Marylyn Paik-Nicely, Mary Keehn, David Finigan, Dina Moore, Dennis Rael, Alan Nidiffer.
Not pictured: Judge Abby Abinanti, Dr. Keith Flamer, Eli Pence.
This spring, the Foundation’s Board of Directors bid farewell to Mary Keehn, who completed her term of service at the Board’s monthly meeting in June.
Keehn, who founded Cypress Grove Cheese in 1983, served on the board from March 2015 to June 2025.
During her tenure as chairperson of the Board from 2020 to 2022, Keehn played a pivotal role in guiding the board and staff through the creation of the Foundation’s 2021-2031 Strategic Vision, designed to grow a “Just, Thriving, Healthy, and Equitable Region.”
“It really has been an honor and a privilege to serve as chair and as a board member for the past 10 years,” says Keehn. “Watching how the Foundation stewards so many activities, often behind the scenes, making so many improvements to our region possible, gives me great respect for the organization. Knowing that staff and board both commit so many hours of care and planning to build a better future for our region fills me full of hope,” she adds.
Beyond her board service, Keehn is deeply committed to community support. In 2021, she founded We Are Up, a nonprofit with the mission of empowering adults on the autism spectrum and those with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. Learn more about the project at weareup.org.
The Board also welcomed its newest member, Aristea Saulsbury. Currently Co-Executive Director of the McKinleyville Family Resource Center, Saulsbury is responsible for building connections between community members and the agencies of The Center at McKinleyville, including facilitating community meetings, educational sessions, and online engagement. She was a racial equity consultant with the Foundation’s own Equity Alliance of the North Coast and is a co-director for Stepping Stone Consulting. Saulsbury recently concluded service as a Board Trustee for Northern Humboldt Union High School District.
“I am excited to be joining the Foundation’s Board of Directors. As someone who has worked in local nonprofits since the start of my career, I understand how important HAF+WRCF is to the ecosystem of the region. I’m pleased to give back to an organization that does so much,” says Saulsbury.
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Read through more highlights in the 2025 Summer/Fall Newsletter.