Our Family Association
“One way the program has been different is that the client is the whole family, not just the resident.”
“The program helps residents find a place where they can reach for independence, and for many residents, that place includes their families.”
— a Moving Forward family member
The Family Association raises money for staff birthday and holiday gifts and for staff training. Families also participate in other fundraising goals.
Families gather for an annual picnic, where they can meet their resident’s friends, staff, board members, and each other.
They receive updates from Case Managers weekly or monthly, according to the family’s preferences. They chat, raise questions, and offer helpful resources via the FA’s online group.
And they attend FA meetings twice a year. Online now, but historically in a meeting space next door to the program’s campus.
Family Association Officers
Anna Zara, President
The President of the FA is also the board liaison for the families.
Anna and her family have been a part of MFTI since 2020. Anna is a native San Franciscan who currently lives in Menlo Park and Truckee, she graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Computer Science. Anna is currently retired, but her professional career of 20 years was spent working in software development and research for Hewlett-Packard Company in Santa Clara County.
Anna has served as a trustee on the board of Stanbridge Academy, an inclusive K–12 school for students with mild to moderate learning differences and social communication challenges, where she was board secretary and served on the governance committee. Prior to serving as a trustee, Anna also served in leadership roles at the Stanbridge Academy Parent Association (SPA) during her son's time as a student there.
Anna has served on the Menlo Park Library Commission, including as commission chair, and is a current volunteer with the Friends of the Menlo Park Library. Anna has also served in leadership roles in the Palo Alto (now Silicon Valley) branch of the Association of American University Women (AAUW), including branch coordinator for the AAUW-CA Tech Trek university campus-based summer program for rising 8th-grade girls.
Anna has ties to Napa and the greater Napa county via her grandparents and great aunts and uncles who were ranchers on Howell Mountain and Pope Valley through the 1950s and residents of Napa and St. Helena through the 2000s.
In her free time, Anna enjoys hiking, choral singing, reading, keeping up her Italian language skills, and spending time with family and friends.
Claire Heinzelman, Secretary
The Secretary takes the minutes of each FA meeting and undertakes many other duties.
Claire is in her first term as FA Secretary, though for many years, she headed up our FA Welcome Committee. Hightly respected in the family community, Claire is always sharing information, standing up at Board meetings, or offering insights to the FA Group.
Claire is shown here with her son, Jake, who is a Community Living resident at Moving Forward Towards Independence.
Loring Lynch, Treasurer
The FA Treasurer is responsible for managing the books for our family donations, staff gifts, and other expenses. He is also the liaison with the Board Treasurer in arranging for non-profit donation receipts.
Loring Lynch has been the FA Treasurer for two terms. Loring has become famous among the families for his clear and interesting Treasurer’s Reports.
Loring is shown here with his son Ross, a resident at the Moving Forward Towards Independence program, and his wife, Bobi.