Annette Bradbury Appointed Board Chair of Voices for Children

Organization also appoints three new board members to Board of Directors

La Jolla resident Annette Bradbury was recently elected chair of the board of directors for Voices for Children (VFC), the local nonprofit organization certified by the courts in San Diego and Riverside Counties to recruit and train Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. CASAs serve as consistent, caring adults for vulnerable children who are in foster care after experiencing abuse or neglect. CASAs advocate by providing critical information to judges making decisions about the children’s futures. Bradbury will serve a two-year term as chair during fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Bradbury’s role was previously held by longtime VFC supporter, AnneElise Goetz.

 

The board will also welcome the following new board members:

• Justin Gover – Gover is a senior biotech executive and founding CEO of GW Pharmaceuticals plc. He is a resident of La Jolla.

• Dr. Magda Marquet – Dr. Marquet is a serial entrepreneur in life sciences and she is the co-founder of ALMA Life Sciences, LLC. She is a resident of La Jolla.

• Mark Wernig – Wernig is co-CEO at Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Advisors. He is a resident of Carlsbad.

Bradbury, a native of England, is an active community volunteer who has served in executive capacities on several nonprofit boards of directors. Her background includes The Gillispie School, La Jolla; the La Jolla-based philanthropic organization, Las Patronas (serving as President in 2014-15); The Bishop’s School; and the National League of Young Men. She has been a Voices for Children Community Ambassadors Council member and co-chaired the organization’s Starry Starry Night gala. Annette received her Bachelor of Pharmacy from London University (1984) and her Certificate in Clinical Trial Design & Management from UCSD (1999) and spent 15 years working as a clinical pharmacist and in drug development in London and San Diego.

Voices for Children’s President & CEO, Kelly Capen Douglas, Esq. said, “Voices for Children is pleased to have Annette Bradbury lead our board of directors as we continue our mission to provide Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who speak up for the needs and well-being of children in foster care. We are grateful to have Annette join us and contribute to our special cause with her extensive background in advocacy for those in need. I would also like to express my appreciation and gratitude to AnneElise Goetz for her phenomenal service and contributions to the organization as board chair over the last two years.”

Bradbury shared, “I am honored to work alongside our dedicated board and extraordinary staff at Voices for Children to further our mission to advocate for and serve children in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties.”

Voices for Children’s board is comprised of community and business leaders responsible for financial oversight, goal setting, and policy development. Members of the board meet regularly and dedicate additional time to participating in fundraising, community outreach, and CASA graduation celebrations. Board officers for the 2022-2023 fiscal year include:

• Kristi Pfister, Esq. – Vice Chair
• George Lai – Secretary
• Andrea Payne Moser – Treasurer

For more information on VFC, its programs that support youth in foster care, and ways to get involved, visit www.speakupnow.org.

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ABOUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN

Founded in 1980, Voices for Children (VFC) transforms the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned children in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties by providing them with trained, volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). CASA volunteers advocate for a child or sibling group in foster care in court, school, and the community to ensure their needs are met. VFC believes every child deserves a safe and permanent home and strives to provide a CASA volunteer to every child in the foster care system who needs one. Last year, VFC CASAs and staff served more than 3,400 children in foster care across San Diego and Riverside Counties. For more information, visit www.speakupnow.org.