Meet the dedicated and all volunteer team behind Toby’s Hope
Toby
Honorary founder
Toby’s journey began in Missouri, where he was first adopted and then returned to a shelter in Joplin. Facing the possibility of euthanasia—an unfortunate reality for many overcrowded shelters—he was rescued just in time by kind people. From there, he was fostered near Kansas City before being selected to join the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue group in Colorado. In 2015, he was made available for adoption, setting the stage for the next chapter of his life.
On September 8, 2015, Suman Kamath knew Toby was the perfect companion—goofy, loving, and full of life. From that moment on, they became family.
Toby was an adventurer at heart, always ready for an outdoor excursion, a long walk, or a road trip. He adored car rides, dental treats, chicken jerky, and meeting new people. He never met a piece of furniture he wouldn’t climb onto just to be closer to those he loves, blissfully unaware of his own size. With a collection of stuffed animal toys rivaling that of most children, he was well known to greet you with a toy offering.
A well-traveled companion, Toby explored 10 states, two countries, and even experienced the luxury of flying first class. But beyond his love for life’s simple joys, Toby was a true warrior—his 2 year battle with cancer made him a symbol of resilience, hope, and the inspiration behind Toby’s Hope.
Toby passed away on August 24, 2025, ending his fight against lymphoma and prostate cancer. In his final days, he was showered with love, ate rib eye steak, and snuggled with mom.
As the Honorary Founder, Toby’s legacy continues to drive the mission of supporting pet parents facing the unimaginable, ensuring that no family has to go through their pet’s cancer journey alone.
Suman Kamath
Founder & Executive Director
Suman is Toby’s mom since 2015, when she adopted him from the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue Group in Denver, Colorado. She founded Toby’s Hope in July 2024 to turn her and Toby’s experience with lymphoma into a way to help others.
Suman and Toby moved to the Seattle area in 2020 for her job at Amazon. In 2023, Suman joined eBay as a Senior Technical Program Manager. She loves helping teams deliver products and services that help the eBay buyer and seller communities. She’s also volunteers through eBay to support local organizations.
Having grown up in Buffalo, NY, Suman is a Buffalo Bills fan and patiently waiting for that elusive Super Bowl win.
Azalea Herman
Board Member
Azalea Hermann is a proud Texan who has called the Pacific Northwest home for the past six years. With a diverse professional background in Operations, Project Management, and Marketing across the tech, retail, and energy sectors, she currently serves as a Fellowships and Workforce Development Specialist with Washington Sea Grant at the University of Washington in Seattle.
A lifelong animal lover and advocate, Azalea has volunteered with animal shelters in Texas as both a foster and a caretaker, and continues to support organizations that promote humane animal care and environmental causes in the PNW. Her belief that every pet deserves a chance at healing, and that every family should have access to the care and resources needed to support them through difficult times is the driving force behind her involvement with Toby’s Hope.
Cesar Pazo
Board Member
Cesar brings a unique blend of strategic insight and compassion to Toby’s Hope, balancing the human and business case for inclusion. A committed product leader with over seven years of experience in e-commerce, he has dedicated his career to creating solutions that empower marginalized communities.
Currently a Sr. Technical Program Manager at eBay, Cesar leads efforts to build inclusive product experiences for diverse customers, inspired by his own experiences as a Venezuelan immigrant. Cesar joined Toby’s Hope drawn by the opportunity to contribute to a mission that resonates deeply with his values—especially the importance of including underrepresented voices in the nonprofit and veterinary sectors. Having known Toby and supported past fundraising events, Cesar is passionate about helping families navigate the challenges of pet cancer care.
Outside of work, he finds joy in exploring the outdoors, traveling (having visited over 50 countries), and lending his skills to causes that uplift communities.
Sunita Gupta Braynard
Board Member
Serves on the board of Toby’s Hope with a single, clear intention: to help more dogs access life-saving cancer care and to ease the emotional and financial burden on the people who love them. Drawing on over two decades as a global HR and Total Rewards executive, she uses her strengths in strategy, storytelling, and fundraising to expand awareness of Toby’s Hope, build mission-aligned partnerships, and strengthen donor support so the organization can say “yes” to more families in crisis. Sunita is deeply committed to honoring Toby’s legacy by turning compassion into action for every dog-and-human family the organization touches.
Dr. Sarah Gillings, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Board Member
Sarah Gillings was Toby’s medical oncologist. She is a co-founder of Summit Veterinary Referral Center, and has held roles in hospital leadership as Hospital Director and Medical Director. Sarah was a general practitioner for several years prior to residency training at North Carolina State University. She has also experienced cancer treatment with 2 of her own pets.
Sarah currently sits on the Board of Regents for the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Additionally she holds a few advisory roles and is a member of VANE, an angel investment group focused on animal health.
A northwest native, Sarah enjoys being active outdoors and cooking great food.
Our Impact
Our Impact
Toby’s Heroes
