Sara Blau is the Founder and President of Game Changers New York. She recognized both the tremendous need for sports equipment among children worldwide and the vast amount of gear that goes unused each year. Determined to bridge that gap, Sara created a system through which donated sports equipment is collected, sorted, and redistributed globally — with the help of dedicated volunteers, team members, and donors.
Sara earned her degree in Business Management from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where she was an International Studies Scholar in the College Park Scholars program. She was also deeply involved in the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship and the Do Good Institute.
While continuing to oversee GCNY’s growth and strategic partnerships, Sara works as an Analyst at Citibank in the Enterprise Services and Public Affairs group and is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson.
In her free time, Sara enjoys trying new workout classes, biking along the Hudson River, baking healthy desserts, and reading a good book on the beach.
Arun Puttanniah is a student at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, New Jersey. He is a member of the Boys’ Varsity Tennis team and an Eagle Scout. Arun is an active volunteer with his local Recreation Commission, including its Challenger Basketball program, where he coaches youth and young adults with special needs. Through this work, he promotes the joy, collaboration, and inclusivity that team sports offer.
Arun’s own positive experiences growing up in recreational sports programs inspired him to launch his own collection drives for new and gently used sports equipment. His goal is to increase access and equity in sports by helping underserved youth benefit from the opportunities that organized sports provide. Through this effort, he has gained a deeper understanding of both the importance of getting equipment to those in need and the logistical challenges involved in collection and distribution.
Now, Arun is focused on helping other volunteers efficiently connect with recipient organizations to ensure donated equipment reaches the right hands. He is passionate about Game Changers New York’s mission and is committed to using sports as a tool for impact. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun is also a diehard fan of the New York Giants and New York Knicks.
Isabella (Isa) Gosen is a bilingual first-year Master’s student in Columbia’s Sports Management program. Originally from Venezuela, she is driven by a passion for community, curiosity, and a strong desire to empower others, particularly through the transformative power of sport and education.
Her professional background spans a few years in advertising, where she’s led brand campaigns for clients like Google, Audi, and Más+ by Messi. Yet her passion lies beyond the traditional marketing path. She’s most energized by work that blends innovation, strategy, and social impact, whether through athlete empowerment, community building, or advancing women’s sports.
Isa has worked with nonprofits like Well Constructed and EngageDC. She also served as a summer camp counselor, leading programming and activities for large groups of children. She’s especially interested in opportunities where she can work hands-on with youth, support community outreach, or contribute to mission-aligned strategic planning.
She sees sport as a tool for connection and growth. Through Columbia, Isabella hopes to deepen her understanding of the sports ecosystem while exploring areas like entrepreneurship, innovation, sponsorship, and educational development.
Her long-term goal is to help shape the future of women’s sports by building programs, partnerships, and platforms that create access and visibility for both veteran athletes and the next generation of talent and fans. Volunteering with a nonprofit will enable her to make a meaningful contribution while continuing to align her career with her purpose.
Nate Zeff is a student at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey, where he plays baseball for both his school team and a competitive club program. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Nate has always looked for ways to channel his love for athletics into meaningful community impact. Even before discovering Game Changers New York, he was already sharing his passion by teaching neighborhood kids how to play baseball — an experience that inspired him to seek out more ways to give back. Through Game Changers, Nate has found the perfect opportunity to merge his dedication to sports with his commitment to helping others.
Ashley Shapiro is a sophomore at Irvington High School in Irvington, New York, with a lifelong love of sports. She is a dedicated Chicago sports fan who plays on both the Varsity Softball and Varsity Bowling teams. In addition to competing, Ashley volunteers as a coach and mentor through the Buddy Sports program, where she works with peers who have physical and developmental delays, fostering inclusion through soccer and basketball. She is proud to support Game Changers’ mission to expand access to sports for children in need, both locally and globally.
Rachel Brody recently retired from Accenture after a 30 year career as a management consultant in the North American Utilities industry. As a managing director, she was responsible for client accounts in the northeastern U.S. and spent almost a decade working with clients in Canada. Ms. Brody is a leader in process and technology optimization and managing transformational changes tied to large-scale system implementations. She also led Accenture’s Inclusion and Diversity initiatives within her operating unit for many years, and was part of the faculty for Accenture’s Women’s Leadership Development course for managers. Ms. Brody is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University with a B.A. in computer science. She lives in New York City with her family.
Ira Balsam was the Chief Financial Officer of Avenue Capital Group (“ACG”), one of the largest hedge funds in the country, from 2002 until he retired in 2011. He was responsible for all of the accounting, operational and financial activities of ACG supervising a group of over sixty professionals. Prior to joining ACG in 2002, Mr. Balsam was a Partner at Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP (“Goldstein”), where he focused on audit and tax advice primarily for hedge funds, institutional funds, and investment partnerships. Mr. Balsam also assisted in structuring limited partnership agreements and reviewed private placement memoranda for clients. Prior to joining Goldstein in 1992, Mr. Balsam was a Senior Accountant at Mahoney Cohen & Co., PC, where he advised clients on accounting and tax issues. He is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants where he has chaired a committee and several conferences and served on various other committees. Mr. Balsam received a B.S.in Accounting from the City University of New York, Brooklyn College (1988). He is also a CPA. He is currently the owner of The Cookie Outlet of Long Island (D/B/A Best Cookies & More) one of Long Island’s largest cookie distributors. He has served as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Schechter School of Long Island and Congregation Ohav Sholom. He has also served on many committees at UJA. He lives in Merrick with his wife Sheri and their three children.
