4 stories of giving with heart
GET EXCITED
Watch, read, and listen
LeVar Crooms, Dimple Dhabalia, Jason Howell, and Karrenthya Simmons join Board of TrusteesPatricia Rodriguez named board chair; Five trustees complete their board service.
Arlington Community Foundation is proud to welcome four exceptional new members to its Board of Trustees: LeVar Crooms, Dimple Dhabalia, Jason Howell, and Karrenthya Simmons. These individuals bring a wide range of expertise from commercial real estate finance and federal risk oversight to trauma-informed leadership and values-driven wealth management. Their dynamic experiences will enrich the Foundation’s ability to serve Arlington with insight, accountability, and care.
LeVar Crooms is the Market President for United Bank, overseeing the Arlington and Alexandria markets. In this leadership role, he drives both commercial and retail production, ensures profitability, and manages public relations and community engagement efforts. Prior to joining United Bank, LeVar spent a decade at M&T Bank, where he served as Senior Vice President in the Commercial Real Estate Finance Division and financed more than $2 billion in projects across the Greater Washington region. His work has earned him several honors, including the Washington Business Journal and Leadership Center for Excellence “40 Under 40” awards. LeVar holds a business degree from Johnson C. Smith University and actively serves on multiple boards, including NAIOP Northern Virginia and Junior Achievement of Greater Washington. He lives in Arlington with his wife and son.
Dimple Dhabalia is the founder of Roots in the Clouds, where she partners with leaders and mission-driven organizations to address organizational trauma and design cultures of moral courage and collective care. A former federal public servant with over 20 years of experience, she is widely recognized for pioneering trauma-informed leadership practices within government, including a mindfulness-based leadership program that earned Director’s Awards for innovation and leadership. Dimple is also the bestselling author of Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self, a 2025 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite, and the creator of two podcasts: Service Without Sacrifice and What Would Ted Lasso Do? Her work has been featured in Fast Company, CEO World Magazine, Federal News Network, and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. Dimple brings a rare blend of systems thinking, healing-centered leadership, and communications expertise.
Jason Howell is President of Jason Howell Company, a family wealth management firm helping first-generation wealth builders transition into multigenerational family wealth with purpose and sustainability. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, a Chartered SRI Counselor™, and a Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Jason has been recognized as a Top Wealth Advisor by Washingtonian Magazine, Investopedia, and Northern Virginia Magazine. He teaches financial planning at both George Mason University and American University, and is the author of JOY of Financial Planning and an upcoming book on family governance. Jason is a frequent financial and political commentator featured in outlets such as CNBC.com, U.S. News & World Report, and The New York Times. A long-time advocate for civic engagement and community-driven finance, Jason brings both technical acumen and values-based insight to the Foundation’s work.
Karrenthya Simmons currently serves as Acting Chief Risk Officer at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, where she leads the agency’s enterprise risk management strategy and culture. Her extensive federal experience includes senior roles at the Office of Personnel Management, National Transportation Safety Board, HUD, and the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, where she oversaw risk management for the $400 billion Thrift Savings Plan. Karrenthya is a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Internal Auditor, and holds multiple risk management certifications. She earned her MBA from Loyola University Maryland and a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University. Her expertise in audit, internal controls, and strategic governance is matched by a strong track record of public service and interagency collaboration. She brings to the Foundation a rigorous understanding of operational risk, oversight, and accountability.
As we welcome these new voices and perspectives, we also extend heartfelt thanks to five trustees who are concluding their service with the Foundation: Kevin Jones, Michael George, Krysta Jones, Ambari Pinto, and Madelka McCalla. Their dedication and leadership have helped shape the Foundation’s direction and impact, and we are deeply grateful for their years of service to the Arlington community.
