ex-Officio Director
Lee is the founder of justCommunity, Inc. and has served as its Executive Director since the organization’s inception in 1999. He served in senior management positions from 1986 to 1999 as the Director of Human Resources for LifeQuest, a mid-size company specializing in senior healthcare services and as Executive Director of LifeQuest Foundation. He held various positions as an administrator, counselor and teacher in an alternative school and day-treatment setting from 1979 to 1986. Lee graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Temple University where he earned a Masters of Education Degree. Lee served as the Executive Director of the National Student Assistance Association (NSAA) from 1995 to 2008. NSAA is the country’s sole advocacy organization devoted solely to enhancing the development of Student Assistance Programs throughout the United States. Lee and his wife have one child and live in Perkasie, PA.

Teresa Gallagher- President
For twelve years, Teresa Gallagher was employed at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lehigh Valley, PA. She developed and oversaw mentoring programs for at-risk youth. Most recently, she worked for Pinebrook Services for Children and Youth where Teresa supervised the tutoring program and coordinated internships. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Shippensburg University and has 17 years of experience in volunteer management and providing mentoring services. Teresa is married with two boys and has lived in Quakertown since 1993.

Alex Londino – Vice President
Alex is a charter board member of  justCommunity and is a long time businessman and civic volunteer.  Alex is the owner of Visionetics, a full service company specializing in eye care and hearing loss located in Quakertown, PA.  He is also the President of LifeQuest Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the charitable mission of LifeQuest, a senior services company specializing in long-term nursing care and adult and child daycare.  For many years, Alex served on the board of directors for St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital.   In 2002, Alex was awarded the Community Service Award from the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition.  Alex is married with three children and two grandchildren and lives near Quakertown, PA.

Cheryl Swartley- Secretary
Cheryl Swartley is a Nursing Supervisor at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA. She has over 30 years experience in critical care and management positions. She is a member of the hospital’s Ethics Committee and Main Line Health’s “Smoke Free” initiative.”  She is a member of the Upper Bucks Healthy Çommunities Healthy Youth (UBHCHY) Steering Committee, and has been a member of the Pennridge HCHY Coalition since its inception in 2000.  In 2004, she was awarded Asset Champion of the year in her local community.  She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and resides with her husband in both Perkasie and Philadelphia, PA. They have two nieces and three nephews: the “children of their hearts.

Jane Rivera – Treasurer
Jane is a retired educator after serving over 30 years in the Pennridge School District as a Special Education Teacher and Reading Specialist. Jane served on her school’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) team for several years and has also served on the Hilltown Township Youth Aide Panel, a volunteer youth diversion program for juvenile offenders. She has been a past board member of the Deep Run Sports Association and is currently serving in the Meals on Wheels program and as a reader for the Reading For the Blind and Dylsexic program. Jane received her undergraduate degree from Wittenberg University and her Masters in Special Education from Antioch College. After retiring from full-time teaching in June of 2008, Jane has launched a second career as a Voice Over Specialist. She is married with two children and resides in Perkasie, PA.

Jan Jalenak- Director
Jan Jalenak moved from New York City to Bucks County in 2004. As a playwright, her plays have been produced in many theaters in New York City as well as in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Hawaii. Jan has written and directed for children and teens as well as adults. She is currently a playwright as well as the co-owner, with her husband, John Ordway, of Jules Thin Crust.  Jan is a graduate of New York University, a lifetime member of the Actors Studio and a member of Circle East Theatre Company. Jan and her husband John are also the proud parents of two daughters.

Mitzi Nevin
Mitzi brings a rich and diverse background in several disciplines and business sectors. During the first phase of her career, she established herself as an accomplished floral designer, graphic designer and painter. This eventually led to owning and operating an artist supply and craft store for several years in Upper Bucks.  More recently, Mitzi expanded her professional expertise to computer training and software instruction and to designing databases and Web sites for area companies. Mitzi is a member of the Upper Bucks Sertoma Club, and has been a member of its board since 1998, including serving as secretary.  She is a past member of Last Chance Ranch Equine Rescue, a non-profit organization based in Quakertown. Raised on Long Island, NY, Mitzi attended C.W. Post College, a branch of Long Island University. Mitzi is married with three grown children, and has resided in Quakertown since 1971.

Joyce Donigan
Joyce and her husband Douglas are co-pastors of First United Church of Christ in Quakertown.  For both, the ministry is a second career.  Joyce’s previous professional background was in public education, working first as  a paraprofessional in elementary and middle schools in the Baltimore area.  Her specialization was in re-teaching and remediation with underachieving students.  Upon relocating to the Lehigh Valley, Joyce returned to college and earned an A.A. from Northampton Community College, and B.A. and M.A. degrees from Lehigh University.  Her focus was sociology of education, and she soon became an educational consultant. Douglas and Joyce both felt the call to ministry and five years ago began seminary at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem.  They have been co-pastors at First Church since January 2009.  The couple has two sons, a daughter and two grandsons.

Beth Scholz
(more coming soon)