I first joined the HFS Board in 2008. I remember my first board meeting at St. James in the City Episcopal Church. I had to borrow fifty cents in change from the executive director to pay for the parking meter on my car! I have now completed two full rounds of service with the board, including time off between board commitments, and will step down in November 2025, as a new board member will be elected at the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese Convention to take my place.
Our 2024–2025 Fiscal Year was relatively uneventful until January 7th, 2025. The Eaton and Palisades fires affected many of our HFS alumni families and supporters, including mine. Sadly, we lost our home of 20 years, in Altadena – 30 years total living in that beautiful community. The agency staff and board members continue to hold close all those impacted by this tragedy.
Our Circle of Hope was a bright spot in spring, where over 100 people gathered in the garden of the Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop’s home in Pasadena. That afternoon, we honored longtime supporter, board member, and alumni parent Joseph Zanetta. The Adoption Guild was also recognized for their more than 60 years of support through the Roy Emerson Adoption Guild Tennis Tournament held in Newport Beach. Representatives from the Adoption Guild attended the event. The highlight of the event was hearing David Borkes-Washington talk about how he thought he would never be able to fulfill his dream of becoming a parent until he and his husband, Jerrod, learned about HFS. They are now the proud parents of three children, the first an infant adoption and the other two, siblings, adopted through the foster care system. Their story is at the heart of what HFS does, and why my fellow Board members and I are so committed to supporting its work.
As I concluded my tenure as President of the HFS Board of Directors in June of this year, I passed the ceremonial gavel to the very talented and dedicated HFS alumnus and parent, Elaine Tumonis. I owe the success of these past years at the agency to the many wonderful board members I have worked with and the staff at HFS, especially Executive Director Julie Brown. I will continue my involvement with HFS through committee work and as chair of the 2026 Circle of Hope!
HFS generates income in several ways, including fees paid by hopeful adoptive parents, government programs, and grants. Donations from individuals and foundations have always been and continue to be an integral part of enabling the work that HFS can do, including counseling and support of birth parents, educating hospital and clinical staff, and continuing to be there for all of the people who have been touched by HFS in the past, present, and future.
Please join my husband, Matt, and me during this season of gratitude in supporting the wonderful and important work that HFS does in the greater Los Angeles area.
