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About UFC

United Friends of the Children is dedicated to the premise that foster youth deserve a successful adulthood.

Through our Housing and Education Programs, foster youth are provided with the opportunity to graduate from high school, attend and graduate from college, get a job, find housing and have a support system that moves them gradually towards independence.

Our goal is that the youth in our programs not only survive, but that they thrive.

Staff Listing

UFC maintains a lean organization, characterized by highly skilled, extremely committed, and fairly compensated staff. UFC’s widely diverse team of staff members are qualified, caring people who connect with the youth and maintain the highest quality service levels. Deeply committed to providing the youth in our programs with opportunities for employment, UFC regularly hires current program youth and graduates for appropriate positions.

UFC STAFF

Polly Williams
President

Elizabeth Alvarez
Receptionist

Liv Amend
Development Assistant

Catherine Atack
Director, Development

Crystal Bobadilla, M.S.
College Counselor

Rionnisha Bryant
Youth Advocate

Edie Carabez
College Counselor

Cassandre Castanon, M.L.I.S.
Education Programs Assistant

Candace Choi
Assistant, Transitional Living Programs

Denise Davidson
College Counselor

Susanna De Mari, MA, MFT
Clinical Program Supervisor

Carolina Diaz
Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator

Lauren Fletcher, M.A.
College Counselor

Jill Freeman
Annual Giving Manager

Carol Gillard
Controller

Tim Hackett
Corporate & Foundation Relations Manager

Kita Hutchins
Executive Assistant & Office Manager

Karine Kadyan
Volunteer Coordinator

Elizabeth Kesner, M.A.
College Counselor

E. Dorsey Kleger-Heine
Chief Operating Officer & Legal Counsel

Alfredo Larios, M.S.
College Counselor

Roshe Malakuti, M.A.
Director, Transitional Living Programs

Masiel Martinez, M.S., PPS
College Counselor

Hannah Olade
Career & Education Counselor

Carla Palmer
Career Development Manager

Ana Maria Pereira
College Counselor

Linda S. Ramos, M.Ed.
Director, Education Programs

Shauna Reed
Advocacy Counselor

Lindsey Robin-Chen, LCSW
Intake Coordinator

Megan Rogers
Manager, College Readiness Program

Domonique Rood, LMFT
Advocacy Counselor

Tatia Sheffield
Property Management/Housing Coordinator

Kelley Strong
Career & Education Counselor

Francia Telesford
Advocacy Counselor

Yolanda Wright, M.A.
Advocacy Counselor

Nicholas Wu, M.Ed.
College Counselor

I can honestly declare that the staffs’ genuine compassion makes UFC what it is: a haven and a family for thousands of children and youth.”

UFC Staff Member + College Sponsorship Recipient