Avis Gold Richards is the founder and CEO of Birds Nest Productions, a creative group that produces several television shows, documentaries and short films for charitable organizations. Started in 2005, the goal of Birds Nest Foundation is to provide the media to educate and promote important causes and issues that enable non-profits and other foundations to tell their stories.

Avis has been nominated for three New York Emmy Awards and has won numerous Stevie, W3, Telly, Davey, Pixie and Aurora Awards for producing non-profit films and videos. The charities that benefit from Avis’ work include a host of worthy causes dedicated to improving healthcare and education, serving inner-city youth, protecting against domestic violence, promoting human rights, and defending the environment. Avis also launched “The Ground Up Campaign” a national campaign providing indoor edible academic gardens and curriculum to over 100 classrooms in 2011.

Avis, along with her husband Bruce launched the Veterans Education Challenge on November 11, 2015.

Avis is on the Board of Directors for HELP USA, Sophie’s Voice, Fans for the Cure, Earth Day Network, and the R Baby Foundation, Street Soccer USA. She also serves on the board of Trustees at the university of Maryland and the University of Pennsylvania Parent Leadership Advisory Board.

Avis is a “Game Ball” recipient for the Boomer Esiason Foundation and served as an Excalibur award member for the American Cancer Society. Avis was also a founding member of Gilda’s Club. In 2010, Avis was awarded with the Artivist Award for Advocacy and Leadership, 2011 Ambassador Award by Voices Against Brain Cancer, 2012 R Baby Hero Award, R Baby 10th Anniversary Star Award, 2012 United Way Womens’ Leadership Council Philanthropist Award and Help USA Tribute Award. The University of Maryland honored Avis with the Non-Profit Industry Impact Award in 2010 and the Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Education in 2012.

After the successful launch of her short documentary, LUNCH, Avis produced a public television series entitled “LunchNYC” for NYC Media, part of the City of New York Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting,  The documentary screened and won several awards at film festivals across the United States and in Whole Foods Markets Education Libraries. The film exposes unhealthy foods being served in the public school system across the country and highlights the efforts of individuals actively seeking alternatives to promote nutrition and health. Following these successes, she also produced over 40 episodes for the television show “Dylan’s Lunchbox”, which aired on NYC Media and Taxi TV.

Avis is a graduate of the University of Maryland where she earned her B.S. degree. She pursued her post-graduate studies at George Washington University and Bank Street College of Education. Avis lives with her husband, two children, and their dog Simba in New York City.

Israel Bonequi is a Creative director, producer and cinematographer with over 20 years of experience. Mr. Bonequi has collaborated in a wide variety of productions including TV series, online content, interactive installations, live streaming and feature-length documentaries.

Drawing from an extensive background in visual communications, Israel Bonequi specializes in film and video production. Some of his recent work include award-winning PSA campaigns like #keeptellingpeople, the VH1 Save the Music and the Ann Cooper foundation, the New York Emmy nominated TV series LUNCH NYC and Dylan’s Lunch Box; the award-winning documentaries LUNCH the film and Healing Magdalene as well as hundreds of PSAs, commercials and video content for clients like the Canada Council for the Arts, Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, Bombardier, Atmosphere Communications, The Michael Bolton Charities, Qatar Airways, The Andre Agassi Foundation, HELP USA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, R-Baby foundation, BNP PARIBAS, The Italian Trade Commission and others.

Mr. Bonequi is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (EMMY) New York Chapter, the IDA (International Documentary Association) and The Art Directors Club. Israel serves as a judge for the New York Emmy Awards and The American and International Business Awards.

William Macaulay is a Creative Producer at Birds Nest hailing from Columbia University with multiple accolades for his short films and documentaries. His work at Birds Nest provides the Client with a versatility in all aspects of the creative process to grant them a variety of style that matches their original vision.

Dylan Richards is a Creative Producer for Eating with Max at Birds Nest Productions/Foundation. He provides creative input and strategic vision for content development and manages all of our social media clients. He has been with the company for eight years now, initially starring in his own show titled Dylan’s Lunch Box. His show explored healthy eating habits in New York City, which won numerous awards and was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Dylan recently graduated from the University Pennsylvania, where he majored in economics. He is excited to be back in NYC creating content around issues he is passionate about.

Rob Arevalo is the project manager for Birds Nest Foundation. He is responsible for developing creative content and further expanding the organization’s client base. Previously, he served four years in the United States Air Force working as an airborne intelligence operator. He recently graduated from Columbia University where he majored in film studies with a concentration in business management.