Making travel
possible for all.

Elsa is the Director of Operations at FundMyTravel. Originally from Sturgis, Michigan, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Grand Valley State University. Her passion for service began at a young age through volunteer work with children, which later inspired her to pursue opportunities that connect travel with meaningful impact.

In 2009, Elsa volunteered in the Philippines, an experience that broadened her perspective on global communities and the role travel can play in supporting them. Today, she focuses on helping students and travelers access life-changing opportunities abroad by improving operational systems and supporting the mission of FundMyTravel. Her work continues to center on expanding access to international education, service, and cultural exchange.

Kate is the Product Development Lead at FundMyTravel. She holds an undergraduate degree in Law, bringing a thoughtful and detail-oriented perspective to her work in developing and improving the platform. In her role, she helps build tools and features that make fundraising for meaningful travel more accessible, supporting students, volunteers, and travelers as they pursue opportunities that create positive impact around the world.

Outside of work, Kate enjoys reading books, but her greatest passion is travel. It inspires her daily and motivates many of the goals she sets for herself. She hopes to visit at least 20 countries, with Spain and Finland at the top of her dream destinations. Kate is committed to building a financially sustainable future for herself and her family while continuing to explore the world and support travel that brings learning, connection, and purpose.

Daf is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at FundMyTravel. She has played a key role in building and continuously improving the company’s web products. She enjoys the diversity of her work and the constant technical challenges that come with developing platforms that support meaningful travel and global opportunities. Daf believes technology has endless possibilities and is motivated by the impact it can have in connecting people to travel experiences that foster learning, cultural exchange, and positive change.

Outside of work, Daf is passionate about fitness and the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, running, and cycling, and is a dedicated marathoner who inspires others through her active lifestyle. When she travels, she loves exploring islands and coastal destinations. Among the many places she has visited, El Nido, Palawan remains one of her favorite places for its breathtaking scenery and unforgettable island-hopping adventures.

Jonas Alvaro A. Apurillo serves as the VP of Technology at GAPLabs, where he quietly orchestrates the systems that keep the company's platforms running smoothly. Known internally as the person who makes things just work, Jonas spends much of his time designing resilient infrastructure, optimizing backend systems, and building practical tools that make complex technology feel simple

A long-time UNIX and server enthusiast, Jonas thrives behind the scenes—whether he's tuning infrastructure, automating workflows, or writing scrappy command-line utilities that solve real operational problems. He enjoys working close to the metal: scripting, monitoring systems, and finding elegant ways to turn data and APIs into useful insights.

Beyond the servers and terminal windows, Jonas is a natural builder. He's constantly exploring new technologies—from backend systems and automation to hardware tinkering and experimental projects that bridge software with the real world. His curiosity keeps him learning, refining, and improving the systems around him.

For Jonas, a perfect day is simple: stable servers, clean logs, and a good cup of coffee while exchanging ideas with fellow technologists. Guided by a mindset of continuous improvement, he believes that technology—and life—are both ongoing projects: there's always something to optimize, something to build, and something new to learn.

Jarienne, or “Jare” as most people call him, is a Senior Software Engineer at FundMyTravel. Known for his positive energy and friendly personality, Jare brings both technical skill and a collaborative spirit to the team. He contributes to building and improving the platforms that help make meaningful travel opportunities more accessible to students and travelers around the world.

Outside of work, Jare is a big basketball fan and proudly supports the Gilas Pilipinas team in international competitions. He also has a deep love for music and enjoys singing and playing the guitar in his free time. When he’s not coding, you’ll likely find him playing DOTA, enjoying NBA 2K, watching anime, or relaxing with his favorite comfort foods (except ampalaya).

Although naturally a bit shy, Jare connects easily with others and values the friendships he builds along the way. Guided by his strong faith and optimistic outlook, he believes everything happens for a reason and chooses to focus on the positive side of life.

Chris serves as an Advisor to FundMyTravel and has been part of the platform’s journey since its early days as one of the first team members. Her work with FundMyTravel has been a constant source of inspiration, allowing her to learn new ideas, approaches, and perspectives while helping shape the platform’s growth.

Over the years, Chris has contributed to many areas of the organization, with a strong focus on customer relations and partnership development. Before joining FundMyTravel, she built her career in sales and training, experiences that have helped her support the platform’s mission of making meaningful travel opportunities more accessible to students and travelers around the world.

Rachael is an Advisor to FundMyTravel and has long been passionate about international education and meaningful travel. Originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, her interest in global learning began when she studied abroad in Sweden through South Dakota State University. That experience sparked a lasting love for travel, culture, and connecting with the wider world.

Rachael joined GoAbroad.com in January 2012 and later became part of the FundMyTravel team, where she helped support travelers pursuing opportunities abroad. Over the years, she has contributed to customer support and community engagement, helping individuals navigate the fundraising process and work toward their travel goals. She is proud to be part of a platform that helps people turn their dreams of traveling abroad into reality.