Exceptional Children's Foundation Announces New Board Chair and Two New Board Members

Culver City, CA, September 25, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shelley Smith as its new Chairperson of the Board and the addition of Steven Beltran and Mary Kayne to the Board.

“For only the second time since ECF was established in 1946, the ECF Board has elected a woman as Chair. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Shelley during the last five years while she’s served on the Board and many committees, and I’m looking forward to Shelley’s vast experience and expertise to lead ECF in the coming year,” said Scott Bowling, Psy.D., President and CEO of ECF. “Also, we’re thrilled to welcome Steve and Mary as new members of ECF’s Board. Each brings a passion for our mission and professional expertise to our Board that will add significant value to our organization.”

Shelley I. Smith, Esq., a member of the ECF Board of Directors and Chair of the Board’s Investment Committee for five years, became the Chairperson on July 1. With more than 30 years as a lawyer dedicated to public service, she is passionate about advocating for individuals with special needs and developmental disabilities.

A graduate of the UCLA Law School, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Shelley worked for the LA City Attorney’s Office from 1974-2009, and also co-founded the LA City Attorneys Association. As Chair and a member of the Board for the LA City Employees Retirement System, she designed and implemented corporate governance and innovative investment programs; and also worked on the LA Deferred Compensation Board in a variety of capacities between 1988 and 2010. Currently, she is the President and General Counsel for GrayShell Consulting, a consultancy offering strategic advisory services and training to institutional investors with a focus on fiduciary education, corporate governance, and emerging investment strategies.

ECF also welcomes two new members to the Board: Steven P. Beltran and Mary Kayne.

Steve is a senior partner of Beltran, Beltran, Smith & MacKenzie, LLP, and has nearly 40 years of experience in personal injury, tort litigation, special needs trust planning and litigation, and mental health proceedings. He is past President and member of the Board of Directors of the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled, and also a member of the LA County Mexican American Bar Association. Steve is married and has three children – and one daughter was a student at the ECF Kayne Eras School and is currently a participant in ECF’s Art Center program.

Mary has over 10 years of experience in creative program development for the television industry at Showtime Networks, CBS, and Turner Network Television. She has also been involved in community philanthropy with Children's Burn Foundation, Hillcrest Country Club, City of Hope, and Medecins sans Frontieres. Mary is married and has a son and a daughter.

Steve and Mary look forward to serving on the Board of Directors, and ECF is honored to welcome both of them to its extended family of supporters.

About Exceptional Children’s Foundation
Exceptional Children's Foundation (ECF) provides the highest quality services for children and adults who are challenged with developmental, learning and emotional disabilities – empowering them to reach their greatest potential. Each year, ECF serves more than 3,700 clients and their families at 15 sites throughout Los Angeles County. ECF is the only organization of its kind in California to provide a lifespan of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. To learn more, visit www.ECF.net and connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConnectwithECF.