Welcoming Two New Members to the Board of Directors
A strong board is essential to the success of any nonprofit. At a high level, members advance the mission of an organization through ethical, legal, and financial input. They are experts in the issue areas of the organization, helping steer it towards a sustainable future.
As the Rose Foundation supports a variety of programs, from consumer rights to grassroots activism and youth environmental leadership, our board of directors must reflect the diversity of our work. We are excited to announce two new members to our Board, Pam Fujita-Yuhas and Veronica Eady, both of whom bring unique perspectives to support Rose’s growth and evolution. Learn more about their background, interests, and what they hope to accomplish as new board members below!
Pam Fujita-Yuhas
How did you connect and first get involved with the Rose Foundation?
Many years ago, when the Rose Foundation was first considering handling the mitigation funds generated by Puget Soundkeeper and other Waterkeepers in Washington, I had a conversation with Tim Little. At the time I had been Co-directing the NW Fund for the Environment and Tim introduced me and my colleague Zoe Rothchild to the work of the Rose Foundation. NWFE and Rose share several common objectives including a commitment to equity and community-driven efforts in grantmaking. Tim has been a great colleague and partner and so several years ago when some spots opened on the Advisory Board for the Puget Sound Fund, I thought it would be a great opportunity to volunteer and support grassroots environmental work.
The Rose Foundation supports various programs, from consumer rights to grassroots activism and youth environmental leadership. What area of Rose’s work resonates most with you and why?
I am very interested in the grant programs supporting grassroots activism and youth environmental leadership. I think grassroots advocates and youth leaders are among the most brave, creative, committed and passionate people working in the environmental movement today. I would also like to learn about the Rose Foundation’s grantmaking outside of Washington State.
As a board member, what do you hope to accomplish in your service to Rose? What would you like to learn?
I would like to contribute to the work the Foundation is doing to further integrate and align equity and justice in its grant programs. I am interested in learning more about the grants and grantees Rose supports in regions outside of the Pacific NW.
Veronica Eady
How did you connect and first get involved with the Rose Foundation?
I first became aware of the Rose Foundation in the 90s, shortly after it was founded and started doing its innovative work funding community-based organizations. I knew of Tim and Jill but don’t recall when I actually met them. I moved to the East Coast – Boston and New York – in 1998. And then after that I moved to Berlin for several years. When I returned to California in early 2017, I reconnected with Jill and New Voices Are Rising. I’d taken a position at CARB, and I was thrilled to become acquainted with New Voices Are Rising and have them engaged in AB 617 work, which was the core of my work at CARB. Jill and I have stayed connected, having the occasional coffee or meal, since 2017.
The Rose Foundation supports various programs, from consumer rights to grassroots activism and youth environmental leadership. What area of Rose’s work resonates most with you and why?
The youth work is amazing. It’s so important to engage youth and support youth leadership. It’s everyone’s duty to give them the tools they need to live on and nurture the planet and communities we are leaving them. And I love Mykela Patton’s story. She was nurtured as a youth leader, she went away to college, and now she’s back to lead work in her own community. That’s the way it should happen!
As a board member, what do you hope to accomplish in your service to Rose? What would you like to learn?
The Rose Foundation is a unique institution, so I have a lot to learn. It is reaching small nonprofits, and I’m looking forward to exploring that. Through the Rose Foundation, I want to impact communities and improve lives. And I want to play a concrete role in leaving a safer, healthier world for future generations.
We are fortunate to welcome Pam and Veronika to our Board of Directors! Stay in the know with all things Rose by joining our online community here: rosefdn.org/signup