Meet The Organization

The Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC) was officially registered as a 501(c)3, non-profit organization in 2006 with the Federal Government as well as Washington State.  

Our mission is to lift up Nepalese people living with disabilities and those that are disadvantaged so they can achieve their full potential.

We envision Nepal as a society that fosters dignity and hope for disadvantaged people and people living with disabilities, by providing them with the support they need to become productive, independent citizens.

We believe that all people left behind in life deserve a chance to achieve their dreams. TRIFC brings much-needed resources and hope to disadvantaged people and people living with disabilities in Nepal.

Have you ever wondered why your life took a certain path, for good or for bad?

Rob Rose, the founder of TRIFC, wonders that every day. In 1997, he made a fateful trip to Nepal as a volunteer photographer with the Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF), which provides help to needy children in Kathmandu. It was a big decision that would set in motion a cascade of events that changed his life path and the lives of thousands of others in Nepal – for the good!

It was on that maiden journey that Rob met some remarkable people that would go on to play a crucial role in his future. One was Nirmala Gyawali, a 15-year-old student who happened to be blind. Rob was struck with not only how capable she was, but also how she seemed to thrive in her environment despite her lack of vision, the negative social stigma associated with being blind, and the lack of proper support services. He was also introduced to Mr. Rabendra Raj Pandey, aka R.R., who turned out to be a like-minded Nepali. The two men quickly bonded over the fact they were both Rotarians and shared a passion to help those in need.

When Rob returned home to Bellevue, Washington, he couldn’t help but reflect on how the trip had fundamentally changed him. He realized he wanted to do more than volunteer and take photographs; he wanted to make a positive change. And so, with his new friend R.R., he began to consider a new life path – helping children in Nepal.

Their first project was a boy’s orphanage in Kathmandu where the children were constantly getting sick. Further investigation revealed the children were contracting water-borne illnesses from a water source contaminated by a drainage problem. The two men sprang into action.

With the help of the Patan Rotary Club, they were able to raise $14,000 to fix the drainage problem and significantly decrease the cases of water-borne illnesses during the rainy season. But they wanted to do more – especially for individuals with developmental disabilities. Since that first project, they have hosted and organized a series of successful fundraising campaigns and projects through Rotary matching grants. They focused their efforts on individuals with disabilities. By 2006, the scope of their efforts had grown considerably, and they were ready to embark on bigger challenges.

Leadership


Robert Rose

Executive Director, President

A quote that describes me:

“I never want to get to the finish line and say I could have done more”

– Lindsey Vonn, Olympic Downhill Skier

Back in 1974 at the age of 16, I was a Rotary Club exchange student and spent my junior year of high school in Calcutta, India attending school and traveling throughout the country. This experience gave me a broader world perspective and the understanding that there are so many people in need throughout the developing world.

Many years later, I read an article in my local newspaper about the difficult lives of children in Nepal. I made a phone call to volunteer as a photographer to help out a nonprofit organization based in California that was providing assistance to many children in Nepal. That one call back in 1997 started a cascade of events that has led to a volunteer odyssey spanning twenty years, including the formation of The Rose International Fund for Childrenǯ (TRIFC) and the launch of our Nepal partner organization, The Ability Development Society of Nepaldz (ADSoN). TRIFC & ADSoN are now directly impacting 500 Nepali children and adults with disabilities with their programs.

I have been an active member of the Bellevue Rotary Club since 1985 and have helped coordinate almost $2 Million in Rotary projects in Nepal culminating with the Rotary USA/Nepal Disability Awareness Campaign from 2008-2012. I was the co-chair of the Inspiration Playground project in Bellevue, Washington, a playground for children of all abilities that opened in 2017. I’ve been awarded numerous Rotary International Awards over the years including District 5030 Rotarian of the year, Rotary Club of Bellevue Rotarian of the Year (twice), Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award, and Rotary International’s Zone 24/25 ‘Rotary Alumni Global Service Award’.

I believe if we have the ability to help, then we have a responsibility to those who are less fortunate. I’m very curious as to why I was plunked down to grow up in a nice middle-class family while so many others in the developing world struggle with the most basic of needs. This is what continues to motivate me and hopefully inspire others to begin their journey of service to those in need.

I have also been the owner of Brant Photographers, a portrait studio in Bellevue, Washington since 1985, taking over the business from my parents, Ken and Arlene Rose. My wife Gina and I work together closely on project coordination. We have three sons: Aaron, Richard, and Carey.

Rose Stevens

Board Chair

A quote that describes me:

“You do not write your life with words…You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.” 

– Patrick Ness “A Monster Calls”

Rose Stevens joined the TRIFC Board of Directors in 2011. Rose is the Founder and President of RMS Financial Services Incorporated, guiding families to achievement of their financial and life goals for over 26 years.
Rose developed and implemented TRIFC’s first handicraft program. The Deaf Women’s Empowerment Group embroidered designs on handmade lokta paper creating 5×7 greeting cards which were marketed in both Nepal and the USA. Further training provided the skills needed to stitch washable reusable sanitary products which were distributed to girls and women with disability. With the belief that we all have gifts and talents to share, she empowers others to live their dreams.

Rose is the Past President of Lakewood Rotary, in Lakewood WA, and has also serves as The World Service Committee Chair. She has provided oversight and implemented 100’s of Rotary Grants in Nepal, India, and other countries. She was instrumental in bringing a Rotary Russian Peace Exchange to Lakewood, building relationships among the people of both countries. She is a Rotary International Major Donor and Paul Harris Fellow. She was named Lakewood Rotarian of the Year 21-22. The World Community Service Committee, under her leadership, was awarded the Olson Foundation International Award for Rotary zones 21-22 acknowledging their efforts as the number one club in Rotary District 5020, which is comprised of 94 Clubs. She has developed relationships with other Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts to bring larger, more meaningful projects thus increasing the long-term impact of each project.

Rose developed and implemented a ‘Sponsor a Girl’ program at the Girls Home in Lviv, Ukraine. Traveling back and forth annually for over 10 years she not only provided funding but also shipped goods and services for these young girls in need. The story of each girl is unique but also with similarities as they encompass all aspects of the human condition.

Rose also served as Vice-Chairperson 2000-2010 with Kindness in Action non-profit organization promoting children’s education and health throughout the world. The projects were focused and located in Tiruchirappalli, Mumbai, and Kolkata, India. Other projects were in Ukraine, Mexico, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

Rose volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for many years in Escondidio, CA and Tacoma, WA. She served on the Family Selection Committee for over 10 yrs. She was a Family Partner for a Ukrainian family when they received their home. She was a Global Village Team leader to Fiji and was a participant in two other trips.

Rose was born and raised on a farm in Schenevus, New York (a small town in upstate NY) and had a dream of making a difference in the world. She is amazed that the inner small voice of an 11-year-old has manifested itself into a life today which allows her to benefit the lives of many others. By acknowledging our interconnectedness in all interactions, she strives to share that we are all ONE people, promoting understanding and acceptance of ALL peoples.

I believe if we have the ability to help, then we have a responsibility to those who are less fortunate. I’m very curious as to why I was plunked down to grow up in a nice middle-class family while so many others in the developing world struggle with the most basic of needs. This is what continues to motivate me and hopefully inspire others to begin their journey of service to those in need.

Rob Rose

David Laub
Treasurer

David Laub

I joined The Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC) to make this a better world
to live in by improving the life of one child at a time. While there are many different non-profit organizations in the U.S. and the world, I wanted to work with an organization whose board makes a difference every day. The staff of TRIFC are passionate about improving the lives of differently abled children in Nepal.

After visiting Nepal in 2019 and seeing TRIFC’s projects, I was inspired to join the board. The TRIFC staff and volunteers in Nepal are improving the lives of
children every day. One child I spent a lot of time with had cerebral palsy and was unable to walk or talk three years ago. I watched this child run up a hill and yell for me to catch up with her. We laughed, we played, we had fun and we enjoyed being
together. TRIFC made this happen by getting this child into the appropriate school
and the right physical therapy for her needs. Was it easy? No. But it changed her life
for the better.

David is the Chief Financial Officer for CS Insights Inc. and the Chief Financial Officer
for Pacific Northwest Fisheries. He is the Strategic Financial Consultant for CFO
Selections LLC.

David is a member of Bellevue Rotary Club and has served as Club President, as Foundation Chairperson, and on their Board of Directors.


Tom Miller
Secretary

Tom Miller

Tom Miller is the former owner and CEO of an aerospace manufacturing company in Redmond. Tom has a long history of service to others including living and teaching in Cameroon as a Peace Corps volunteer, a former member of Bellevue BreakfastRotary club, and various non-profit board positions for organizations servicing the disabled including Elder and Adult Day Services(Bellevue) and Easterseals of Washington. Tom grew up in the midwest and came to Seattle from Minnesota for a tech/telecom startup in 2000 where he met his wife Michele.

Although Tom is still looking forward to his first visit to Nepal, he has lived, worked, and traveled extensively throughout many other countries in the region. Tom enjoys travel, scuba diving, and hanging with his 4-year-old son and family.


Armen Stein
Director

Armen Stein

Armen Stein is the founder and president of J Street Technology, a team of software developers with expertise in designing and building custom desktop and web applications for medium-large businesses. When companies need to track information more efficiently or are struggling with spreadsheets or paper records, they call J Street. Armen is a Microsoft MVP and has spoken at technical conferences around the world. His other interests include travel, photography, Kauai, backgammon, movies and driving his 1969 Ford Bronco in the sun.

Armen has a strong interest in supporting people with disabilities in Nepal and has traveled to Nepal with TRIFC in 2018 and 2019.


Sangeeta Ranjit
Director

Sangeeta Ranjit

I was born into a middle-class family in Kathmandu, Nepal. My parents had 5 children – 4 girls and a boy. My parents never thought of their girl children in any way less than their sons. I, therefore, was fortunate to get an equal opportunity to go to the best school in Nepal, pursue an engineering undergraduate degree in India and then come to the United States for higher studies. However, as I grew up in Kathmandu, I also witnessed how women were discriminated against in society. Discrimination came in various forms, starting early in a girl’s life and continuing through her life ahead. Girls did not get the same educational opportunities as boys because they were to be married into another family. Prevalent norms in society viewed them as someone else’s ‘property’.

Families instead prioritized investing their limited financial resources in a boy’s education who would remain in the family. Women who were fortunate to get an education and a job would not get the same opportunities as their male colleagues. The common perception was that a woman employee would want to go home early in order to take care of her family. Oftentimes, girls were not allowed to voice their opinions. Social norms dictated them to stay quiet because that was ‘their place’. A disabled girl faces far more challenges in such a social setup.

My life experiences have motivated me to invest in women’s empowerment. I am passionate about enabling women to be independent and productive members of society. We must enable them to get their voices back and earn an equal and respectful place in society. On a recent trip to Nepal, my father and I visited the Disabled Newlife Center, a house for children with disabilities in Kathmandu. Hearing their stories and aspirations humbled me. It strengthened my resolve to help those in need and in particular disadvantaged girls. Sangeeta was born and brought up in Kathmandu, Nepal. She has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from SDM College of Engineering and Technology in India. She moved to the United States in 1999 to pursue a master’s degree in Computer Science. Sangeeta joined Microsoft in 2000 as a Software Engineer in the Windows team and is currently a Senior Program Manager in the Azure engineering organization. While at Microsoft, she also got her MBA from Seattle University. Sangeeta lives in Seattle, WA, with her husband and her daughter.


Eric Postle
Director

Eric Postle

Eric is the Managing Principal for ITRA Global Seattle, a real estate firm representing corporate clients around the globe. Over the past 40 years, Eric has held many leadership positions in corporate real estate. He was the Founding Principal at NAI Puget Sound Properties and a Principal at Washington Partners. He has been President of the Washington State Chapter of the Society of Office and Industrial Realtors as well as the President of the Seattle Chapter of the International Facility Managers Association. Eric is a member of the Rotary Club of Bellevue and has served on the Board of Directors.

 


Kobid Dahal
Director

Kobid Dahal

Kobid Dahal joined the TRIFC Board of Directors in 2018. Born and raised in Nepal he
arrived in the USA as a student in 1997 obtaining his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. He earned an MBA from the University of Washington, Foster School of Business in 2007.

His professional career has been focused on non-profit healthcare organizations. As the Assistant Director of IT at the University of Washington Medicine, he leads the Software Development, Integration, and Collaboration effort for patient care, academics, and clinical research. Kobids’ professional interests are in strategy, innovation, and corporate social responsibility programs.

Kobid has a strong interest in supporting children with disabilities and underprivileged children in Nepal. He is working to improve their lives to allow them to live to their full potential. Kobid participates in the local community as a member of the Bellevue Rotary club in Bellevue, WA.


Chuck Doland
Director

Chuck Doland

A Seattle native, I settled in Bellevue when it was still a small town in the country and where I graduated Bellevue High School. A math and science nerd, I earned my Bachelor of Science in engineering and started work as an engineer designer at Boeing. My primary career was largely manufacturing including aerospace, electronics manufacturing, and material handling machinery.

My passions became kids, pleasure boating, civic engagement, and Rotary. I joined Bellevue Rotary Club in 1976 and associated with 95 community-engaged members.

I came to know Rob Rose through his father Ken and was impressed by his passion for the disadvantaged. I recall his focus on Nepal, and how through Rob’s work, our local club could multiply resources through the Rotary District and Rotary International. My wife Joyce and I attended Rotary International’s 100-year Centennial Convention in Chicago in 2005 when Rob Rose, founder of The Rose International Fund for Children was a featured speaker.

Rob opened my awareness about disability when he suggested I chair the “Partners for Work District Rotary Project” in 2009. Since than we have annually supported employment and engagement with students from the Bellevue School transition programs for students with developmental disabilities.

I have financially supported The Rose International Fund for Children over the years, and accepted when asked to join the board of directors. I have had the opportunity to visit Nepal and observed the impactful work of The Rose International Fund for Children in November, 2018.


Stephanie Moe
Director

Stephanie Moe

I try to make a habit of always saying “yes” to new experiences and opportunities in life. And I feel grateful every day for the amazing people I have met and the stories I have collected along the way.

In my previous life, I used my degrees in molecular biology and biochemistry to do cancer research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. But the lure of entrepreneurship led me to become a Real Estate Broker back in 2003. This very successful career change not only allowed me to steer my own ship but also opened up opportunities for me to explore many other interests and hobbies. As an avid outdoorswoman, I enjoy photography, mountaineering, canyoneering, climbing, racing triathlons & ultra-marathons, snowboarding, surfing, health & wellness coaching, and just being an all-around nature, health, and endurance junkie. Yeah, you could say I don’t sit still very well.

I can frequently be found adventuring around our Western states with my dog and a pile of outdoor gear in my camper van.

I first ventured to Nepal 20 years ago on a trip with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village Program. As someone who grew up a bit sheltered in North Dakota, this trip changed my life. It was eye-opening on so many levels and gave me a serious dose of perspective, along with a major case of wanderlust. I met Rose Stevens on that trip, which is how I was eventually introduced to Rob, Gina, and TRIFC back in 2011. That same year I founded a trekking program in Nepal to raise money and awareness for TRIFC which has been extremely rewarding on a deeply personal level for me.


Gina Rose

Gina Rose
Director

Gina Rose

It’s easy to provide resources, time, and in-kind goods to those who need assistance one time but it takes commitment and dedication for an organization with the purpose of changing the lives of children and adults marginalized by their society due to their disabilities through their lifetime. When TRIFC was founded, the commitment was to make sure that every child with a disability in Nepal has access to education, medical rehabilitation, and empowerment programs!

Gina has been Director and Secretary since its inception and managed social media communications, on-line fundraising and the annual Gala Dinner that began in 2006 raising $5000, growing to $140,000 raised in 2023. Her commitment to Nepal’s underserved is consistent with her principals of social justice and racial equity. She lives her principles and provides the TRIFC board with the expertise and guidance needed to move the organization to the next level!

Gina’s favorite quote is from Dr Seuss: “To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world!” Every person impacted by TRIFC’s programs is an individual to us.

Gina’s career spans 20 years in many corporate roles in digital marketing automation, project and program management on database development, systems integration, web data collection, real time targeting, identity, consent, and privacy. She recently pivoted to financial services providing financial literacy to those who have not benefited from generational wealth yet can develop their financial well-being.



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