Honoring Courageous Leaders, former board chairs Lisa Spinali, Allison Eisenhardt, and Lisa Pearson. Please join us in honoring three brave women who have brought countless supporters to SFCASA and who continue to give generously of their time and talents!
Lisa Spinali was so moved by the mission after consulting with the board of directors when SFCASA was going through major transitions that she joined the board in 2013 and was soon elected to the role of board chair. Concurrently she chaired our first Fostering Change Gala, galvanizing donors, volunteers and community members as supporters of SFCASA. The success of the inaugural event created the foundation for the organization’s deep connection to our community. A nationally recognized expert in nonprofit leadership, volunteerism and organizational development, she brought her vast knowledge and experience to the board of directors and refocused the board on key priorities essential to the organization’s stabilization and growth. Lisa continues to be involved at all levels, providing staff training, raising funds, and centering youth by making the youth holiday party special every year through her craft-making activities.
Allison Eisenhardt first joined as a CASA volunteer in 2010 and supported a young girl for nearly three years. After the case closed, she joined the board and soon took on the additional roles of co-chairing the Gala with long-time advocate Amanda Clarke, and chairing the Governance Committee. In 2016 she was elected to be the board chair, and oversaw a period of rapid growth in SFCASA's program. At the end of her term, she co-chaired the successful search committee which resulted in hiring Kate Durham, SFCASA's executive director. Allison continues to support SFCASA as chair of the Leadership Council, a group of committed community volunteers who champion SFCASA and advocate for San Francisco's foster youth.
Lisa Pearson has long been inspired by SFCASA's mission. She completed SFCASA's intensive advocate training in 2011, and joined the board in 2016. Lisa co-chaired the 2019 Gala with Alex Del Prete, leading it to be SFCASA's most successful event in its history, accounting for a third of SFCASA's annual budget. Lisa took on the additional role of board chair in the same month as the Gala. As chair, Lisa steered SFCASA through repeated challenges of the pandemic, ensuring foster youth had what they needed even as the City shut down most services. She also served on the search committee for the organization's executive director during this time. Remarkably, while undergoing a leadership change, under Lisa's guidance SFCASA was able to meet the increased, urgent needs of foster youth and families, and emerge from the pandemic in a position of organizational and financial strength.