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"If you're asked to be a hero......BE A HERO"

 

Who are we?

The founders of Romance Writers Foundation believe that great endings can and do happen, but not by sitting back and waiting for those good things to come, but from drive and commitment. This philosophy motivated the three of them to combine their unique skill-sets and create the RWF community.

 

Believe you can and you're halfway there.

~ Theodore Roosevelt ~

 

 

Founders

The Romance Writers Foundation (RWF) was co-founded by Tracy Tappan, a bestselling and award-winning romance author, Jeff Tappan, a retired Navy captain and viral marketing expert, and Ray Drasnin, the CEO of Foundation Makers and the owner of a nationally-known Public Relations firm with Fortune 500 clientele.

 

 

 

Tracy Tappan

Tracy is the bestselling and award-winning author of gritty romance, her books spanning across several genres. She is married to a former Navy helicopter pilot who served his country for 30 years. During their tours of duty, they lived all over the United States and in Europe, enjoying seven years overseas in the diplomatic community, first in Rome then in Madrid, before settling back in San Diego. She has a master’s degree in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling (MFCC), and strongly believes in giving back to the community; she volunteers for the USO and Wounded Warrior program, raised Guide Dog puppies, and now puts her efforts toward causes championed by RWF. She loves to play tennis, enjoys a great glass of wine, and talks to her two Labradors like they are humans.

 

 

 

Ray Drasnin

Ray is a seasoned public relations professional with more than 30 years of agency experience. His renowned firms have managed high-profile clients including Ken Blanchard and Debbi Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookies, American Express, General Electric, Hang Ten, DC Shoes, and other Fortune 500 companies. In 2015, Ray founded Purple Penguin PR, an agency of modern day storytellers with a passion and foundation in journalism. Now, Ray is focusing his 30 years of PR experience on building RWF into an effective, global power for good. Ray is a frequent speaker at marketing seminars, universities, business groups, associations, and TED Talks.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Tappan

Jeff is a retired US Navy captain and helicopter pilot who served his country for 30 years. In that time, he commanded a combat aviation squadron during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Jeff was also the chairman of the National Helicopter Association Scholarship Fund, a non-profit organization established to offer financial aid to those pursuing higher education. Jeff brings 30 years of leadership and program management experience to the table, as well as a unique Internet marketing skill-set. His inborn knowhow of what drives viral marketing helped to build an online educational investing site into a million dollar business. He now turns his philanthropic drive toward developing RWF into a powerful platform for romance authors and readers to support their favorite causes.