News

Rising Ground, a trusted and longstanding human services nonprofit at the forefront of meeting the critical needs of New Yorkers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rakesh (Rick) Jain and Dr. Colleen Griffin Wagner to its Board of Directors. Mr. Jain is a Manhattan-based Partner and Global Head of Private Credit at investment firm Pantheon. He is also a member of the firm’s global credit and international investment committees. Dr. Griffin Wagner is Vice President for Residential, Adolescent, & IDD Services at the Center for Family Services that provides services throughout New Jersey.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Rick Jain and Colleen Griffin Wagner to Rising Ground,” said Matt Del Percio, President of the Board of Directors. “For nonprofits to operate at their best, they require a committed and engaged board, and both Mr. Jain and Dr. Griffin Wagner bring to us a wealth of knowledge, professional expertise, and a mission-driven focus. They will help us to continue our vital life-affirming work providing children, adults, and families in the New York City area with the resources and skills needed to rise above adversity and positively direct their lives.”

Mr. Jain said: “I’m honored and grateful to have the opportunity to work closely with the team and Board members at Rising Ground. Having worked in New York City for over 30 years now, I’m especially excited to contribute to the vital work being done to support mental and health-related services for local children and families. Rising Ground’s commitment to improving lives and fostering well-being is truly inspiring.”

Dr. Griffin Wagner said: “I have been impressed by Rising Ground’s robust offering of services and programs serving the most vulnerable children, adults, and families across New York City. There is a passionate commitment by the Board of Directors to support a network of over 2,100 dedicated staff in delivering high quality services as a force for positive change for the individuals we support and advocate for. I look forward to joining this competent, compassionate, and skilled group of individuals to further the mission of this remarkable organization.” 

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Rakesh (Rick) Jain is a Partner and the Global Head of Private Credit at Pantheon and a member of the firm’s global credit and international investment committees. Since joining the firm in 2019 to build and lead the firm’s dedicated private credit strategy, the business has grown to become one of the largest providers of credit secondary solutions capital to private credit fund managers and investors globally. Throughout his career prior to Pantheon, Rick gained experience as a direct credit investor across a range of strategies, including unsponsored and sponsored direct lending, special situations and distressed, asset-based finance, specialty finance, mezzanine, and control/minority private equity. Previous roles include as a Managing Director and investment committee member at private credit firms including Stone Tower Capital (acquired by Apollo), Star Mountain Capital and Citigroup Alternative Investments. Rick began his career in the Financial Institutions Group at Morgan Stanley. A native of Toronto, Rick received a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance (Honors) from McGill University.

Dr. Colleen Griffin Wagner, Ph.D., LMHC, LPC, ACS, NCC is a Licensed Counselor with a PhD in Mental Health Counseling.  Dr Wagner is an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pace University and currently serves as the Vice President of Adolescent, Residential, and IDD services for Center for Family Services, a leading non-profit social services provider throughout New Jersey.  Dr. Wagner has served as Executive Director of Guardian Adolescent, a detox and residential substance use treatment facility, Director at the Renfrew Center treating individuals with eating disorders, senior clinical staff at Westchester Medical Center’s acute inpatient Behavioral Health Center, and served as a Director at St. Christopher’s Inc., a Residential Treatment Center for adolescents with chronic behavioral, emotional and psychiatric challenges.  Dr. Wagner currently sits on the Board of Saint Joseph Medical Center Senior Housing Development Fund Corporations and Elizabeth Seton Children’s Foundation. Dr. Wagner served as a two-term elected Trustee for the Village of Pleasantville and was a previous board member for the Sisters of Charity of NY and Hudson Valley Bank Business Development & Foundation.  Dr. Wagner resides in Philadelphia, PA.