Greentrike’s Board of Directors is made up of many dedicated members of the community that volunteer their time and talents for the organization, and their partnership ensures that we can best honor children and youth and champion play for our community.

Among them is AJ Treleven, who has served on the board since 2019, and started his two-year term as the Board’s president this past January. AJ sat down with us for an interview about his time with Greentrike, how the Museums and programming have affected the community, and more!

What drew you to Greentrike?

“I grew up playing at the children’s museum. Many of the adults in my life were involved in the museum’s fundraising and leadership.”

Could you give an example of meaningful, inspiring work you’ve done with Greentrike?

“Chairing the Gala council. The work we did to build the Gala council and build off the history of the event is probably my most proud outward facing accomplishment. As a council we grew the event by hundreds of attendees, hundreds of thousands raised, and cemented its position in the community as a major event of the year. All of this focused on engaging community members as the entry point into their relationship with Greentrike. The ability of the council during our years as members to iterate on the event and start the evolution to what it is now is something we are very proud of.”

“Internal to the organization, I am most proud of the work the board has done to steward the capacity building of the staff and provide direction on helping the organization to scale, specifically in the area of finance and accounting.”

Do you bring your own children to the Museums and programming?

“My kiddos still refer to the museum as “their Museum” and my youngest attended Play to Learn to help him get ready for pre-k. Even at almost 9, my oldest demands to go to the Museum to play. They truly feel agency and ownership in the museum space built for them.”

Which accomplishment with the Greentrike board do you feel has been the most meaningful and impactful for our community?

“In terms of impact I look to 2 specific areas. The first area is the build-out of the board and the long-range impact on leadership, fundraising, and collaboration that I believe will carry us forward for many years. In my time on the board I have witnessed that a strong, engaged board that is clear on their role can amplify the impact of the organization exponentially.”

“The second is the nimble and innovative way the staff and board are working together to respond to opportunities when they present themselves. OSTI/ELO and the Monarch Diaper Bank are two recent examples where the organization was able to position itself to answer a need or opportunity to serve based on the foundational work that has been happening in the background.”

Which Greentrike value do you resonate with most?

“’The joy, wonder, and power of play’ is my absolute most. I chose to give my time and energy to Greentrike because of this statement and my belief that every single person in the world needs more of it.”

What was your favorite game growing up?

“Die-hard kick the can player. Would happily play right now if you’re down!”

What excites you about this year with Greentrike?

“This year’s POP Lunch is totally revamped and better than ever. I cannot wait to debut the new venue and event to the community!”

The POP Lunch? What’s that?

The POP Lunch is our annual lunchtime fundraiser in support of Greentrike’s play-based programs! You’re invited to join us during your lunch hour on Tuesday, September 24, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to support programs that promote playful learning for children and youth in our community.