Ben Zion Ptashnik
Treasurer
Ben is a lifelong environmentalist, social justice advocate, and philanthropist. Early in his career, he helped pioneer the organic-farming and cooperative-movement era in the United States, serving as the first director of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA). For over twenty years, he served as Board Chair of VPIRG, Vermont´s largest environmental NGO, and later co-founded Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).
Ben Zion Ptashnik
Treasurer
Ben is a lifelong environmentalist, social justice advocate, and philanthropist. Early in his career, he helped pioneer the organic-farming and cooperative-movement era in the United States, serving as the first director of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA).
Ben Zion Ptashnik
Treasurer
Ben is a lifelong environmentalist, social justice advocate, and philanthropist. Early in his career, he helped pioneer the organic-farming and cooperative-movement era in the United States, serving as the first director of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA). For over twenty years, he served as Board Chair of VPIRG, Vermont´s largest environmental NGO, and later co-founded Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).
As a two-term Vermont State Senator, he championed campaign-finance reform, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and civil-rights legislation—including co-sponsoring the landmark Vermont Civil Union Bill for gay couples.
As a two-term Vermont State Senator, he championed campaign-finance reform, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and civil-rights legislation—including co-sponsoring the landmark Vermont Civil Union Bill for gay couples.
As an entrepreneur and humanitarian, Ben co-founded Via Vermont Ltd., a fair-trade enterprise linking artisans in San Miguel de Allende to international markets, and led renewable-energy initiatives. His company, Solar San Miguel International, installed thousands of solar and wind systems across Mexico.
Through the Stopnitz Family Fund, established in memory of his family lost in the Holocaust, Ben founded the Centro por Ecología y Economía Sustentable de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., home to the Tikkun Eco Center, where he continues to live and work today with his partner Victoria. Together, they focus on food security, environmental education, reforestation, and ecological regeneration in rural San Miguel communities.
Ben has been working and living in San Miguel since 1979. He has deep roots in the town’s spiritual community and believes San Miguel is truly the best small city on the planet. At SMCF, Ben brings financial insight, deep environmental commitment, and a strategic vision for leveraging donor resources to achieve lasting community impact.
Ben holds a degree in History from City College of New York and studied Political Science at Goddard College, with postgraduate work in Ecology and Natural Resources Management at Antioch University.
For over twenty years, Ben served as Board Chair of VPIRG, Vermont´s largest environmental NGO, and later co-founded Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR).
As a two-term Vermont State Senator, he championed campaign-finance reform, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and civil-rights legislation—including co-sponsoring the landmark Vermont Civil Union Bill for gay couples.
As an entrepreneur and humanitarian, Ben co-founded Via Vermont Ltd., a fair-trade enterprise linking artisans in San Miguel de Allende to international markets, and led renewable-energy initiatives. His company, Solar San Miguel International, installed thousands of solar and wind systems across Mexico.
Through the Stopnitz Family Fund, established in memory of his family lost in the Holocaust, Ben founded the Centro por Ecología y Economía Sustentable de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., home to the Tikkun Eco Center, where he continues to live and work today with his partner Victoria. Together, they focus on food security, environmental education, reforestation, and ecological regeneration in rural San Miguel communities.
Ben has been working and living in San Miguel since 1979. He has deep roots in the town’s spiritual community and believes San Miguel is truly the best small city on the planet. At SMCF, Ben brings financial insight, deep environmental commitment, and a strategic vision for leveraging donor resources to achieve lasting community impact.
Ben holds a degree in History from City College of New York and studied Political Science at Goddard College, with postgraduate work in Ecology and Natural Resources Management at Antioch University.
As an entrepreneur and humanitarian, Ben co-founded Via Vermont Ltd., a fair-trade enterprise linking artisans in San Miguel de Allende to international markets, and led renewable-energy initiatives. His company, Solar San Miguel International, installed thousands of solar and wind systems across Mexico.
Through the Stopnitz Family Fund, established in memory of his family lost in the Holocaust, Ben founded the Centro por Ecología y Economía Sustentable de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., home to the Tikkun Eco Center, where he continues to live and work today with his partner Victoria. Together, they focus on food security, environmental education, reforestation, and ecological regeneration in rural San Miguel communities.
Ben has been working and living in San Miguel since 1979. He has deep roots in the town’s spiritual community and believes San Miguel is truly the best small city on the planet. At SMCF, Ben brings financial insight, deep environmental commitment, and a strategic vision for leveraging donor resources to achieve lasting community impact.
Ben holds a degree in History from City College of New York and studied Political Science at Goddard College, with postgraduate work in Ecology and Natural Resources Management at Antioch University.
