United Friends of the Children Announces Dr. Kara Allen Soldati as New President and CEO

Soldati Succeeds Polly Williams, Who Served as President and CEO
Since 2001

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–United Friends of the Children (UFC) announced today that Dr. Kara Allen
Soldati will succeed Polly Williams as its President and Chief Executive
Officer, effective February 8, 2016.

“Kara has dedicated her academic and professional career to supporting
and developing organizations and people that help meet the needs of
children, families, and communities in historically under-resourced
areas, and we are excited at the prospect of Kara’s leadership as United
Friends of the Children continues its mission,” said Mitch Evall, UFC’s
Board Chair.

“As UFC’s incoming President and CEO, I am honored to champion our
critical services for young people,” said Dr. Soldati. “I am eager to
lead the team as we grow and expand our education and housing programs,
and I am committed to ensuring that UFC continues to create
life-changing impact for Los Angeles County foster youth.”

Dr. Soldati most recently served families in Los Angeles and the Bay
Area as the Executive Director of CoachArt, a nonprofit that creates a
transformative arts and athletics community for families impacted by
childhood chronic illness. Prior to CoachArt, she served as Chief
Operating Officer of arc, a large out-of-school time provider
based in Southern California, and also worked and conducted research
with child-headed households in Uganda and Haiti. Dr. Soldati holds a
doctorate in educational leadership for social justice from Loyola
Marymount University (LMU), where she researched student perceptions of
the implications of being labeled “at risk.” She also holds a master’s
degree in social work from the University of Southern California,
completed coursework for a master’s degree in education, and holds a
bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.

Ms. Williams departs UFC after serving as its President and CEO since
2001. “During her tenure as President and CEO of UFC, Polly’s leadership
enabled UFC to provide sorely needed educational opportunities and
housing to thousands of current and former foster youth,” said
Evall. “Polly’s fundamental decency, coupled with her dedication to the
young people in UFC’s programs, were a constant source of inspiration to
all of us on the Board and to the entire UFC family. We wish Polly luck
in the next phase of her life.”

“It has been such a privilege to be a part of this organization for the
past 15 years,” said Ms. Williams. “I have learned so much from the
youth and from the experience and I will be forever grateful for the
opportunity. UFC has an incredible Board and staff and such an important
mission. I look forward to watching the organization’s continued success
under Kara’s leadership.”

About United Friends of the Children:

Founded in 1979, United Friends of the Children is there for foster
youth when no one else is. UFC provides critical support to help foster
youth graduate from high school, attend and graduate from college, find
stable housing, gain employment, and lead successful independent lives.
United Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster youth
on their journey to self-sufficiency through service-enriched education
and housing programs, advocacy, and consistent relationships with a
community of people who care.

Visit UFC on the web: www.unitedfriends.org
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Contacts

For more information about UFC, please contact:
United
Friends of the Children
Catherine Atack, Director of Development
213-580-1825
Catherine@unitedfriends.org