WHO
WE ARE
Board Members.
Board Members.
Gerald F. Szucs Ph.D
Presently, owner and President of MARSCare (In Home Program, Inc.) and Mid Atlantic Rehabilitation Services, Inc. Founder of both the Frankie’s World and the Szucs non- profit Foundations. After serving at Army Headquarters, held various executive level positions in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (known at the time as HEW) including Acting Assistant Secretary of Health (Executive Secretariat) for Secretary Matthews during the Ford Administration. Was former head of east coast operations (Region 3) of the Medicare/Medicaid certification program before forming his own business in 1984.
Richard J. Szucs
Director of Finance for MARSCare and Mid Atlantic Rehabilitation Services, Inc. After 32 years of service in the United States Air Force, retired with the rank of LtCol. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal. His Masters is in Operations Management from University of Arkansas
Conrad J. Weiler, Jr.
In 1970's and 1980's was very active in neighborhood organization in Queen Village, Philadelphia; testified to Congress several times in the 1970's on displacement and related neighborhood issues such as redlining and was the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's first consultant on displacement. Practiced zoning and general law in Philadelphia. Taught at Temple University from 1968 to 2020, in urban politics, housing, American and state and local government, public administration and especially Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties. Was Department Chair and head of Master of Public Administration program at Temple, as well as director of Acquisition and Contracting Program with US Military.
Paul E. MacDonald
Paul is the Chief Executive Officer of MARSCare Home Health Care and serves on the Board Of Directors Frankie's World Foundation Philadelphia, Pa. He is also a licensed psychologist and a founder of the Delaware Valley Tai Chi Teachers Association.
Alexandra N. Buczek
Alexandra has more than 17 years of experience in nonprofits, 13 of which have been in child welfare. Currently she manages the web-based initiatives of the Adoption Center. Prior to this, she worked in a variety of businesses in content production. She has served on the board of other nonprofits and cooperative business organizations. Alexandra holds a BS in physics from the University of Rhode Island, an MS in communications from Drexel University and an MBA in sustainable business from Green Mountain College. She is also a writer and a visual artist.
Ann Marie Melady
CPA, federally authorized tax-practitioner license empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Chief Financial Officer for Frankie’s World Medical Foundation. Previously, Senior Staff Accountant at F. X. Duffy & CO. .IATSE Union Member- ticket representative for all major Philadelphia venues. Ann Marie’s favored areas of charitable giving are special needs children, animal rescues, services for the visually impared, and services for the food insecure.
Tim Lawn
Tim has spent his 30-year legal career litigating complex injury and death cases. He is ranked #3 in the state in the 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers rankings and was selected by U.S. News & World Report's publication Best Lawyers in America© as the 2021 "Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation in Philadelphia. Tim has been inducted as a Fellow of both the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the American College of Trial Lawyers. Tim is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Dave Palmer Memorial Foundation, founded in 1992 after the passing-of-a-dear friend. In recognition of his professional accomplishments and commitment to his community, Tim was inducted into the Bishop-McDevitt High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008.
Fr. Sylvester Peterka, C.M.
Father Sy is the pastor of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Philadelphia; where he is involved in Social Justice work. He has been to numerous prayer rallies around Racial Issues, and has started Sacred Listening sessions on Race in his parish. He is the chair of a committee within his Province in overcoming Racism. Prior to his current role, Fr. Sy has been pastor in Baltimore and has taught at various levels. He studied for five summers at the Institute for Black Studies at Xavier University. His favorite saying in describing himself is from a gospel song: "I'm just a Nobody trying to tell Everybody about a Somebody who can Save Anybody"
Anthony A Luberti, MD, MSIS
Tony is a primary care pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as well as a teacher of pediatrics and clinical informatics at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. He is also Faculty in CHOP’s Global Health Fellowship Program and collaborated with the University of Botswana in the development of medical school and informatics curriculum programs with impact in clinical care and population health in sub-Saharan Africa. Closer to home, Tony served as medical director and board member at Frankie’s World and with other healthcare related charitable organizations in the region.
Officers
Gerald F. Szucs Ph.D
President
See Board Members section for biography
Amia Burton-Smith, M.Ed.
Secretary
Amia Burton-Smith received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Delaware and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Lincoln University. She is pursuing her Doctorate at Eastern University in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. Amia is an active member of Iota Phi Lambda, business sorority. In 2015, Mrs. Burton-Smith received a Citation from the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for her leadership and contributions in the field of Mental Health. She has worked tirelessly in the field of mental health for over 23 years. She has been an advocate for children and adolescents challenged with mental health disabilities. She served as the Executive Regional Director for Progressions Behavioral Health Services, Inc., and managed the Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services, School Based Services and Outpatient Services in Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Amia serves as the Chief Operations Officer at MARSCare. In 2021, Mrs. Burton Smith became a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Paul E. MacDonald
Vice President
See Board Members section for biography
Ann Marie Melady
Treasurer
See Board Members section for biography