Door of Hope has announced that two La Cañada Flintridge residents — Camilla Hartman and Kay Wolking — have been elected to the Pasadena-based organization’s board of directors. Additionally, local resident Steve Lazarian Jr. has become Door of Hope’s new board president.
Door of Hope is a Christ-centered, nonprofit organization that helps families and children experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives by helping families find jobs, receive “financial literacy” and budgeting skills, and provide children with daily homework assistance and tutoring to help them develop academically and socially.
“The amazing team I get to work with at Door of Hope just got even better,” said Door of Hope Executive Director Megan Katerjian. “Each new board member brings unique gifts, concrete skills and a deep heart for the families we serve. I am honored they have accepted this new role and believe they will be a huge asset to the organization.”
Hartman has been a teacher since 1994. She and her family began volunteering at Door of Hope through her church by serving and eating dinner with the families. Her interest in working with children has led to her deeper involvement. She joined the board to help the families rebuild their lives together, and to end the homelessness cycle that often occurs for children who have experienced this situation.
Wolking is Wells Fargo Private Bank’s regional managing director. She leads team members who provide investment management, private banking, trust, estate, credit and integrated wealth management services through Wells Fargo Bank, as well as insurance and brokerage services through Wells Fargo Advisors. Wolking has been in the financial services industry for more than 30 years and earned her degree in business-economics from UCLA.
Lazarian, whose parents founded Door of Hope in 1985, is CEO of CityWorks Management. He established a law firm in 1974 that specialized in corporate, real estate and construction law, and he is currently a member of the California Bar and U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Three decades ago, Lazarian was appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to the Contractors State License Board for the State of California, serving as chairman in 1988-89. Lazarian was later appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. He also served as chairman of the board of Claremont Facilities Corp., which was a World Vision subsidiary, and is on the board of Pasadena Christian School.
“Steve Lazarian Jr. has inherited a compassionate heart for the homeless from his parents who founded Door of Hope,” Katerjian said. “He couples that compassion with an impressive business resume and strong leadership skills that have benefited the organization for many years.”
