Balls Without Borders



About Us

For information on the Board of Directors please go here.

Balls without Borders makes a healthy difference in the lives of children growing up in refugee camps and in the midst of armed conflict.

In the process of working with the US military, regional AYSO and Club team organizations, BWB will raise public awareness of the plight of people at risk. The organization will send field volunteers and staff to speak at international and national tournaments and conferences, sponsor amateur events and competitions where special public education displays will address the stark realities and hardships of war, poverty and life in a refugee camp.


BWB's decision to operate in any country or crisis is based solely on an independent assessment of people's needs. BWB's military volunteers work in the most remote or dangerous parts of the world.





Picture: Entrance to Kurdish Refugee Camp in one of the distribution areas for balls; photo courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps





Board of Directors



Viva Ann Guerrero (President and CEO)

Balls Without Borders combines my love for soccer with my concerns for the world.

Viva has over 10 years of experience playing soccer, having been the highest ranked player in her regional American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) before pursuing the competitive CLUB soccer circuit on State and National Championship teams. By the end of her career she could juggle the ball over 1000 times having focused her game on skill and technique. She has played soccer in every condition- from stadium fields to foreign beaches and concrete jungles.

Graduating from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) with a B.A. in International Studies-Political Science with an emphasis in Sociology has broadened her horizons and enhanced her perspective of the issues that face the world at large. Viva received her A.A. from Santa Monica College; language certification from the Universidad de Costa Rica, and completed courses at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Viva has worked for the City of Los Angeles, Mayor's Office, in the department of Federal, Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations (LIGR).


Dr. Richard Robinson (Chairman)

Dr. Robinson has 25 years experience in public policy and management. He worked for much of his career at the Rand Corporation where he specialized in analysis of large scale operations policy and budget studies for the DOD as well as working in Health Care Pricing, Judicial practice assessments, and Technical Risk Assessments.

Throughout his career Dr. Robinson has worked with non-profit and political organizations principally in fundraising and membership management. In his career he has raised funds for the American Red Cross, the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, ADL, the Audubon Society, LACMA as well as several political organizations. The son of a Ford Foundation VP, Rick was born in New Orleans, holds a Masters in Public Management and a PhD in Public Policy, and has often advised new organizations on the path they need to take to gain access to serious philanthropists, meet pass through requirements and offer a breadth of services that make for a sustainable organization. Rick moved to California in June 1986 and currently resides in Santa Monica with his family. He recently completed a year working for the US Census Bureau as the Manager of the West San Fernando Valley & The Beaches Census Office. This office's region encompasses 27 local communities from Santa Monica to Ventura, CA.

Robert Gandara (Chief Financial Officer)

Robert is a self-proclaimed soccer hooligan and most likely to leave the office early on Friday to see his daughter play in matches around the nation. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and CFO at DMI Music & Media Solutions which is the world's premier full service music branding agency. At Ripple TV, Robert ran accounting, finance, human resources, and business operations. Prior to Ripple, Robert led the finance team at Live Nation, Inc. In this capacity, he oversaw the finance department for the company's billion-dollar North American Music division. Robert has held a variety of key financial and strategic planning roles for major entertainment companies, including EMI, Sony BMG, and Universal Music Group.

Robert holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from California State University Northridge, an Executive Management degree from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and is a Certified Public Accountant.


Alexander Wiederhold (Chief Technology Officer)

Alexander Wiederhold was awarded his MBA degree with merit in 2006 at the Bristol Business School, England. He studied Business and Social Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley - Walter A. Haas School of Business. His recent academic focus is on Business Development, Knowledge Management and Transfer.

In addition to over 20 years of experience in software development, network security, and computer operations, Alexander holds degrees in marketing and business communications from schools in Europe, is the owner of his own IT consultancy, and works as business analyst and market strategist for financial institutions. Having lived in Germany, the UK, and Canada he acts as European Liaison for Balls Without Borders internationally.


Gordon Bosserman (Senior Attorney at Law)
Spolin, Silverman, Cohen & Bosserman LLP

Gordon Bosserman is the Founder of the Bruin Rugby Foundation and the former Team Manager of a nationally ranked Club soccer team for many years.

A business trial lawyer, his practice focuses on the representation of corporate entities and major health care insurers and providers in complex litigation, including class actions. Gordon has a wide range of jury, bench and administrative law trial and arbitration experience, having successfully represented parties in trials. He has also successfully argued numerous appeals at the state and federal level and has acted as an arbitrator in a variety of commercial actions.

Gordon is a former partner of MacDonald, Halsted & Laybourne and the international firm of Baker & McKenzie, where he was Chairman of the Litigation and the Employment Law Departments of Baker & McKenzie's Los Angeles office. Gordon was admitted to the American Board of Trial Advocates, ABOTA, an organization made up of some of the finest and most prominent trial lawyers is the nation.


Patti Guerrero (Secretary)

Patti Guerrero has a proven record of administrative positions for various large organizations. Her familiarity with computer applications in an office environment as well as her rigor in managing schedules makes her the backbone of the organization at our home base in Los Angeles. Besides working for BWB Patti is a freelance writer and proud Soccer Mom.



Professor William Sonnenschein (Honorary Chairman)
UC Berkeley Haas Graduate School of Business

Professor Sonnenschein is our Honorary Chairman of the Board. A founding Board member and Mentor to both our CTO and CEO, Professor Sonnenschein provided invaluable insight and guidance for Balls Without Borders. Unfortunately for our organization and for those who knew him, Bill passed away in 2009 while working in a remote jungle during his service as Special Advisor to the President of Madagascar. Bill will be remembered for working with town Mayors to find solutions to environmental concerns within the country. His work entailed visiting remote jungle areas and Malaria ridden communities to witness firsthand the issues the government is working to address.

In the United States, Professor William Sonnenschein was a Senior Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business where he served since 1992. Professor Sonnenschein lectured MBA courses and served as a Coordinator for the MBA Writing Program. He wrote books on Diversity Management and served at the Berkeley Center for Executive Development where he has taught courses including Leading Diversity, Leveraging Diversity and Leadership Communication.






Balls Without Borders is a registered 501(c)(3) Public Charity Non-Profit Organization helping children in need find a new perspective through sport. Photos and current activity reports will be updated periodically so please check back.