Meet Our Team
Beth Perak President
Beth Perak holds a B.A. in English from Nazareth College, Rochester, NY; an MA in Early Childhood Education from SUNY, Brockport; and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from USC. She worked as an elementary teacher and in school and school district administration before joining the faculty of Azusa Pacific University, where she retired as an Associate Professor. She moved to the Village in 2007. A Past-President of GRF and the Foundation of Laguna Woods Village, she has also served on the Third Mutual Board and is active with St. Nicholas Parish.
You can reach Beth at DrBethPerak@gmail.com or 818-640-6878
Joan Milliman, Advisor
A Village resident since 2008, Joan Milliman currently serves on Golden Rain Foundation as Secretary, chairs the Media and Communications Committee, and has served on a number of other Golden Rain Foundation committees. She holds a B.A. in English from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in Musicology from USC. She has served on several non-profit boards including the LA Area Dance Alliance, Pasadena Chamber Orchestra, and two governing boards for her church. She taught for LA Unified School District, Humboldt State University, and USC. As an arts management consultant, she included the Getty Museum and Music at Angel Fire (NM) among her clients.
Joan can be reached at blindmice_3@yahoo.com or 949-350-7940
Diane Phelps, Treasurer
A former GRF Director/Treasurer, Diane is a second-generation Laguna Woods Village resident, having lived in the Village since 2008. She retired in 2011 after over 30 years with the Internal Revenue Service. Her last 10 years were spent negotiating with foreign governments. She received her undergraduate degree from Towson State University and her master’s from Bowling Green State University.
Diane’s contact information is DianePhelps@comline.com or 626-665-0172
Mindy Armstrong, Secretary
Mindy moved to the Village in 2004 and has served on a number of boards, including the Baby Boomers Club and the Pickleball Club and has delivered for Meals on Wheels. Before retiring, Mindy ran the office for the construction company she owned with her husband.
You can reach Mindy at caconst@yahoo.com or 949-395-0930
Catherine Brians, Advisor
Sandy Benson Director of Legacy Giving
Sandy Benson is a retired corporate paralegal and compliance officer from Pacific Investment Management Company in Newport Beach. She also serves on the MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Foundation Board and is a member of the Disaster Preparedness Task Force Sub-Committee for Pets. Sandy has lived in the Village since 2013.
You can reach Sandy at sandybenson@att.net of 949-923-9520
And maybe you?
Leslie Anne Mogul, Advisor
Leslie Anne Mogul’s fundraising efforts have helped non-profits raise more than $50-million during her 30+ year professional career. She has consulted with leaders of non-profit and for-profit organizations in developing fiscally responsible ventures and has worked in program development, strategic planning, marketing communications, and organizational leadership. Her experience includes Director of Development at Laguna Playhouse, project works marketing and business development for a national healthcare management company, 10 years as Director-Integrated Marketing Communications for ScrippsHealth, and account management with two of Philadelphia’s largest public relations agencies. Her entrepreneurial abilities have also helped successfully launch many consumer products.
Lucy Parker, Communications
With a degree in journalism from Northwestern University, Lucy Parker worked in higher education public relations at San Diego State University, the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Chapman University, and the University of La Verne. Later, as a freelance writer and graphic designer, she served many Orange County corporations and organizational clients, including Beckman Instruments, Taco Bell, Avco Financial Services, Coldwell Banker, the Direct Marketing Association of Orange County, and leading Southern California hospitals. She has also done freelance website design.
Lucy can be reached at LVParker@gmail.com or 949-456-4657
Village Community Fund leadership is comprised of a volunteer Board of Directors, all of whom reside in Laguna Woods Village. Each board member is involved in other clubs and organizations within the community, which is a benefit to understanding how the village operates. Directors have a year-long commitment to attend monthly board meetings and to be responsible for a specific role, such as Secretary, Treasurer, or Director of Philanthropy.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our board, a great pathway is to become an advisor to the board or join a fundraising project committee. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about our organization without a bigger commitment. Because Village Community Fund is a non-profit community benefit organization, we look for advisors and board members with expertise and practical experience in specific areas such as accounting/bookkeeping, business administration and office management, non-profit fundraising, lawyer/legal aid, website development/design, public relations, and video production.
If this sounds of interest and you’d like to contribute your know-how, expertise and time to the Village Community Fund, please complete a Village Community Fund Board Application, or simply contact President Beth Perak at DrBethPerak@gmail.com or 818-640-6878.