Meet our 2009 Board of Directors
Founded in 1984, Children’s Trust Foundation works to expand child abuse and neglect prevention resources across Washington. Our 2009 Board of Directors join countless volunteers who have worked throughout our 25-year history by adding their wide-ranging professional and personal strengths and working together to further our innovative programs and grants. Here is a little about who they are—we hope their energy will inspire you to get more involved.
In the Spotlight: 2009 Board of Directors
Donna Leggate-Hoffmann channels her marketing expertise into our team to create change. As a member of the Filipino-American community, Evangeline Café contributes her appreciation and awareness of the necessity to listen to the needs of Washington’s diverse populations and harnesses her knack for media outlets to raise public awareness about our mission.
Jasbinder Dhoot adds expertise as both a therapist for families in crisis and as an attorney representing abused and neglected children. Winnie Corral is a portal into the world of Family Support Centers, as Program Manager to Familias Unidas and South Everett Neighborhood Center, providing the board with an intimate understanding of the daily work of Family Support.
Why Children’s Trust Foundation?
For Todd Larson, a finance professor and professional, the financial metrics of Children’s Trust Foundation spoke volumes to him. “I was inspired and truly impressed to see how much of every dollar went to funding programs,” he says. Jonathan Wender’s eighteen years of police work and his experience of witnessing so many children in crisis drew him towards joining our cause.
As attorney Tara Parker puts it, “Becoming a parent has made it abundantly clear to me that raising children is very challenging under even the best of circumstances. Our community depends upon all of us reaching out with support so all parents can be the kinds of parents they want to be.”
A clear need to increase prevention programs has drawn each of us to this mission. Theresa Kastner found plenty of reasons to serve after “reviewing national studies about preventing child abuse and seeing opportunities for necessary improvements that could be made at the state level.” For Birte Falconer, “basing [abuse and neglect] interventions on strengthening and supporting families makes so much sense.”
Board, staff, and volunteers alike give much to the organization and the families we serve but also to each other. Rob Kosin remains “inspired by the time and energy invested by other board members and the strong sense of community we have.” Luc Hoffmann has been energized from the beginning by Executive Director Tracy Sarich, remarking that “Tracy is contagious when she believes in something.” The strong sense of purpose and community surrounding this work is highlighted by the many former board members and volunteers who continue to help, year after year—like Rochelle Youngren, who returns to our board 18 years after her first term.
A Strong Future Ahead—The Power to Make a Difference
Barbara Boster-Phillips clings to the hope of increasing exposure, engaging interest, and generating creative ideas to elevate awareness of Family Support across the state. Elliott Westerman agrees and adds, “People don’t look at child abuse in this way [through the lense of prevention]. We need to work on that.” Board of Directors Vice President, Rob Kosin, sums it up: “Our reason for being here is making our prevention grants. Our goal is to figure out how to do that.”