Meet The Happy PapPy Team

Ris Anderson

Founder & CEO

Ris is the Founder and President of the Happy Pappy Foundation, a community-rooted leader whose work is dedicated to strengthening families and uplifting historically marginalized communities. As a Black queer mental health professional, Ris blends academic rigor, lived experience, and creative expression to design programs that heal, educate, and empower. They are an author, advocate, and parent, as well as an artist and musician, fiercely committed to creating spaces where faith, culture, self-reliance, and the arts come together. Ris holds a master’s degree in Sociology and is pursuing a Master of Social Work at Howard University. Their vision grounds the Foundation’s mission to preserve traditional values while fostering resilience, cultural pride, and modern community care.

issa Anderson

Co-Founder, Vice President, CFO, Creative Director

As Co-Founder, Issa wears many hats at HPF.  From Vice President and Creative Director to CFO, Issa has her hands full at the Happy Pappy Foundation. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies and Public Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University. A proud Filipina artist and loving mother, Issa pours her heart into every brushstroke and every project she touches. Her art practice spans painting, sewing, sculpture, and design, all inspired by her deep love for community, heritage, and the abstract. As a neurodivergent creative, Issa is passionate about making sure other neurodivergent minds feel seen, supported, and celebrated — creating spaces where they can thrive, feel joy, and be proud of who they are. Her leadership brings warmth, color, and a strong sense of belonging to all that the Foundation does.

Ambyr Leidig

Director of Strategic Partnerships & Outreach, Board Member

Ambyr Leidig is a cybersecurity thought leader, entrepreneur, and U.S. Army Reserve officer with
more than 20 years of experience leading complex organizations through risk, governance, and
resilience challenges. She brings deep expertise in strategic oversight, operational leadership, and
building sustainable systems that protect both people and mission-critical infrastructure.

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As Founder and Principal Consultant of APL Cyber, Ambyr advises organizations across federal
and commercial sectors on governance, compliance, and enterprise risk management. She is known for translating complex challenges into structured, actionable strategies that strengthen
institutional stability and long-term impact.

Beyond her professional leadership, Ambyr is a committed advocate for mental health access and
neurodiverse families. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, she understands firsthand the
importance of equitable support systems, community-based resources, and culturally responsive care. Her board service reflects a passion for advancing wellness initiatives that center dignity, accessibility, and long-term resilience within marginalized communities.

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Ambyr brings to the board a steady, strategic perspective grounded in governance excellence,
organizational accountability, and a deep commitment to community wellbeing.

Danielle Denise

Board Member

Danielle Denise is a Bay Area creative with a career in fashion production. She extends her creativity in the world of modeling as well as hosts her own podcast, "Girl.. What?" When she’s not working with major apparel companies, she finds solace in traveling, good food, and spending time with family and friends. As a Black American woman, having a community is important and necessary for survival. As a member of the foundation, she is committed to preserving Happy Pappy’s values through community outreach, programs, and resources.  

Jacqueline Paniagua 

Board Member

Jacqueline Paniagua serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Plaza Comunitaria Sinaloa, where she oversees organizational strategy, communications, and partnerships. Raised in the San Fernando Valley, Jackie is a first-generation, non-traditional student whose educational path reflects her deep curiosity and commitment to community building. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology and Latino and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and is pursuing graduate studies to further her impact.

Throughout her career, Jackie has cultivated strong expertise in operations and relationship-building, community engagement and managing connections with funders, partners, and stakeholders to strengthen organizational capacity and financial sustainability. Guided by her passion for education and social equity, she is dedicated to expanding opportunities for youth and adult learners while uplifting the community that shaped her.

Shae Nicholas

Secretary, Board Member

Shae brings a background in teaching and community engagement to her work. As a former Doula and Lactation Consultant, she supported expectant families during pivotal life transitions. She has also taught English to children and adults, building connections across cultural and language barriers. She brings a global, community-centered, equity-focused perspective to the board. 

When Shae's not teaching young learners English, she's immersed in her latest read or singing songs in languages from around the world.

TAína Morales

Marketing & Community Engagement , Board Member

Taína Morales is a proud first-generation daughter of Latin American immigrants and the first in her family to pursue and earn higher education degrees. Her professional career spans multiple University of California campuses, where her work has focused on community engagement, service-learning initiatives, and cultivating meaningful, reciprocal partnerships between universities and their surrounding community partners. Currently, Taína serves as an Assistant Director in Student Affairs at a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, where she continues her commitment to equity, student success, and community-centered education. Beyond her institutional roles, Taína serves on the boards of directors and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations in the San Fernando Valley—her hometown—where she works to support marginalized communities in honor of the community that shaped her.