STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Lori Fascilla

  • Lori has been a part of Giraffe Laugh since 1991 when she came on as the Director of the program.
  • Lori received her degree from the University of Idaho in 1981 in Elementary Education. She always thought she’d teach in a classroom until her oldest child, Alex, was born in 1984. Early Childhood became a sudden passion for her and she was excited to learn more about children under the age of six. She decided to work in a preschool/childcare for a time, to spend more of each day with her son, as well as find out if this was a good career fit. After seven years of operating a for-profit center that was licensed for 85 children she knew Early Childhood was the path she was meant to take. The hustle and bustle of a large center was more than she wanted to take on when her second child, Emily was born so the move to Giraffe Laugh was an unexpected joy. Lori started her Masters Degree from Boise State University in 1995 and is still working on classes in an Early Childhood Masters Degree.
  • Lori has been in this North End treasure ever since and has found a wonderful niche in this community. It is not often that a person is able to find a career where we are able to help so many people while having so much fun in the meantime.
  • The children are a joy and Lori feels fortunate to be a part of so many wonderful families who are in all different stages of economic distress or comfort. The issues of poverty that are a part of every day life at Giraffe Laugh with are tackled as a small community by the Board of Directors and parents alike. There are many opportunities for mentoring and our Family Share Fund allows those with more resources to share with those without the resources to send their children to extra-curricular activities. The combination of a cozy, homelike environment, a great Board of Directors and a wonderful group of families keeps Lori here and feeling lucky to be so every day.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Lisa Steele (President), Laura Baran (Vice President), Janee McLellen (Secretary), Alicia Robin, Andrea Vincamp, Bill Baran, Carolina Valderrama, Kelly Welch, Kristina Taylor, Kyrsten Chaplin, Shari Fernandez, Lori Fascilla & Neile Kyle