|
We are excited to announce that Kimberly Perry has become the new chairperson for our board of directors! Kimberly brings more than 20 years of experience as an advocate for children and families and has a proven record of success in nonprofit management, policy advocacy, and civic engagement. Ryan Lugalia-Hollon will continue to serve as a member of our board, and we are grateful for the years of leadership he provided as the board’s chairperson. During Ryan’s tenure as board chairperson, Children’s Funding Project implemented a new strategic plan, expanded our team, and helped communities and states secure $1 billion in new public funding for children and youth.
Not only are we proud of how our board leaders support our work, we are proud of the work they do to support children in their own communities. As executive director for DC Action, Kimberly helped lead efforts to create the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, which raised wages for thousands of early childhood educators and made child care more accessible to families in the District of Columbia.
Meanwhile as CEO, Ryan led UP Partnership to become one of the leading Place Matters sites in the nation, where he focused on coordinating community partners, using data, and aligning resources to support young people in San Antonio, TX, and create pathways to economic mobility. Now as chief impact officer with San Antonio Area Foundation he is active in funding programs for children in the greater San Antonio community.
As we reflect on this tumultuous year, and the challenges that advocates for children and youth have faced nationwide, we remain grateful for Kimberly and Ryan’s leadership—and the support, expertise, and guidance provided by our full board of directors. Looking ahead, in January 2026 the board of directors will welcome Sarah Kastelic (Alutiiq) as its newest member. Sarah, an enrolled citizen of the Native Village of Ouzinkie, has served as the executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) since January 2015. Prior to joining NICWA as chief of staff in 2011, Sarah led the National Congress of American Indians’ (NCAI) welfare reform program and, in 2003, was the founding director of NCAI’s Policy Research Center.
| 
