Our Board

Sabrina McCool

President 

Sabrina McCool is known for being a community connector and acts as one of the co-founders and President of Mamas for a Cause. She is inspired by those who want to make a difference and believes that together WE can make an impact. 

Sabrina is the Operational & Marketing Director for KMI WEALTH and also serves her passion of health and fitness by teaching Pilates at Series Pilates. Sabrina has a business degree in Marketing from UNR, and has had the pleasure of working and creating events for companies like Nikki Beach, lululemon, The Karma Mamas, and is  currently in the works of creating her own business that will guide you into getting down to the Kor of U…stay tuned.

Sabrina resigns in the beautiful Reno, Lake Tahoe area with her husband and 2 children. She is a seeker of adventure and is always down for a challenge that pushes her physically and mentally. Some of her biggest successors have been hiking the Grand Canyon's Rim to Rim in one day, backpacking the Trans Catalina Trail, and completing the Orderville hike through the Narrows. She is also passionate about traveling and spending her time outdoors with her family and friends. You can catch her camping along the coast, shredding down the slopes of Lake Tahoe, and chasing music wherever she goes. She continues to find gratitude in all that life has to offer and will continue to spread the love because she truly believes that’s what life is all about!

Alyssa McDermott

Treasurer

Aly McDermott serves as the treasurer and a founding member of Mamas for a Cause. A Sacramento native, she attended CSU Monterey Bay, and then when she married, the great outdoors brought her and her family to Reno in 2014. Aly is the Northern Nevada Area Manager for the real estate investment company Wedgewood Homes. She prides herself in creating beautiful and affordable homes in her community. Aly is a wife and mother to two, Deacon & Channing. Aly spends her time with her family, skiing, coaching, boating, raising chickens and renovating homes.

Raphaela Cohee

Secretary & Fundraising Director 

Raphaela Cohee serves as a Co-Founder, Secretary and Silent Auction Chair of Mamas For A Cause. She went to college at University of Missouri, Columbia and after a long break raising two children with her husband Taylor, is enrolled to finish her Psychology degree at University of NV, Reno. After having her first child in 2015, she was blessed to be surrounded by fellow first time mothers, but saw the depravity other moms felt who did not have the same support system to encourage them physically, mental and spiritually. Together with Sabrina McCool and Aly McDermott, they sought to create a space for new mothers to find their people through fun women's events which also benefit the community. Raphaela is passionate about building strong, trust-filled relationships with women and believes that we can help make a difference when we carry each other's burdens through love.

Sara Gail Thruston

Creative Director

Sara Thruston began her career in the world of Exhibit and Trade Show Design after graduating with honors from the University of Nevada, Reno. Following nine years of climbing the corporate ladder, she shifted gears and started her own Graphic Design business. This change allowed Sara to further pursue her passion for Yoga, becoming a part-time instructor. Two years later, she gained her favorite title to date, “Mama”. Today Sara is blessed to be a wife to her amazing husband, mother to her adorably precocious daughter and design maven to her wide variety of clients.

While navigating the transition of becoming a new mom, Sara depended on her community of ‘mom friends’ for support. This led to her involvement in Mamas For a Cause. She started as a volunteer, helping develop brand identity and creating signage for the annual fundraising dinner. Sara was incredibly inspired by the team and their mission. She loved merging her creativity with her passion for giving back to the community so much that she officially joined the MFAC team this past year

When Sara is not creating magic behind the screen, you can find her upside-down in a yoga class, playing on the shores of Lake Tahoe and always making beautiful and meaningful memories with her family and friends.

Tiffany Banks

Sponsorship Director

Tiffany Banks serves as General Counsel for the Nevada REALTORS®, an association with over 20,000 members committed to protecting, promoting and preserving our communities and advocating for private property rights. Tiffany also leads the Association’s Leadership Academy cultivating leaders for the future of the real estate profession. 

Tiffany has served in leadership roles and volunteers at a number of nonprofits including Board Member for YPC of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Young Lawyers Section of the Nevada State Bar, Director-at-large for the Association of Corporate Counsel, Young Lawyer Liaison for the American Bar Association, The Risk Management Committee for the National Association of REALTORS® and many more. She is most proud of being one of the founding members of Mamas For A Cause, a local non-profit helping women and children.  

Tiffany worked her way through school with a variety of interesting jobs.  She became a beer school graduate, NASCAR pit spokesperson, PGA tour liaison, production assistant on a major TV show and a secret service staffer who helped guard President Bush, Sr., who shared his red licorice with her.  

Tiffany is a proud wife to Garrett, a third generation building contractor, and mom to two Beckett and Brooklyn. Tiffany believes that true power comes from the ability to lead from the heart while inspiring others to find the power within themselves, know who they are, refuse to compromise on your values, and help lift others will leave a lasting legacy of love and accomplishment.