About

Embracing the diversity of all individuals

Our story

Since 2008, the Sabrina Merage Foundation has been partnering with organizations, initiatives, individuals, and campaigns to spark inclusivity among diverse cultures. We are an impact-driven and results-oriented organization that seeks to create grassroots, social movements that achieve real, tangible change. Together we can shift political, social, and educational dialogue toward inclusivity and solidarity, toward strong and vibrant cultures that embrace the diversity of all individuals. We invest our time, talent, energy, and resources in realizing this goal.

Sabrina Merage Naim

Founder

Sabrina Merage Naim is passionate about promoting tolerance and inclusivity between religious, cultural, racial, and ethnic communities. She founded the Sabrina Merage Foundation in 2008 with the intention of building bridges between diverse societies through educational programs for young people. Sabrina focuses much of her philanthropic efforts on uniting communities and paving the way for individuals from diverse backgrounds to connect, teach, and learn from one another. Sabrina is also the founder of Echo Capital Group, a venture capital firm focused on early stage investments in consumer product companies founded by young, driven entrepreneurs who are developing exciting concepts for the uniquely individual Millennial demographic.

Michael Niyompong

Executive Director

Michael is a self-proclaimed “recovering engineer” motivated by purpose, mission, and his own constant curiosity. In his former roles as chief operating officer at Clayton Early Learning and chief engagement officer at WellPower, he was driven to make a difference by supporting initiatives that create more equitable communities.

In his current role, Michael oversees the grantmaking and operations for the Merage Foundations, a consortium of eight foundations and nonprofits representing three generations of the Merage family.

When he’s not pursuing his professional passion, Michael lends his expertise on a variety of commissions and boards across the country. He is currently active on the Library Commission for the Denver Public Library, the Board of Advisors for Ensemble Innovation Ventures Fund, the Board of Trustees for HCA HealthONE, and the Board of Directors for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Formerly, he served on the boards of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation and Colorado Nonprofit Development Center. He also served on the Denver Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Commission from 2005-2009.

Jamie Newton

Director, Impact and Storytelling

Jamie coordinates a wide variety of venture philanthropy projects for the Sabrina Merage Foundation and its subsidiary, Evoke Media. She brings over thirteen years of experience helping organizations creatively approach complex, social topics.

Jamie’s sweet spot is shaping big ideas into mission-driven experiences that create connections and foster new perspectives, such as her personal project, That’s What She Said. Driven by the gender credibility—the phenomenon in which women are not perceived as credible as their male counterparts—Jamie founded That’s What She Said, a storytelling event where women submit stories and men are invited to read them aloud, for the first time, on stage in front of live audiences.

Jamie’s 2019 TEDx talk, arguing that the #metoo movement could also be about the “good guys,” has been viewed thousands of times.

Merage Foundation Network

Sabrina Merage Foundation is part of a philanthropic consortium, representing three generations of the Merage family, promoting self-sufficiency through early childhood education, contemporary arts, and community development in the U.S. and abroad.

Care For All Children Campaign

The David and Laura Merage Foundation believes that every child deserves access to high-quality, affordable child care. It's time politicians cared as much as parents do. Visit the website to learn more.

Care for all Children