Joseph is one of the founders of the Fuel For Truth movement. Mr. Richards is not only on the Board of Directors, but serves as Executive Director of Fuel For Truth where he oversees the development of the organization in New York and worldwide.

Being the grandson of Holocaust survivors and the son of parents who were raised in a concentration camp after the war, Joseph was always proud to be come from tough Jews who fought their way through Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and post World War II. Even with a background, Joseph grew uninterested in connecting to Judaism or Israel.

On September 11, 2001, Joseph lost 6 childhood friends; one of them being his closest friend Taimour Khan. Taimour, born in Pakistan and raised Muslim, gave Joseph an insight into another part of the world most Jews do not experience. His loss motivates Joseph and his work in Fuel For Truth to this very day.

Joseph volunteered (as did all the founders) for three years and served as the first chairman for the “Old Skool” Campus Program instituting a method devised by the Chairman and co-founder of Fuel For Truth, Jon Loew, to reach out and inform detached, unaffiliated students on campus. Mr. Richards was asked in 2004 to become Fuel For Truth’s first full-time employee.

Prior to dedicating himself to the growth of Fuel For Truth, Joseph was in the entertainment industry for the past eleven years, producing feature films, award-winning commercials, and live events such as The Tribeca Film Festival.

Joseph competed with the Division I wrestling team at Syracuse University before transferring to New York University to pursue his degree in Mass Media and Communications. Joseph graduated with honors and began his career with MTV Networks in the Music New department at VH1. In 2003, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, selected Joseph among 33 participants from around the world, to be trained in Jerusalem at the Young Jewish Leadership Diplomatic Seminar.

Katherina Guttman is Fuel For Truth's second full-time employee. As Director of Operations, Katherina oversees day-to-day operations such as the highly popular Old Skool Campus Program and the Membership Boot Camp Program. Ms. Guttman was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1979. She moved to Staten Island with her parents and two sisters.

Katherina is the first female in the United States to complete the Instructor's course of Krav Maga in Netanya, Israel with Grand Master Haim Gidon. Krav Maga (Hebrew for "contact combat") is the official fighting system of the Israeli army.

While visiting Israel in 2004 on a birthright Israel trip, Katherina was recommended by her peer staff guide to attend a Fuel For Truth event in NY. Following the event, Katherina volunteered for the Old Skool Campus Program and 6 months later she was advocating on behalf of Israel at universities with Fuel For Truth.

In the Fall of 2005, Ms. Guttman was accepted into Fuel For Truth's fist Membership Boot Camp Program, a 10-week program educating select individuals about Israel and the function Fuel For Truth has to the community. Upon graduating at the top of her Boot Camp Class, Katherina was appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Old Skool Campus Program. Six months later, Katherina was asked to join Fuel For Truth full-time.

Katherina comes from the fitness management industry, working with the Trump Organization before leaping into the non-profit world. Ms. Guttman received her B.A. in Corporate Communications from Framingham State College, '02, where she graduated summa cum laude. During college Katherina played varsity volleyball, worked as a Student Academic Representative (SAR), taught several fitness classes in the athletic center, and coached two Massachusetts high school gymnastics teams. Her vast background in gymnastics and self-defense has taught her to be both flexible and tough in mind and body.

Katherina's inspiration comes from being the granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors who taught her to be proud of who she is and where she comes from. Her current source of inspiration is the hundreds of volunteers who remind her that only WE control where we are going.

Meredith Weiss, a native New Yorker, brings to Fuel For Truth, her skills, experience and knowledge about Israel and the Jewish community, at large. As the former National Director of Coalition for Jewish Concerns based in Riverdale, New York and the Founder of the Jewish Educators Network, Meredith has been heavily involved in the business, social, organizational and political aspects of Israel activism and Jewish life.

Some of her creative efforts include Operation Apples & Honey, in which she arranged for the 600 American Jewish military personnel serving in Iraq and Kuwait to enjoy High Holiday meals, special gifts and the use of proper Torah scrolls for holiday prayers . Meredith was also responsible for Operation Warm Hearts, a project dedicated to providing hundreds of IDF soldiers with warm gear such as fleece vests, jackets and boots to wear throughout the winter months. She has also coordinated Pro-Israel events in communities all over North America.

At age 12, Meredith joined the Betar Zionist Youth Organization. She become a leader in the international youth movement and led numerous summer tours to Israel for American & Canadian teens and college students. Meredith spent the Gulf War volunteering in Northern Israel and also spent time studying at Tel Aviv University.

Having spent so much time in Israel in her growing up years, she learned, first hand, the difference between media "hype" about Israel and the truth about life in the Jewish homeland.

Meredith joined Fuel For Truth in February of 2005 as a volunteer on the Pitch Team, turned Fundraising and Development committee. Her experience, leadership and dedication were quickly noticed and she was appointed Director of Fundraising and Development in May of 2005. In February of 2009, Meredith became the first ever elected President. In addition to being on FFT's Board of Governors, Meredith has held a seat on Fuel For Truth Operating Committee for the last few years, where her input has contributed to the direction of the organization as a whole.

Meredith believes..."What can happen to one can happen to all", which is why she says, "I live 'Never Again', every single day of my life."

Todd Ingwer joined Fuel For Truth in the summer of 2008 as a member of the dalet bootcamp class. Born and raised on Long Island, Todd attended college at the University at Buffalo where he graduated in 2002 with a degree in business marketing. Profesionally, Todd spends his time as a jewelry designer and sales manager at Leo Ingwer Inc. The same company his grandfather started more then 70 years ago.

After returning from his first trip to israel in 2006, it became clear to Todd that Israel is losing the battle of public perception throughout the world and feels Fuel For Truth gives him and other young people the best opportunitty to change that battlefield. After joining Fuel For Truth, he was quickly put to work as a fundraising manager. As the executive volunteer Todd aims to ask members and non members alike, to get educated, ask questions and get involved in Israel's battle for survival.

Andrew first became involved in Fuel For Truth when he attended the Spotlight event in Times Square, after being invited by his friend and current member Vlad Averbukh. After hearing what the organization was about, Andrew signed up to be a candidate for the upcoming Boot Camp program. Upon completion of the program, Andrew hit the ground running as a full time member. He immediately jumped on to the Events Committee, helping to put together the most successful event to date, "Arm Yourself" at Mansion. Leading up to the event, Andrew dedicated several hours a week to promoting the event, planning its execution, and moving over 50 tickets. Andrew became a Boot Camp manager soon after, helping the committee lead the next group of Israel advocates to full time membership into Fuel For Truth.

Andrew has lived his entire life in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, where he still resides today. The idea of advocating for Israel and the Jewish people was introduced to Andrew at a young age. His father was a tireless volunteer working for several Jewish advocacy groups, such as the Jewish Action Alliance, where he was their Man of the Year in 1994. When Andrew was 9 years old, his father took him around Brooklyn petitioning for civil rights charges to be brought against the murderer of Yankel Rosenbaum, an innocent rabbinical student who was killed during the offset of the Crown Heights riots. His mother was no slouch either, having battled anti-Semitism within the workplace, and regularly donating to the IDF.

Andrew continued on this path while earning his degree at Brooklyn College. He joined the national Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, leading his chapter in several philanthropic causes, such as raising thousands of dollars for Magen David Adom. Andrew also worked with his local Hillel and Chabad organizations, and worked as a counselor for the mentally and physically disabled in the Jewish non-profit sector.

Andrew currently works as a team coordinator for a corporate travel agency. He is a martial arts practitioner, having trained in both Krav Maga and mixed martial arts. Having been selected as the organization's first Security Chair, it is his hope that he can maintain order and resolve problems efficiently when they arise. By keeping the peace at Fuel For Truth events, the organization will continue to grow in numbers and spread its message.

Alexa is from Merrick, Long Island. She graduated in 2008 from Hofstra University with a degree in Public Relations. She currently works for Publicis Consultants PR.

Alexa was introduced to Fuel for Truth by her neighbor, founder, and Chairman, Jon Loew. After attending her first Mega Event Alexa felt a call to action.

After graduating top in her Boot Camp class Alexa went on to Vice-Chair the Old Skool committee and became the Operating Committee Secretary. Alexa is currently the Chair of Boot Camp.

Alexa is Fuel For Truth's youngest member. She wanted to become a part of Fuel For Truth's because of it's amazing opportunities to reach out to a young demographic that is not missed. The ability to socialize with young-minded individuals while making a different is what sets Fuel For Truth apart. She was drawn to the close nature of the group and the influence that gorup has.

Alexa's hope is to not only raise awareness about Israel, but to actively engage her demographic in though with the aim to make a change in the world in which we live.

Vlad first became involved with Fuel For Truth in July 2004 after attending a social/educational event. To Vlad, Israel is on the front line fighting a war waged against our civilization, anything he could do to support Israel, even if it means giving a few hours of his time, was appealing.

Vlad’s web expertise was a natural fit for him in FFT as he started getting involved in web technologies at the age of 16. Having graduated Baruch College with a degree in Computer Systems, Vlad pursued a career in the web industry. These days he works full-time as a Web/Intranet manager, in addition to freelancing as a web consultant.

Growing up in the former Soviet Union, Vlad was never involved in Judaism. This however did not stop him from identifying himself as Jewish as the Soviet system made assimilation difficult, even for the most secular. He was fascinated with world events, and Israeli-Arab conflict was a subject one could not escape. Upon coming to America as a teen, he discovered his Jewish roots were no longer on obstacle in his life, but his interest in discovering Judaism never developed. It was not until Vlad’s first trip to Israel in 2004 with birthright israel that he realized just how fragile the existence of the Jewish people is. Unless Jews actively contribute to its survival, both Israel and the Jewish people may not be around for long. Vlad says, “For many Jews these days, the existence of the state of Israel is our only connection to Judaism. If we care about the continuity of our people, it is up to us Jews to let the world know about the plight of Israel and what is at stake for all of civilization in this fight.”

Vlad believes the key is to get Fuel For Truth’s message out before the other side gives their distorted version. For him, Fuel For Truth is the perfect vehicle to get this message out. As Web Chair, he hopes to spread the organization’s message online and do all he can to contribute to FFT’s continued success.

Samantha grew up in Long Island's 5 Towns and after went to Johnson & Wales University. She currently attends Hofstra University, School of Law where she is a first year student.

Samantha was introduced to Fuel for Truth in June of 2007 right before she went on her birthright trip. After coming back from Israel Samantha decided she wanted to do more. She went through Fuel for Truth's Membership Boot Camp Program in 2007.

In 2007, she was elected to be the Online Manager of the Old Skool committee. After traveling to SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Binghamton, Northwestern University, Columbia University, Syracuse University and Wisconsin University. After seeing how Old Skool was run she decided to run for Old Skool Chair.

Samantha's mission while Old Skool chair is to educate the students across this country about what's going on in Israel because they are not receiving the education from the media. If the only way young adults in America are going to learn about Israel is through campus programs, Samantha will continue to be a presence on college campuses.

At a friends' invitation in the summer of 2006 Lance Laytner stepped into the exclusive nightclub SOL to see an event provocatively titled "FIGHT NIGHT: FFT vs. Hamas." Laytner was hooked by the power of and importance of the message and has been an avid Fuel For Truth supporter ever since.

Coupling the advocacy skills he learned in Fuel For Truth's Boot Camp training program with his own background in international media and public relations, Lance Laytner first became Assistant Editor for FFT's News Letter, then went on to become the first chair of the Communication Committee, a position he helped pioneer and has served in for the last 3 years.

Lance Laytner is continually excited by the great work of his colleagues in Fuel For Truth and is proud to serve the organization and the cause of Israel with his unique skill set.

While still a student at New York University, Laytner began his decade long career as an international journalist with articles regularly featured in top publications within 38 countries. Upon graduating from NYU in 2000, he went on to become a partner in Edit International, an AP style news agency reaching outlets in 42 countries.

In 2008 - after years of covering terrorism, torture and war - Laytner founded his own news agency, Meritum Media, and a PR Firm, Public Good Relations. Both companies pursue not only the finest journalistic standards, but seek to use all the tools of media savvy to shine the spotlight on people, causes, and corporations that are making a positive difference.

Laytner's goal for FFT? To see the organization reach an ever wider audience in both the press and amongst young people. No organization has a more positive impact.

Candice is a graduate of University of Miami School of Law where she co-founded the Real Estate, Trust and Probate Law Society and organized the First Annual Diversity Event sponsored by twelve organizations. She completed her undergraduate degree at New York University where she received a BA in Politics. During law school, she was Judicial Intern to the Honorable Shelby Highsmith of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and spent several months in Jerusalem, Israel as Judicial Intern to the Honorable Steven Adler, President of the National Labour Court. Candice is a corporate attorney specializing in United States fund formation but spends the bulk of her time volunteering for various non-for-profit organizations supporting Israel and her diverse culture and heritage.