About Us – Nest Egg Foundation

Nest Egg Foundation Inc. is a Connecticut-based tax exempt 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Founded in 2015, the organization provides financial grants for IVF treatment to those who have been unable to start their families due to financial need. Nest Egg Foundation is a collaborative effort between medical and financial professionals, attorneys and others who care about building families and want to help those who cannot afford fertility treatments. Nest Egg Foundation aims to give an opportunity to those struggling with infertility via education and access to treatment.

Who We Are

At our core, we are a group of people who care about building families...including those who cannot afford fertility treatment. We are painfully aware that there are men and women in our community, people who would make wonderful parents, who will end their quest to have a family, simply due to financial constraints. And that’s a hard simply to swallow.

We don’t want that to be the end of the story for any family, so we have formed Nest Egg Foundation to address the "money" part. We acknowledge that affording fertility treatment can be out of the grasp for some of us and that is simply not a good enough reason not to have a family.

Simply? We’re here to help build your family.

Dana Gilland

President

Dana is Co-Founder, President and Board Chair for Nest Egg Foundation, Inc. Dana Gilland is a passionate change agent, trailblazer, community builder, general counsel, and philanthropist who leverages her STEM background and 25+ years of legal, leadership, non-profit, and global corporate executive experience to drive global innovation and social impact. She mentors executive women to drive positive change and improve lives in local and global communities. She has been recognized by Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs Magazine for her contributions in innovation, social impact, and leadership. Dana received the White House Presidential Volunteer Service Award issued by President Biden for community service leadership in both 2023 and 2024, and the Connecticut Technology Council's Women and Innovation Award for Community Innovation and Leadership in 2023.

Her contributions span many areas, including: 1) advancing diversity in corporate boardrooms - as founder and leader of the member led Chief Board Services community, NYC Co-Chair for 50/50 Women on Boards, as an investor in The Athena Alliance, and a founding member of The Fourth Effect; 2) closing the women's wealth gap as an Angel investor in 5 women-owned businesses and through various forums such as the ForbesWomenForum and Chief Angel Investing community; and 3) an advocate for wellness, supporting those in need via Nest Egg Foundation financial grants for access to IVF medical services; as a Chopra certified meditation instructor, with her Chopra Ayurvedic Health certification in process; and as founding member of the HLWF Alliance (bringing together experts in health tech, life sciences, wellness and fitness), among other areas.

Amy Matton

Vice President

Amy Matton has fifteen years of experience as a licensed acupuncturist and certified herbalist, working in women’s health. She has served as the coordinator for Illume Fertility's Integrated Fertility and Wellness Program since its inception in 2011. Her extensive study includes training at the distinguished China Beijing International Acupuncture Centre. She received her a Master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College in New York City in 2001, where she was awarded the prestigious Kamwo Valedictorian Award. She graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1991.

Daniel Simpson

Treasurer

Daniel B. Simpson serves as treasurer of the Board of Directors for Nest Egg Foundation and has over thirteen years of experience in the fields of finance and accounting. Daniel is currently chief financial officer for an asset management firm and previously worked for Ernst & Young LLP for more than eleven years. Daniel holds a M.S. in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame (2005) and an M.B.A. from Columbia University (2010).

Robin Mangieri

Secretary

Robin Mangieri has over twenty years of experience in the field of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility. She was most recently the CEO for Illume Fertility. Prior to joining Illume Fertility in 2002 she spent six years working as the Administrative Manager for the Donor Egg and Embryo Program at Cornell’s Center for Reproductive Medicine in New York City. She has served as Chair for the Association for Reproductive Managers, a special interest group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Robin holds a Master’s Degree from Hofstra University and a Bachelor’s Degree with High Distinction from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Mark Leondires

Board Member

Dr. Mark P. Leondires is Medical Director and Partner in reproductive endocrinology at Illume Fertility and is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Sharon Horowitz

Board Member

Sharon Horowitz, PhD is a business psychologist. She is the founder and president of CenterNorth International, a company specializing in succession planning and leadership transition management for the financial services and technology industries. She has held faculty positions at The Tavistock Institute in London and The Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Previously, Sharon worked in the health care industry. She was a research fellow at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and did her post-doctoral fellow-ship at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She has a MS from Columbia University and PhD From New York University

Harold Levy

Board Member

Harold J. Levy was a co-founder of Iridian Asset Management in 1996. He is responsible for the management of the First Eagle Fund of America. He previously worked over eleven years as a portfolio manager with Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Inc. From 1983 to 1984, he was a research analyst withLehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb. In addition, from 1979 to 1983, he worked as a research analyst focusing on venture capital with E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Company. Mr. Levy holds a B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University (1975) and an M.B.A. from University of Chicago (1979).

Ashley Rodόn

Executive Director of Advocacy and Impact

Ashley Rodón serves as the Executive Director of Advocacy and Impact for the Nest Egg Foundation. After graduating from Ball State University, she went on to work for R.L. Marketing. In 2018 Ashley and her husband, Carlos, made the decision to focus on starting a family. This was the beginning of an isolating and turbulent journey. After miscarrying their first son, and a second child months later they went looking for answers. After an emotional draining year of testing, questions and frustrations they were blessed with a miracle. Willow Mo’orea Rodón came into the world. Now, parents of three, through their experience and love for their children, Ashley and Carlos have established The Willow Grant. Teaming up with The Nest Egg Foundation to give hope and opportunity to families struggling down the often lonely path of infertility. Being a parent has been the greatest honor of her life and she’s excited to make that a reality for so many families. Ashley looks forward to advocating to dismantle the stigma around infertility and being a voice for those who have yet to find theirs.

Amy Overman

Board Member

Amy Overman first collaborated with The Nest Egg Foundation in 2019, when she and her husband created The Ryder Grant. After a tumultuous six year battle with infertility Amy was driven to give back to those who faced financial hurdles on their medically assisted path to parenthood. The Ryder Grant was named after her son who was conceived via IVF with egg donation, a particular cause very close to her heart. Amy is committed to lifting the veil off of this aspect of IVF that is often kept quiet. By sharing her personal story she hopes to educate, destigmatize, and inspire others to connect and openly share their fertility journeys. She is a graduate of Boston University and also serves on the board of Earthplace, a Westport based non-profit focused on nature education, wild animal rescue, and environmental conservation.