Our Mission:

Team

Executive Director:

Hope Blinkoff Lynch is a native Buffalonian who learned how to play squash in high school at Nichols. Hope attended Vassar College (2010, BA Sociology) where she played four years of varsity squash and was co-captain her senior year. After graduation, she joined AmeriCorps’ Public Allies program in Baltimore in which she participated in weekly full-day training at the University of Maryland School of Social Work on non-profits, asset-based community development, diversity, and leadership. She also completed 1,500 hours of service at Baltimore SquashWise, Baltimore’s urban squash program, where she served as squash coordinator. Hope was drawn to the organization’s mission and model, and was hired full-time at SquashWise where she worked for seven years in many different capacities. Hope transitioned from squash coach, to overseeing the high school academic program, to running the College Access and Alumni Support Program, to deputy director. Hope also participated in NUSEA’s Leadership Fellows Program in 2015-2016, a 10-month professional development program focused on supporting and providing training for new and future urban squash executive directors. When the opportunity to launch a program in Buffalo was presented, Hope was eager to bring this model to her hometown, relocated, and began working full-time for 716 Squash in September 2017.

Squash & Engagement Coordinator:

Ryan Cody has coached with 716 Squash for over three years now, helping students to grow from beginner squash players to capable, confident athletes. As a team, 716 Squash has placed in several SEA team tournaments, while a number of students have won and placed in local tournaments, as well as in SEA individual tournaments. Throughout the pandemic, Ryan has introduced a range of interactive virtual learning activities, including an introduction to formal logic, basic computer programming, and a number of hands-on STEM projects to introduce students to concepts related to energy and mechanics, while maintaining a virtual fitness program to ensure students’ preparedness to return to the squash courts. As a squash player, Ryan held the number one spot on Canisius’ high school squash team and served as captain his junior and senior year. For six summers, Ryan worked as a camp counselor with the YMCA, leading groups of middle school and high school students. Ryan graduated from Ohio State University in 2017 with a BA in Philosophy.

Director of Education:

Sarah Linneman joined 716 Squash in June 2021. An accomplished and dynamic educator, Sarah brings six years of experience creating and implementing educational curriculum and social advocacy opportunities for 6-8th grades from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds along with three years of experience in hiring, training, and managing teachers and volunteers in common core and cultural programming. Previously, Sarah taught ELA at KIPP New Orleans and was Dean of Curriculum and Culture at ReNew Charter Schools. Sarah lives on a farm where she raises chickens and is a beekeeper.

Director of Finance & Operations:

Meg Lynch, wife of Executive Director Hope Lynch, has a unique background in nonprofit business management, operational systems and accounting. Meg started with 716 Squash in 2017 as a volunteer tutor and bookkeeper. Since then, Meg  has combined her business background with her non-profit experience to help 716 Squash and other SEA member programs develop systems and processes to operate and track data more efficiently. Meg built and manages 716 Squash’s custom Salesforce database and has become the leader in the network for helping organizations track meaningful program and donor data. Meg holds an MST from Bentley University and a BS from Babson College.

College and Career Access Coordinator:

Julia Quan became a volunteer tutor with 716 Squash in October of 2021 while earning her pre-medical degree at the University at Buffalo. As a first-generation American and first-generation college student, Julia’s passion for uplifting socioeconomically diverse communities translates into her contributions to the 716 Squash classroom. Expanding on her role as a tutor, she taught our students Spanish, CPR, and other first aid skills, broadening their worldview and improving their health literacy. Now, she’s taken on a new role: guiding our 10th and 11th graders through career exploration and college preparation as they enter the professional world

Katie Campos

Executive Director, Ralph C. Wilson Centennial Park

William H. Pearce, Jr.

President, Pearceco Ventures

Partners