Speaker Series – February 2013
Summary of Speaker Series Event, February 11, 2013 –
Changing Lives – Advisors That Champion Education
Education is an area of great interest to many donors because it is one of the most effective and tangible ways to break the cycle of poverty. Investing in education for underserved youth creates opportunities and can change the direction of a student’s life.
Our expert panel members are each visionaries who have worked with donors to invest creatively in OC education. Join us to learn about options available to education investors, the effectiveness of scholarship funds, and lessons to build an education program for impact.
PANELISTS
 | Moderator: Laura Ferretti – Laura’s community philanthropy experience brings together strategy and impact for both grantmakers and grantseekers. She has led fundraising teams at the Fulfillment Fund and United Way of Greater Los Angeles, realizing significant revenue growth at both organizations. Through her consulting firm, Impact Philanthropy, Laura has worked with over 40 local, national and international nonprofit organizations and foundations with an approach that is results-oriented: making clear the connection between mission and money, and the respective roles that staff and board members play in building resilient organizations. |
 | Speaker: Dr. Kathy Abels – Dr. Abels graduated Summa Cum Laude from Occidental College with a BA in Psychology and earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. Utilizing her background in psychology, Dr. Abels developed the Simon Scholars Program, an intensive, mentoring college-prep support program that aims to help high school students overcome financial adversity and life obstacles through academic support, leadership and life skills training, and financial assistance for college. Dr. Abels and her staff received recognition in 2009 by being named the National Scholarship Providers Association’s “Independent Scholarship Provider of the Year”. |
 | Speaker: Douglas K. Freeman, J.D., LL.M. – Mr. Freeman provides strategic planning and organizational management advice for business, nonprofit, foundation, and family clients. He brings clients the experience gained as a consultant to nearly 300 family foundations, support organizations and public charities throughout the U.S.. First Foundation has designed a new program called Scholars First, as a means for donors passionate about education, to provide scholarships to students. Mr. Freeman is a noted retired tax attorney and founder of Freeman, Freeman & Smiley, LLP and is the founder of National Philanthropy Day, proclaimed by Congress and celebrated throughout the United States since 1986. |
 | Speaker: Lisa Fujimoto – Ms. Fujimoto has over 29 years of leadership experience in nonprofit management, strategic philanthropy, community relations, and corporate citizenship. She has served on a multitude of community boards and involved with several Funder collaborative roundtable/grantmaker partnerships. She has lectured at Universities and at conferences on Community Partnerships and Collaboration, Strategic Planning, Philanthropy, Public Affairs, Grantsmanship, Fund Development, Board and Leadership Development. The Foundation provides scholarships to amazing students selected from Southern California, as well as Emancipated Students/ Foster Youth and transfer students from Community Colleges to Universities. |
