The First Five Years Fund is pleased to announce that Kris Perry has been appointed our new executive director.

When the executive director search began, our wish list was long and lofty: blend the strategic savvy of a seasoned politician and the content expertise of a policy wonk with a deft communicator and visionary leader. We barely dared to dream there was any one person who could fit the bill.

But, as the press release and her bio detail, Kris brings that full complement of skills and experiences to FFYF from her previous position as executive director of First 5 California. She has stared down fiscal messes and maneuvered through political brinksmanship to enact substantive policy change and build systems. She brings passion for early learning advocacy that will invigorate us as we tackle ongoing funding battles and envision new approaches and bold campaigns.

Her perspective makes her particularly attuned to how all of our efforts, from federal to state and local levels, from policy to program, need to work in concert in order for all of us to be more effective voices. So rest assured that you’ll hear from her often, and that she’ll continue to share information, tools, and calls to action as FFYF always has.

Kris will officially take the helm at FFYF in mid-September, and her email address will be kperry@ffyf.org. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Kris!