Ron has served as the President and CEO of Children’s Bureau since 2018 and is responsible for all aspects of our $50 million agency that operates 20 sites throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. He is determined to help us BUILD HOPE in order to create resiliency for the 50,000 children and family members we currently serve and the hundreds of thousands we will one day serve. Ron joined Children’s Bureau in 2000 managing our foster care, adoption, mental health and child abuse prevention programs. Under his leadership, program grants and contracts grew from $11 MM to $30 MM annually. He helped create the Magnolia Community Initiative, our collaborative venture with 70+ organizations to improve the well-being and outcomes of vulnerable children and families in a targeted area of Los Angeles. Previously, Ron served as the Executive Director for Citrus Valley Hospice, Director of Community Resources for Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, and CEO of Intercommunity Medical Center Foundation.
Monica Lee welcomes the opportunity to secure significant investment for BUILD HOPE and to provide strategic leadership to our Hope Builders team and trustee committees. ML has raised over $250 million for nonprofit institutions and billions for private equity investment. Previously, she served as the Chief Development Officer for Planned Parenthood Pasadena and The Cerritos College Foundation where she successfully raised $10 MM for the Finish Great capital campaign. As the CEO of MLC & Company, she led philanthropic initiatives for Pasadena POPS Orchestra, KidSave International, and Agape Spiritual Center. She continues to provide NGO strategic planning expertise as Senior Counsel for Netzel Grisby Associates. ML has significant private sector business development experience, formerly serving as the Chief Marketing Officer for Stone Ally, LLC and Clarke Financial Group, as well as a Senior Marketing Director for Transamerica Life Insurance and Retirement Services where she was responsible for a $1.6 billion brand. A proud adoptive mother, she is deeply committed to protecting vulnerable children and families. She is a current Board Director of the Foothills Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma and volunteers for two arts organizations.
Kate is responsible for developing and implementing the agency’s institutional giving fundraising efforts. She first joined Children’s Bureau’s Philanthropy Department in 2015 as Grants Coordinator, and has been instrumental in raising nearly $2 million annually from grants. Previously, Kate worked as a Fellow in the Taproot Foundation’s LA office. She is determined to BUILD HOPE.
Karen is excited to raise money for BUILD HOPE. She has 10 years of experience in finance and business development in the private sector, helping companies and organizations increase revenues by $30MM+. Karen is committed to Children’s Bureau’s mission in helping vulnerable children. She has volunteered for Reading to Kids LA and Urban Surf 4 Kids, a nonprofit that empowers orphans and foster youth through surfing and mentorship.
Dianna is excited to BUILD HOPE by organizing Hope Talks, well-curated conversations about issues that affect vulnerable children and families. With 15 years of fundraising acumen, she is excited to produce events that will elevate our cause and connect individuals and organizations to our mission. Previously, she served as a Director of Special Events for Tower Cancer Research Foundation and the Colburn School. Dianna was an active volunteer at The Packer Collegiate Institute and is an accomplished classical violinist.
Cindy has been described as an “agent of change” in the nonprofit sector. She has been managing development operations at Children’s Bureau since 2021. She is committed to BUILD HOPE by creating direct mail and social media campaigns that share our mission with other Hope Builders. Cindy served as a Senior Manager of Development for Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. She continues to serve as an Advisory Council Member of Theatrical Outfit where she was a former Board Trustee.
Chris has 10 years of experience across government and nonprofit sectors. He has served on the boards of two local nonprofit organizations, the Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Community Family Guidance Center (CFGC), helping to amplify their reach within the Gateway region of Los Angeles. He transitioned to full-time nonprofit work in 2019, overseeing CFGC’s operations to support the clinical staff in their delivery of critical mental health services to at-risk children and families. He is excited to BUILD HOPE to support Children’s Bureau’s prevention and mental health programs. Chris enjoys the outdoors, golfing, and spending time with his two dogs.
Bernadette is accomplished at building relationships that lead to philantropic investment and is excited about connecting individuals interested in supporting vulnerable children to Children’s Bureau. She led strategy on institutional major gifts programs and managed advancement teams at universities and arts organizations. Bernadette comes to us from the Laguna Art Museum where she served as Director of Advancement. She also served as Executive Director of Development for Loyola Marymount University and Weatherhead School of Management at Case Westerm Reserve University. Bernadette volunteers for an organization serving those with housing insecurity and is a docent at OC Parks’ Arden, historical house and garden.