Dear Friends,

I am writing to share with you that Tashera Taylor’s last day as CEO of Foothill Unity Center, Inc. was July 12, 2024.

Tashera has been a valued member of our Foothill Unity Center family since 2010 and our CEO since 2021. Throughout her tenure, Tashera demonstrated a strong and passionate commitment to our mission of helping individuals and families move out of poverty toward economic stability.

During this time, our organization faced some of the most challenging events in its history including the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in the unhoused population in the San Gabriel Valley, and a decrease in donations. Despite these obstacles, Tashera worked tirelessly to help make sure that our essential services continued to reach those in need.

As we move forward, we remain committed to maintaining the highest level of service that our community deserves. In partnership with Envision, the board will launch a national search for a new Executive Director to help us achieve our goals and build on our successes. As part of this process, we will reach out to our excellent staff, volunteers, donors, and the community for feedback to help find our next leader.

To ensure continuity, Amy Shapiro joined the staff as Interim Executive Director on Monday, July 15, 2024, to oversee day-to-day operations. Amy has nearly two decades of experience in the non-profit sector including administrative oversight, fiscal accountability, fundraising, event management, human resources, and board development. With over 15 years of direct supervisory experience, Amy is a people-oriented manager, passionate about nurturing an organizational culture emphasizing professional development, mentorship, and progressive responsibility. Amy was most recently the Interim Executive Director at Ryman Arts and previously served in the same capacity at Young & Healthy.

We will also be placing a renewed focus on fundraising to secure the resources we need to provide vital support services with love and dignity. We believe that with the support of our dedicated staff, volunteers, community members, and donors, we can continue to make a significant impact in the lives of those we serve.

We are grateful to Tashera for her service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Her contributions to our organization have been meaningful, and she will always be a part of the Foothill Unity Center family.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Foothill Unity Center.

Sincerely,

Gary A. Kovacic, President