Extraordinary Lives Foundation

MANAGEMENT

CEO/Executive Director

Mara J. James

CEO/Executive Director Experience

Born & raised in New York City, Mara attended the University of Rochester, graduating with double majors in Psychology and Economics. After college, Mara worked for Drexel Burnham Lambert, Swiss Bank Corporation and Credit Suisse First Boston, where she was Vice President of Foreign Exchange Operations. In 2007, Mara and her family relocated to Orange County, California, where Mara helped start and manage her husband's OBGYN practice. Mara has also organized extracurricular activities and several fundraisers for her children’s school. She is a past board member for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation in New York, where she co-chaired the Foundation’s annual Neiman Marcus sponsored luncheon for two years. Mara started ELF from scratch and is so grateful to see it making a significant impact in bringing awareness to mental health issues. ​ Mara is the author of “The Power of Piggie Bear” and “Piggie Bear’s Power of Happiness”, which are included in ELF’s tools for children. Her recent book “Unconditional: Mental Health Redefined”, shares her own story of parenting children with mental health diagnoses, to offer support for parents going through that experience. Mara is also honored to serve on several councils promoting humanitarian causes including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Orange County Advisory Committee, Segerstrom Arts & Business Leadership Council, 44 Women for Orangewood, and Member of the Council for the Advancement of Global Mental Health Research at Columbia University.

Staff Information

Staff Demographics

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