Board of Directors

Becky Wall

Associate, Rice Fergus Miller

Lani Banning

Senior Benefits Business Partner, Microsoft

Laura Larson

Senior Manager, T-Mobile

Susan Corning

Senior Program Manager, Amazon

DeAnne Dodson

IT Operations Manager, Symetra Financial

Photo, Judy Gowdy

Judy Gowdy

President Elect | President, J.C. Interiors, Inc.

Photo, Cynthia Hwang

Cynthia Hwang

Vice President, Client Advisor, JP Morgan

Diane Kuslich

Treasurer | HR Manager, Microsoft

Nora E. Pardo

Secretary | Systems Analyst, UW Medicine

Whitney Reparuk

Senior Supply Chain Manager, Amazon

Photo, Kerry Robinson

Kerry Robinson

Of Counsel, Davis Wright Tremaine- Retired

Diann Strom

Senior Business Program Manager, Microsoft

Alexandra Chasin

Senior International Strategic Consultant, SAP Concur

Andrew Symons

Attorney/Shareholder, Inslee, Best- Retired

Michelle Steffin

Vice President of Finance Operations, Sono Bello

Jessica Nevers

Director Enterprise Strategy, Grant Thornton

Kara Durbin

Director Clean Energy Strategy, Puget Sound Energy

Jessica Nevers

Sr. Director, Enterprise Strategy, Grant Thornton

Staff Leadership

Jack Edgerton

Executive Director

Helen Banks Routon

Director of Development & Community Relations

Carolina Liendo

Senior Manager of Progams

Karen Ridlon, Founder, 1949-2023

The late Karen Ridlon founded our organization in 1990. A certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (University of California, San Francisco, 1972), Karen worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in California and Washington, working in well-child care, newborn care, and newborn ICU support for a number of medical groups and doctors.  Karen’s intent was to fill an unmet need for parents with newborns who lacked basic supplies for their children.

She is Executive Director Emeritus and a lifetime member of the Board of Directors. Karen has been recognized for her efforts with many volunteer awards, including receiving the Leadership Eastside LENi Community Choice Leadership Award in 2013, Distinguished Member Award for the Washington State Chapter of NAPNAP (National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners) in 2013, Issaquah Schools Foundation Golden Apple Award (2009), and chosen as a UCSF Distinguished Alumni.

Karen passed away August 20, 2023.  Her vision and leadership remain the inspiration for the work we do every day to help all kids to be safe, healthy, and able to thrive.

Photo Credit

Melanie Smith, www.melaniesmithstudios.com