× Board Chair & Founder

Corinne "Goose" Degroot

Introducing Corinne "Goose" van Ryck de Groot: A Champion for Compassion

Corinne van Ryck de Groot, known by her affectionate childhood nickname "Goose," is a formidable athlete, respected stuntwoman, and former police officer with a deep passion for helping those in need. Her impressive resume—which includes a ranking as the world's number two female professional boxer, a role as "Panther" on American Gladiators, and numerous Hollywood stunt credits—is a testament to her strength and discipline. However, it is her profound empathy and personal journey that make her a natural advocate for the mission of Goose's Open Hand.

Corinne’s nickname "Goose," which stems from her childhood fondness for nursery rhymes, is a reminder of the foundational innocence and care that she embodies. The name has taken on a new significance with Goose's Open Hand, symbolizing a gentle, nurturing force that provides comfort and support to the most vulnerable members of our communities: the homeless and their beloved pets.

Her time on the police force exposed her to the harsh realities faced by those living on the streets. Though she left law enforcement to pursue boxing, the experience left a lasting impression and fueled a lifelong desire to address the root causes of suffering. She understands that the path to a better life is often a challenging fight, a lesson she learned firsthand in the boxing ring.

Corinne’s fierce determination and protective instincts, honed through her careers as a boxer and stuntwoman, are channeled into her support for Goose's Open Hand. She believes that no individual, whether two-legged or four-legged, should face life's struggles alone. As a champion both in and out of the ring, Corinne "Goose" van Ryck de Groot stands as a powerful symbol of strength, resilience, and compassion for the Goose's Open Hand family.

× Board Member

Amy Sherald

Born in Columbus, Georgia, and now based in the New York City area, Amy Sherald documents contemporary African American experience in the United States through arresting, intimate portraits. Sherald engages with the history of photography and portraiture, inviting viewers to participate in a more complex debate about accepted notions of race and representation, and to situate Black life in American art. Sherald received her MFA in painting from Maryland Institute College of Art and her BA in painting from Clark-Atlanta University.

Sherald was the first woman and first African American to ever receive the grand prize in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition from the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. In 2018, Sherald was selected by First Lady Michelle Obama to paint her official portrait for the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Her work is held in public collections such as the Baltimore Museum of Art; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.