Top 30 Volunteer Leaderboard 2025
1
Mihai Lehene
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
Founder, Romanian United Foundation
Founder
Volunteer (full)
Teacher
Mihai is the Owner of MDL Investments, a real-estate and VC family-office with a focus on emerging technologies, including fintech, biotech and crypto. In 2020 Mihai resigned his business roles to run RUF, and in 2022 he was elected as President of FORA.
2
Finance professional with more than 12 years of experience in sustainable/impact investment
3
Flaviu Simihaian
Board of Advisors
RUF Angel
Founding Angel, Health Tech Co-founder, New York City
Volunteer
Flaviu is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Amplicare, a software platform for pharmacies to help patients afford their medications. Originally from Nasaud, Romania, Flaviu is passionate about social impact, volunteering, and mentorship.
4
Adriana Trandafirescu
Board of Advisors
RUF Angel
Education | Law | Mindset | Self-Realization
Volunteer
Adriana Trandafirescu is a multifaceted professional based in New York City with a diverse background spanning law, psychology, education, and personal development.
5
Hi, I'm Matei Busu and I'm the President of RUF Youth 2025 and co-leader of RUF's Youth Data Team. Currently, I'm a senior at Maine South, and in the past I've helped co-lead classes in programming and finance at RUF. I'm a huge Chicago sports fan.
6
Hi, I’m Ana Guset, President of the Romanian Youth Board and Romanian Dance Club at Northside College Prep. I participated in a business internship with ROCO Biz. I am passionate about empowering young Romanian-Americans to embrace their heritage.
7
Karina Ghete
Volunteer
8
Bianca Zamfirescu
Volunteer
9
Hello! I attend Lane Tech College Prep as a Senior. I am driven to preserving my Romanian Heritage through involvement in my local community.
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Graduated from UIC, College of Business, with a degree in finance and works as a Digital Manager at Mainland. Fun facts: prefers a camera, unable to make a choice between hiking a mountain or walking in the sand, an incurable optimist.
12
Diana Gini serves as Chief Growth Officer at RUF, where she is deeply committed to strengthening the Romanian diaspora community. She is also a Founding Angel and RUF Ambassador to Madrid for the organization.
13
Simona Oarga assists taxpayers and small businesses with taxes in Chicago IL and the surrounding communities. Whether you are an individual or a local business in or around Chicago IL, Simona C. Oarga has years of valuable experience as an IRS registered
14
MSW from Washington University in St. Louis, firm believer in the importance of building a strong Romanian community to enrich the lives of individuals, their families, and society as a whole. Currently volunteers as Founding Angels Liaison for RUF
15
Camelia Bratu
Founding Angel
ROCO Biz
Las Vegas RUF Chapter Lead; Clinical Research Professional
Volunteer
A clinical research professional in Las Vegas, Camelia is passionate about uniting the first-generation Romanian community, and dedicated to promoting cultural projects like Via Transilvanica and fostering community connections.
16
Originally from Romania, I relocated to the US in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Currently, I serve as the administrative expert at RUF, where I handle all accounting and administrative issues. I have a passion for teaching young children.
17
I am a dedicated member of the Romanian United Foundation (RUF) Core Team, I'm serving as the "Trips to Romania" Program Manager. Born and raised in Romania, I immigrated to the United States in 2006 at the age of 23.
At RUF, I coordinate annual Trips to
18
Monica Horga
Member
Founding Member, Ambassador of RoCo, Supporter of RoCo
Founding Member
Volunteer
19
Miruna Zamfirescu
Founding Angel
Founding Member, Reporting Officer, VP of Fundraising
Founding Member
Volunteer
Originally from Bistrita, Miruna earned her BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has built her career in the financial markets as an algorithmic trader/quantitative analyst.
20
Since she moved to Chicago, Gabi’s Romanian roots became stronger. She believes in community and giving back and wants her children to be proud Romanians. She’s been a passionate teacher of Italian for over 25 years.
21
Valentin Daraban
Founding Angel
Founding Angel, Ambassador of the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Volunteer
22
Anamaria Neamt
Founding Member, Word Whisperer (Newsletter), Supporter of the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Founding Member
Volunteer
“Don’t Panic” (aka Douglas Adams’ version of today’s “stay calm”)
Born with an affinity for numbers and words in a family of educators. My journey: music school, writing club, math, economics, and, closing the circle, teaching. Going back to the roots se
23
Oana is the Executive Director of ROCO. Prior to this role, she was one of the most active volunteers. She believes in the strength of our community, in doing good things, and in leaving something worthwhile behind.
24
Cosmina has a Master Degree in Economics from University of Targu Mures. She is the RUF office wizard, handling all accounting and administrative issues. She moved to Chicago from Romania more than a decade ago and she is passionate about helping people.
25
I have been living in Amsterdam, Netherlands for 15 years. I have experience in the hospitality industry and Human Resources Specialist. I collaborate with Rompro Foundation Netherlands, RoBoost Romania and RUF. My passion is organizing events and fairs.
27
Simona Haiduc
Board of Directors
RUF Angel
Senior Vice President International Business Development, Opportunity International
Volunteer
Simona is a professional with extensive experience in international business development and strategic partnerships. She has been dedicated to helping people in need for over 20 years, driven by her belief in the power of transformation.
28
Ligia Apostoaia
Board of Directors
RUF Angel
Secretary of the Board, CEO of MDL Investments
Founding Member
Volunteer
Teacher
Ligia’s charity involvement began at a very young age, helping her family foundation with the distribution of humanitarian aid to the families in need in the area immediately. Today she continues to do what she is most passionate about: doing good.
29
Gabriela Cosma
Member
Program Coordinator "Learn Romanian", Supporter of ROCO, the Romanian Community Center
Volunteer
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Masters of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University. She taught Science, Social Studies, and English as a Second Language to refugees from the Middle East in public school
30
Luminita (“Lumi”) Ispas has been an award-winning top producer, an effective team leader, and a successful real estate investor & developer for more than 20 years.