Providing an opportunity for every person
to help children heal, learn and thrive.

Who We Are

The Children’s Foundation of America supports high-quality programs for children through solicitation of funds, engagement of volunteers and partnerships within the community. Through its board of trustees, staff and team of volunteers, the Foundation currently provides support to programs that address the health, safety, well-being and education of foster children, initiatives that advocate for children’s issues and community-based organizations that assist children in need. Our team is 100% volunteer-run!

Foundation Team

Cher provides oversight for the Foundation team and guides the activities of the Foundation on behalf of the board of trustees. Cher has worked in the music industry and as a professional actress. Among her many academic degrees and certificates, Cher holds a BA in organizational management from Arizona State University and post-graduate certifications from Cornell University and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Cher is also a member of the first graduating cohort in a National Human Services Assembly (NHSA) nonprofit executive leadership program; a collaboration with Arizona State University, Indiana University and the Lilly School of Philanthropy. In 2019, Cher completed her master’s degree in ethical leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. Cher has worked in foster care administration for over two decades and has served on a variety of nonprofit boards. She currently serves on the Human Relations Committee for the City of Claremont to help oversee their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, serves on the Policy and Practice Commission for the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), is on the Juvenile Justice Steering Committee for the California Alliance for Children & Families, and is a Design Thinking Department Advisor at University of California, Riverside. In her spare time, Cher performs stand-up comedy professionally.

Jenelle oversees the day-to-day operations and staffing of the Foundation, which includes fundraising event management, volunteer coordination, scholarship disbursement, community outreach, and stewardship. Above all, Jenelle’s focus is to identify and access resources in order to help children heal, learn and thrive. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University Fullerton and has become very involved in the community. She is active in her church and owns an art gallery.

Linh supervises a team of accountants in processing incoming and outgoing donations as well as balancing our expenses. Linh has been serving on our team for nearly 15 years and spends her free time volunteering at the Foundation with her children.

Alexandra supports the Foundation team with daily tasks including organization, correspondence and preparing reports or documents. She helps facilitate our Communications Committee and serves on the Diversity, Inclusion, Vale, Equity (DIVE) team at Trinity Youth Services. Alexandra obtained her bachelor's degree in art history from UC Santa Barbara and a master's degree in art business from Claremont Graduate University. She is currently the senior associate at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art and was the sales associate and social media coordinator for Amelie boutique and a file clerk at Trinity Youth Services. Alexandra has served the Foundation as long as she can remember. Her mother would bring her to the office when she was a child and would help out on summer break in high school. "Now I’m happy to be here full time," she says.

Briana leads our volunteer program through various campaigns and volunteer activities year round. Briana describes her responsibility as helping to create a space for everyone to come volunteer and find community in serving a greater purpose than our own. Briana graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication with a focus on public relations at California State University San Bernardino. During her time at CSUSB, she was a student recruiter and tour guide. Having enjoyed her experience working with students and public speaking, working with volunteers seemed like a natural step. Briana joined our team in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped advance our volunteer systems with technology and provided virtual volunteer opportunities when possible. In 2019, Briana was awarded the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Scholarship and was invited to the 33rd Annual HACU Conference in Chicago, IL. In addition to her position at CFA, Briana also serves on the Diversity, Inclusion, Value, Equity (DIVE) team at Trinity Youth Services helping to create a curriculum for foster youth to explore social justice through expression. Briana is also a participant in the Claremont Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders network.

Paula researches and writes for granting opportunities. She majored in human services at Brigham Young University and has experience in marketing, public relations and nonprofit work. She has served on PTA boards and school site councils as well as volunteered in local schools for more than 15 years. She started her own grass-roots charity, which has served people in the US, India, Mexico and Africa through campaigns that provided food, clothes, hygiene products, medical supplies and instruments, and items to help entrepreneurs start home based businesses.

Board of Trustees

John Neiuber, Chairman

Danny Keshishian, Vice-Chairman

Ashley Adams, Secretary/Treasurer

Laura Chaidez, Member

Christina Jackson, Member

Sharon Nagel, Member

Carla Kingsbury, Member

Our History

Portrait of happy children forming huddleThe Children’s Foundation of America was established to Be the Difference for children who have suffered trauma, require assistance and who need to heal and thrive in order to develop into adults with a bright future. Founded in 2005, the dedicated board of directors, staff and volunteers work to ensure that children with very little are afforded the same opportunities that are available to other children. Located in Claremont, CA, the Foundation originally supported only the programs of Trinity Youth Services, but has expanded its mission to include advocacy of children’s issues and support of community-based organizations, in addition to providing support to foster care, adoption, residential treatment and mental health programs.

View the Children's Foundation of America 2021 Annual Report.

Organizations Served

When you support the Children's Foundation of America through donations or volunteering, you support multiple nonprofit organizations that provide direct care services to children in need. Through our annual campaigns, we support 3,000 trauma-affected children who have been placed into foster care, residential treatment, crisis centers, shelters, mental health programs, or underserved schools. See our growing list below of organizations we have provided care packages and support to. The following list is not an endorsement.

Trinity Youth Services

Upland Unified School District

Mt. Rubidoux Foster Resource

San Bernardino School District

Ark Family Homes

Ontario Montclair School District

Foothill Family Shelter

Tree of Life

Building Bridges

Shoes That Fit

Citrus Elementary School

Pathway Family Services

Advantage Foster Family Agency

Parents Anonymous

Penny Lane Centers

Crittenton Foster Care

McKinley Children’s Center

Uncommon Good

Oak Grove Center

Inland Empire Residential

Fields Comprehensive Youth Services

Greater Hope Foundation

David & Margaret Youth & Family Services

House of Ruth

Family Pathways

Haynes Family Programs

Texas DFPS

Olive Crest

Serenity Foster Care and Adoptions

Hannah's Children's Homes

Riverside Unified School District

Inland Temporary Homes

New Dawn Group Home

St. Anne’s Home

The Veteran’s Center

Pomona Unified School District

Children's Advocacy Center

Saving Our Daughters

Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center

Children Advocacy Center

New Life Foster Family Agency

Mission Elementary School

Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana

Purposely Chosen

San Gabriel Children's Center