Our Leadership
Meet the Dedicated Individuals Driving Madi’s Movement Forward
Our team and Board of Directors are passionate professionals who share a deep commitment to empowering young adults aging out of foster care. With their guidance and heart for our mission, we are creating opportunities, stability, and a brighter future for those we serve.
Our Team
Effie Santos
Founder & President
Effie is a visionary leader, relentless advocate, and the driving force behind Madi’s Movement, founded to fulfill her daughter Madi’s dream of equipping teens aging out of foster care with the resources, confidence, and opportunities to build their futures. With three decades of experience in banking, leadership, and entrepreneurship, she excels in strategic partnerships, business development, and nonprofit growth, ensuring Madi’s Movement remains a catalyst for change and impact.
As a TEDx speaker, Effie delivers her transformational talk, “The Power of the Pause: Finding Courage in Change,” inspiring others to embrace challenges, take bold action, and lead with purpose. She is also expanding her reach as a speaker, author, and thought leader, using her platform to drive conversations around resilience, leadership, and advocacy.
Effie loves being a mom, wife, mentor, and champion for change. Madi’s fierce spirit fuels her mission to create opportunities for young adults aging out of foster care, living out Madi’s dreams every day.
Kerri Piniero
Program Director
Kerri has dedicated over 25 years to working with children, families, and young adults, primarily in the nonprofit sector as a social worker. With 16 years of experience in mental health as a case manager and mentor, she has supported countless foster youth, ensuring they receive the care, resources, and advocacy they deserve. She has also served as a child protection investigator and teacher, further strengthening her ability to empower young people.
As Program Director of Madi’s Movement, Kerri is committed to creating programs that equip young adults aging out of foster care with the skills and confidence to transition into independence. Her passion is deeply personal—having raised her niece after she was removed from her mother’s care, she understands the gaps in support.
Madi was like a niece to Kerri, making her role in Madi’s Movement even more meaningful. She finds immense purpose in continuing Madi’s vision, ensuring young adults feel supported, empowered, and seen.
















