Meet the Team

Made up of passionate young adults, Project Pantree was founded by local students in June of 2023.

Executive Board

Schantal Carrasco

Executive Director

Schantal Carrasco, a student at Rutgers University has a multitude of experience in community engagement. As an Audio/Visual Production major, she works to produce videos for her school and organizations including Whole Spectrum Autism and the Youth Foundation of Jersey City. She has also represented Hudson County at the Ms. Teen New Jersey pageant.

Mateo Cole

Assistant Director

Mateo Cole is a 17 year old Junior Audio/Visual Production major at County Prep High School. With over a year and a half of experience in freelance photography which includes taking and editing photos of all kinds. His experience ranges from being an active member of the media team for the Youth Foundation of Jersey City and the Whole Spectrum Autism Organization.

Haywood Tew

Pantry Manager

Haywood Tew is a rising senior at St. Peter's Preperatory School. He enjoys playing soccer and piano and is an active member of his Jersey City community. Haywood is passionate about Project Pantree and seeks to expand Project Pantree through collaborations with St. Peter's and youth organizations.

Alejandro Cabarcos

Pantry Manager

Alejandro Cabarcos is a senior at Saint Peter’s Prep who enjoys golf and giving back to his community. At Project Pantree, he helps organize meetings and coordinate logistics for our giveaway days to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Max Levy

Programs Manager

Max Levy is a senior at Ithaca High School who enjoys lacrosse and golf. Max is a part of the Youth Foundation of Jersey City, where he helps organize a $400,000 grant that will benefit thousands of students across Jersey City. While he is from Ithaca, he is always looking for ways to stay involved in JC.

Advisory Board

Zachary Yabut | Founder

At 17 years old, Zach started Project Pantree as a senior at County Prep High School. He now attends Cornell University, where he plans to pursue a major in Business. He is currently the Supervisor of the Junior Board at the Youth Foundation of Jersey City, where he assists in raising thousands of dollars to support the youth of Jersey City. He served on the Hudson County Schools of Technology Board of Education for the 2023-2024 school year, being a voice for the thousands of district students, and serves as an Advisory Council Member for the HCST Foundation. Being born and raised in Jersey City, he recognizes the importance of giving back and staying involved in his community.

Contact: zacharyyabut@gmail.com

Norma Sarofiem| Former Pantry Manager

Norma Sarofiem served as the manager of Project PanTree and is committed to serving her community. She is a Freshman at Rutgers University New Brunswick and has prior experience in service as a former Junior Board member at the Youth Foundation of Jersey City, where she actively contributed to initiatives benefiting local youth. In addition, Norma serves as the social media director for Elpida NYC and served as the captain of her flag football team for Dickinson High School. Outside of her leadership roles, she works as a lifeguard and waitress, and in her free time, she enjoys volunteering. Norma lives by her motto “Choose Happiness”, which drives her passion for making a positive impact in everything she does.

Contact: sarofiemnorma@gmail.com

Jahnea Alejandrino | Former Assistant Director

Jahnea Alejandrino, a 18 year old Filipina Freshman at Rutgers New Brunswick is the former Assistant Director of Project Pantree. Having a love of the arts and culture, she enjoys digital media, editing, filming as a Audio/Visual major, singing, acting, playing the piano and volunteering around her hometown, Jersey City. In addition she is apart of the Hudson County Youth Leadership Team and is an active Peer Leader at her school.

Contact: jahneaalejandrino@gmail.com

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