Founder/President
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Sepi Ackerman is a passionate and accomplished volunteer with over a decade of experience championing causes that uplift children and strengthen the Sarasota community. Known for her tireless energy and leadership, Sepi has served in multiple nonprofit and school-based organizations, including Vice-President of Southside School Foundation for the Arts, Past President of Southside Elementary PTO, and past board member of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
Sepi is the creative force behind Cooking for the Arts, Southside School Foundation for the Arts’ largest annual fundraiser, and the co-founder of Holiday House SRQ.
She is recognized for her ability to bring people together for a common cause as seen time again thru her work most notably the "United Against Hate" campaign. Her motivation stems from a deep passion for making her community better and brighter for the next generation.
Outside of her volunteer work, Sepi is a Business Development Liaison for Empath Health, where she continues to serve others with empathy and purpose. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from Mercer University.
At home, Sepi cherishes time with her husband and two daughters—who are proud, hands-on volunteers at Holiday House—as well as their beloved mini-Bernedoodle, Stella.
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Founder/Treasurer
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For the past 20 years, Jenny Infanti has been dedicated to improving education in Sarasota County as a middle school teacher, an active board member of the Education Foundation, and, most recently, through appointment to the Sarasota County Early Learning Coalition by Governor Ron DeSantis. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education and an MBA from the University of Florida. As the proud mother of two exceptional children, Alex and Caroline, she believes deeply in the power of education to change lives. Founding Holiday House has been a natural extension of her devotion to our schools.
Vice President
Ariana Ackerman
Vice President
Alex Infanti
Board of Directors/Secretary
Hilary Yunis
Hilary Yunis is a lifelong Floridian and passionate nonprofit volunteer dedicated to advancing equity and well-being for underserved communities. She has served Holiday House SRQ since its inception, first as a volunteer and now as a board member, helping provide vital resources and joyful holiday experiences to Title I school children and their families. Hilary is the former President of the Southside School Foundation for the Arts, where she campaigned arts access and education. She also volunteers at a nonprofit farm focused on food insecurity, working to ensure that every member of the community has access to nourishing meals. In addition to her board service, Hilary has served on numerous committees throughout Sarasota, further demonstrating her deep commitment to community engagement and impact.
Board of Directors
Shera Friedman
Shera Friedman moved to Sarasota in 2019 with her husband and three children, bringing with her a strong commitment to public service and community engagement. Prior to relocating, Shera worked as an attorney and was appointed as a public defender for two municipalities—experience that reflects her deep dedication to advocacy and justice. In Sarasota, she continues her work in the nonprofit sector as a grant writer for a local organization. Shera is an active member of Temple Emanu-El, where she is Chair of the Junior Sisterhood Committee. She is also a member of the Junior League of Sarasota where she is the Chair-elect of the State Public Affairs Committee and has served as Chair of the Grants committee. She especially enjoyed volunteering for Holiday House SRQ and is honored to serve on the board, where she looks forward to contributing her skills and passion to furthering the organization’s mission.
Team Captain
Melissa Zolmierski
Melissa brings warmth, compassion, and unwavering dedication to everything she does. With over 30 years of experience as a nurse and respiratory therapist, Melissa viewed her career not just as a profession but as a calling—one rooted in the ability to comfort others in their most vulnerable moments. She led her clinical work with an unshakeable commitment to care.
Although she has since stepped away from clinical practice, Melissa continues to serve others in meaningful ways. She has volunteered on numerous school committees and, in 2024, led the Go Gold campaign at Southside Elementary, raising critical funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research.
Today, as co-captain of Holiday House SRQ, Melissa helps bring the magic of the holiday season to children from lower-income families.
A firm believer in the power of community, Melissa is passionate about building connections and spreading kindness. Creative, dependable, and full of positive energy, she leads with heart—knowing that even the smallest acts of generosity can create lasting change.
Team Captain
Amanda Rico
" As a proud first-generation Colombian American and a product of Sarasota county schools, including my time at Brentwood Elementary, I'm thrilled to give back to the neighborhood that shaped me. Serving as co-captain for Brentwood Elementary's Holiday House, I'm excited to help bring the magic of the holidays to so many deserving children and families in our area. Being the first in my family to attend university in the United States has instilled in me the importance of opportunity, and I'm so happy an organization like Holiday House exists to enrich the lives of more Sarasota children. Now raising my own children in my hometown, I'm honored to continue my family's legacy of advocating for immigrant children and working families who are the backbone of what makes Sarasota run. My involvement with organizations like the CFSC Scholarship Review Committee, Junior League of Sarasota, CreArte Latino, and UnidosNow further fuels my commitment to our community, and I'm genuinely delighted to contribute to Holiday House's initiative of creating joyful experiences and providing valuable resources at our Title I elementary schools. "