Born out of an enduring friendship and a shared passion for philanthropy, The Cause Connection was founded by a trio of changemakers: Susan, Kassey, and Jana, each a professional in the fashion industry, decided to stitch together their expertise for an even greater good.

Our tapestry is rich, woven from nearly a decade of collective experience supporting a global nonprofit. What started as an enthusiastic group of volunteers quickly blossomed into a family of friends committed to making a difference. And today, we extend this family to every brand, organization, volunteer, and individual who shares our vision of giving back.

Fundraising, often the heartbeat of charitable endeavors, pulses within our mission. We rise to the challenge by crafting captivating events and providing grants to fuel the efforts of our cherished charity partners.

Join us on this journey as we empower charities, celebrate generosity, connecting those who care with those who need it most, and together, create a stronger, more compassionate community.

About Us

Founders of The Cause Connection, visionaries behind our charity's mission to support local causes through philanthropy.

Event Producers

Our founders and charity partners presenting a large check with funds raised, underlining our role as grant makers in philanthropy.

Grant Makers

Happy participants holding clothing at our charity event, supporting our mission to combine fashion with philanthropy.

Cause Connectors

Meet The Team

Founder and President

Susan Leibsohn

  • A New York native and graduate of FIT, Susan’s entrepreneurial spirit was ignited early on. By the age of 24, she built a $6 million clothing company, designing and manufacturing junior dresses. Soon after, opportunity and ambition brought Susan west to California where she laid her roots.

    Caretaker at heart and driven by helping others, giving back is a common thread in the fabric of Susan’s life. Beginning her journey in the nonprofit world as a volunteer at Dress For Success, she pioneered an annual shopping event in Los Angeles where she served as Event Chair for 9 years, raising over $1.3 million.

    In 2020, quarantined in the midst of a global pandemic, Susan helped bring together a virtual event with Present Now, a nonprofit supporting children in domestic violence shelters. “I really want to make a difference, no matter how big or small. Since the pandemic, I’ve come to understand how many people just need a hand up! It doesn’t take much, just a heart.”

    From this humanitarian mindset and the determination to support multiple charities, The Cause Connection was born. Susan’s hope is to give back in a fun, new, exciting way by bringing support and awareness to multiple charities.

Ellen Kramer, combining her legal acumen and nonprofit leadership as Executive Director at Young & Healthy, enriching our board with her expertise.

Attorney and Nonprofit Leadership

Executive Director

Ellen Kramer

  • Ellen Kramer has dedicated over four decades to working with and for nonprofits committed to the well-being of women, children, and families. As a nonprofit leader focused on social justice, access to healthcare, and systems change, she also has extensive experience as a grant maker and fundraiser, offering a unique perspective on equitable, community-centered philanthropy.

    Ellen’s legal career spans both the private and public sectors, with a particular emphasis on juvenile justice and family law. Before relocating to Los Angeles in 2018, Ellen served as the Deputy Director for Program Services and Legal Director at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In this role, she oversaw initiatives aimed at improving responses to domestic violence victims and their children through advocacy, media outreach, and legal representation.

    She holds a BA in English Literature, Phi Beta Kappa, from Middlebury College, and a JD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. A native of Pennsylvania, Ellen and her husband are in the process of relocating to Central Pennsylvania in 2026.

Rachel Littlejohn

  • London born and now LA-based, Rachel has spent over 15 years building and growing fashion brands on both sides of the Atlantic. From established labels to emerging designers; her career has been shaped by a love of craft, creativity and long-term partnership building.

    Alongside her work in fashion, Rachel is deeply committed to youth advocacy and community outreach. She volunteers with Girls Inc. LA and at her local food bank and believes strongly in our shared ability to create a more hopeful, equitable future. She is excited to bring together her fashion background and altruistic values through her work with The Cause Connection.

Development Director

Kristine Ysabelle Mosteiro

Administrative Assistant

  • Born and raised in the Philippines, Kristine has lived in Los Angeles for eight years. She has a variety of background with volunteering for children with special needs, early childhood centers, and private pre-school. She holds a BA in Child Development from Cal State Northridge.

    With her experience in working for a non-profit, outreach in underserved communities, and administrative duties, Kristine is delighted to be a part of an organization that gives back to those in need.

    In addition to TCC, Kristine facilitates groups and events for Filipino American families with specialized needs. She enjoys traveling, photography, and any type of creative pursuits.

Executive Board Members

Emilie Bartels, Admissions Coordinator at LILA, bringing her educational insight and global perspective to our board's diverse expertise.

Emilie Bartels

Admissions Coordinator at the International
School of Los Angeles - LILA

Alle Fister

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Karen Lo

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Alle Fister

Founder and Principal of Bollare

  • Alle Fister is the founder and principal of Bollare, a global communications agency built on strategic storytelling, media influence, and brand partnerships. She began her career as an early team member at Shopbop, helping scale the online retailer before it was acquired by Amazon.

    Drawing on that entrepreneurial foundation, she launched Bollare with Shopbop as her first client and has since led the agency’s growth and work with leading lifestyle brands. Fister is known for her creative leadership, nimble approach to communications strategy, and commitment to building high-impact, collaborative results and teams.

    Fister splits her time between Aspen, Hawaii and Los Angeles with her husband, Don, and her three kids: Duke, Dylan and Devon!

Alle Fister

Erin Prober

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Laurie Seidman, SVP at CBS for Current/Daytime Programs, bringing her extensive media experience to our board's strategic vision.

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Laurie Seidman

SVP, CBS Current/Daytime Programs

  • Laurie Seidman is a veteran network and studio executive with more than two decades of experience overseeing successful scripted and unscripted series as both producer and creative executive, and previously served on the Advisory Board of The Cause Connection.

    She has held leadership roles at CBS, Paramount, and NBC, guiding creative strategy and production management. Her expertise bridges creative vision with strategic execution, grounded in a collaborative leadership philosophy. 

    Laurie currently serves as producer with Curiosity Entertainment and is pursuing her master’s in clinical psychology at Antioch University.

Alle Fister

Sarah Leibsohn-Lucas

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Advisory Board Members

Cathy Deluca

Owner Delucabooks Inc.

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Amalia Goldvaser, esteemed Board Member and General Counsel at Content Partners LLC, contributing legal expertise to The Cause Connection.

Amalia Goldvaser

General Counsel | Content Partners LLC

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