Committed to Transparency
Our organization is committed to transparency and high-quality care. CooperRiis values our residents, their families, and our donors. In addition to posting the past three (3) years of the IRS Form 990 below, CooperRiis has earned a Gold Seal rating from Candid and 100% Charity Star Encompass seal. Individuals considering a donation to CooperRiis Healing Community can learn more about our financials and policies below.
Governed by a nine (9) member board, CooperRiis Healing Community is a 501 c (3) and adheres to all “good practices” deemed essential for thriving nonprofits. CooperRiis is a 100% giving board that meets quarterly and as needed.
CooperRiis Healing Community’s fiscal year is July 1 – June 30.
CARF Accreditation
CooperRiis Healing Community meets standards put forth by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which meets three-year accreditation standards. The CARF standards are centered around a person-first philosophy to benefit those served. By adopting a person-centered focus on services, providers can enhance the quality of life of persons served and improve their bottom line. As described by CARF, “The organization satisfies each of the CARF Accreditation Conditions and demonstrates substantial conformance to the standards. In addition, the organization demonstrates quality improvement from previous CARF accreditation periods.”
Board of Directors
Donald R. Cooper
Chairman/Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
Donald R. Cooper is the chairman of the board and co-founder of CooperRiis with Lisbeth Riis Cooper. Don is also an actuary and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Don served as a trustee at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC, for 12 years and was presented the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Warren Wilson College Alumni Association on October 3rd, 2020. A former three-term board member of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Don served many additional years on their Investment Committee.
Before retirement, Don’s business career included many senior management positions within the insurance industry, including Travelers and Citigroup. In addition, he was the co-founder and president of Resource Deployment, Inc. (RDI, Inc.), a venture capital and consulting company in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX.
Lisbeth Riis Cooper
Vice Chair
Lisbeth is the CooperRiis visionary and co-founder of CooperRiis with her husband, Don. She is also the CooperRiis Design Director and Photographer.
She previously worked in management and teaching positions in the fashion industry in New York City. She was an internship counselor and adjunct instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology for six years and received the FIT Business & Technology Alumni Achievement Award in 1984. She was also an adjunct instructor at Parsons School of Design for 15 years. Lisbeth formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Asheville Art Museum and Caring For Children, Inc.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper appointed Lisbeth to serve on the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services in July 2019. She was recently reappointed to continue her service.
David R. Cooper, Esq.
Secretary
David is an attorney with the law firm of Facey Goss & McPhee P.C. in Rutland, Vermont, specializing in municipal, land use, commercial, and non-profit law. Before moving to Vermont in 2003, David practiced law for four years in Boston with Choate, Hall & Stewart, LLP, specializing in bankruptcy law.
David currently serves as Chairman of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority and is involved with several other community organizations.
David L. Hayes
David serves as Market President for BB&T and is based in Asheville. He has worked with BB&T for over 30 years. Over the past 15 years, he has focused his time leading a commercial banking team, working directly with clients, and growing the bank’s business over a seven-county area in Western North Carolina. David currently serves on the board of Community Care Partners Foundation, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also active in the Rotary Club of Asheville-Breakfast, serving as club president several years ago.
Belynda Dunn Veser, MD, ABPN
Belynda is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry with the Greer Psychiatric Residency Program, associated with Prisma Health and the USC School of Medicine. She enjoys sharing knowledge and experience with the younger doctors aiming to become board-certified psychiatrists. She finished her general adult psychiatric residency at MUSC in 1999 and completed a fellowship there in geriatric psychiatry in 2006. While in Charleston, she had experience in both private practice and community mental health. She and her family moved to Columbus from Charleston, SC 2006. From 2013 until 2020, Belynda was the medical director at St. Lukes Hospital Center of Behavioral Health in Columbus, NC. This was a 10-bed inpatient psychiatric unit that served individuals ages 55 and over for various psychiatric conditions, including dementia. Other professional experience includes working in the Asheville VA Medical Center on a team that served those with SPMI (severe and persistent mental illness). If there were more time in the day, she would prefer to work again in the community mental health setting. Her philosophy is to find strength in all people before diagnosing or treating any condition. Her personal healing farm includes 20 acres, chickens, wildlife rehabilitation, and a menagerie of other small animals.
Anne Vance
Anne Vance is a retired Healthcare Executive Leader and Consultant. She worked for over 35 years in the addiction (substance misuse) and mental health disorders fields. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives with added degrees in Healthcare Administration and RN Nursing.
During her tenure at the Betty Ford Center from 1983 to 2003, Anne Vance managed the day-to-day operations and played a pivotal role in the center’s international expansion. Her efforts led to developing training and consultation programs in Sweden, Mexico, India, Switzerland, Bermuda, and the UK. She also collaborated with Eric Clapton to establish the Crossroads Antigua Center in the Caribbean.
On returning to the USA, she took over the executive leadership at Pavillon NC from 2003-2015, developing professional programs for alcohol and drug disorders for outpatient and long-term care.
Anne Vance’s passion for healthcare and helping others remained undiminished even after retiring. She dedicated her time and expertise to various non-profit healthcare agencies and charities, providing much-needed assistance to those with limited resources for medical care.
Anne Vance joined the CooperRiis Board in 2018
Wendy Cooper Roche
In Loving Memory 9/13/1967 – 4/22/2024
Wendy taught art and design in the New Jersey public school system for 20 years. She lived in Bergen County, NJ, and taught Fine Arts and Graphic Design at Glen Rock High School.
Before her tenure in New Jersey, Wendy excelled as a Senior Art Director for the Wolf Group Advertising Agency in New York City. Her creative prowess was evident in the print and television advertising she produced for national accounts. She also lent her talents as a freelance graphic designer, crafting logos and image marketing for numerous New York City corporations.
Wendy also pursued her creative work through murals, paintings, and collages and completed private and public commissions.
Jay S. Young, Jr.
Jay was born, raised, and still lives in Lexington, North Carolina. In 1970, he joined the family furniture business, where he worked in sales. In 1994, he formed Jay Young Management, an asset management company. Jay has served as Board Chairman of the Lexington YMCA and the Lexington Memorial Hospital. He serves as President of the Jay and Kathy Young Foundation and the J. Smith and Helen W. Young Foundation.
William R. McKibbon III
William R. McKibbon III (Will) was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and credits his life privileges to his family’s love, sacrifice, and encouragement. He is a doting father of a 19-year-old daughter who is a Sewanee College student.
Will graduated from Davidson College, majoring in History. After stints working as a cowboy, a barista, an after-school janitor, and a fundraising development assistant in Colorado, Hawaii, and Pawleys Island, he settled into law school at the University of South Carolina, graduating in 2000. Following his father’s footsteps, he chose a large law firm engaging in complex commercial and corporate defense litigation and next as General Counsel and SVP of operations for a technology and mortgage lending company.
Will is now in solo law practice, mainly practicing family and criminal law real estate litigation and serving as a part-time Municipal Judge for the City of Mauldin, SC.
A lifelong student in leisure and academic pursuits, Will earned a Master’s Degree in professional real estate from Georgetown University and recently began a graduate program in Behavioral Psychology at Harvard University.
He is co-owner of a restaurant called Bonjour Main on Main Street in Greenville, SC, a quiet but not silent partner. He also enjoys sports and outdoor activities, photography, and music-making.
Will has served on several boards in the Greenville, SC area, including Friends of the Reedy River, YMCA Camp Greenville, Centre Stage Theatre, Fall for Greenville, and most recently, FAVOR Upstate (Faces and Voices of Recovery). He served on their executive committee for four of six years and as board chairman for two years.
In long-term recovery from alcohol, Will feels privileged to serve CooperRiis in sustaining its mission to advance improved mental health and quality of life and help reduce stigma.
Sandy Mazoway, BA
Sandy is the founder and owner of Samiam Consulting, LLC. She uses her expertise in designing, leading, and influencing small—and large-scale change to help each organization achieve its strategic goals. Sandy recently worked as the Senior Director of Leadership and Professional Development for Lowe’s Corporation in Mooresville, NC. Before joining Lowe’s, Sandy’s career in financial services spanned 25+ years in branch management, human resources, leadership development, learning, and organizational management.
During her career, Sandy has also been a motivational leader and fundraiser in the non-profit sector and instrumental in advancing the vision of these philanthropies by providing her core skills in leadership development, team building, client/donor engagement, and building relationships at all levels. Over 14 years, Sandy has served as a volunteer, cyclist, top fund-raiser, board member, Vice-Chair, and Chairing the board of the “24 Foundation”, also known as 24 Hours of Booty, an organization dedicated to supporting anyone impacted by cancer and the needs of those trying to navigate cancer treatment.
