Board of Directors

Dale Johnson

President & Founding Father

Dale established this non-profit, 501c3, in 2008. He served as Director of Soccer for ESM Youth Sports for three years. He also coached soccer and basketball for ESMYS for over five years, ESM Little League for an additional five years, and ESM Pop Warner Football for two years. He also established the annual Tillie's Touch School Supply Giveaway in 2009. He created the Tillie's Touch soccer club in 2009, and the Tillie’s Touch Holiday Wish program in 2012. Tillie’s Touch helps out approximately 1,500 children each year under Dale’s guidance.
He currently resides in East Syracuse, NY, with his wife of over 25 years, and two children Abby “Tillie” and Matthew. 

Matt Johnson
Vice President

Matt is a current student at Le Moyne College, studying for his Bachelor's degree. He graduated from Onondaga Community College & East Syracuse-Minoa Central High School. Matt has worked on numerous political campaigns, and is a certified medical interpreter with the Spanish Action League of Onondaga County. He also serves as Political Action Coordinator with Voters of Tomorrow, a group that engages, educates, and represents Gen-Z voters.

Lisa Lopez

Secretary

Lisa Lopez is a New York State Registered Nurse, the owner of Guardian Angels Healing Arts Center and Gift Shop located in East Syracuse, NY. She is a lifelong resident of East Syracuse and enjoys participating in activities and programs that give back to the community. Lisa has been a volunteer for Tillie's Touch since 2011, and a board member since 2012. Lisa received the John Gridley Volunteer of Excellence Award in 2016. ​

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Brooke Tedesco
School Supply Giveaway Co-Director, Officer

Tanya Shufelt
School Supply Giveaway Co-Director, Officer

Abigale Johnson

Director of Fundraising

Claude Tuyishimire "CT"
Director of Coaching

Claude has been with the Tillie's Touch program since the beginning. He started as a player and later became a coach for Tillie's. He graduated from Keuka College in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management. While at Keuka, Claude played four years at the collegiate level in soccer and was awarded two First Team and one Second Team All-Conference Awards, and earned the MVP award during his senior year.

Riley Murphy

Director of Academics

Riley is a current student at Syracuse University studying Inclusive Elementary and Special Education. She graduated from Henninger High school in the spring of 2020 in the top 20. She was awarded the Argese Memorial Scholarship, Marine Corp. Distinguished Athlete Award, and Excellence in Physical Education. She has tutored at Tillie’s Touch since 2018 and took over the tutoring program in the winter of 2019. She loves the game of soccer and is invested in creating a helpful learning environment within Tillie’s Touch.