Ability First Welcomes Courtney Jurado, Chief Development Officer
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PASADENA, Calif., May 23, 2023 ~ AbilityFirst, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities to achieve their personal best, recently welcomed Courtney Jurado as their new Chief Development Officer. Ms. Jurado brings over 15 years of experience leading programs, charitable giving campaigns and managing events to the role. She holds a post-graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

"I'm a born networker who lives to connect the dots between what makes others light up and how that motivates their giving," said Ms. Jurado. "I have spent my professional career leading program operations and supporting charitable giving campaigns, and I feel both well-prepared for and excited about my new position and journey with AbilityFirst."

Lori Gangemi, CEO of AbilityFirst, expressed her enthusiasm for Ms. Jurado's appointment: "Courtney's commitment and passion for growing charitable giving to important causes, like ours, is just one reason we are thrilled to have her join the executive team at AbilityFirst. We are confident that the depth and breadth of her skills will help us further meet the growing needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families."

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AbilityFirst was originally conceived in 1926 by visionaries looking beyond disabilities and seeing children and capabilities. Today, it is distinguished by evidence-based services, exceptional leadership and management, long standing experience and community roots, as well as outcomes-based program evaluation with measurable results.

The appointment of Courtney Jurado came after an extensive search process led by the AbilityFirst search committee in conjunction with Envision Consulting--a nonprofit consulting firm based in Los Angeles specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration and executive leadership transitions. Envision was named by Women of Color in Fundraising & Philanthropy as a Top 10 Search Firm that Works for Women of Color in 2023; additionally Hunt Scanlon named them a Top 60 Executive Search Firms Serving the Nonprofit Sector in 2022.

Courtney Jurado has joined AbilityFirst as Chief Development Officer after an extensive recruitment process led by the AbilityFirst search committee in conjunction with Envision Consulting--a nonprofit consulting firm based in Los Angeles specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration and executive leadership transitions which has been recognized for its commitment to DEI practices including inclusive surveys & stakeholder interviews; focus groups; structured hiring processes; anti-biased decision making; among others.

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Ms. Jurado brings over 15 years' experience leading programs & charitable giving campaigns & managing events to her new role at AbilityFirst along with a post-graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University & most recently served as Executive Director of Susan G Komen Foundation helping lead fight against Breast Cancer while building strong culture of philanthropy throughout organization.

Lori Gangemi CEO expressed enthusiasm for Ms Jurado's appointment "Courtney's commitment & passion for growing charitable giving to important causes like ours is just one reason we are thrilled to have her join executive team at AbilityFirst We are confident that depth & breadth of her skills will help us further meet growing needs of people with developmental disabilities & their families"

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