FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Alex M. Johnson
July 29, 2024 [email protected] | 818-702-1902
LOS ANGELES – The California Wellness Foundation has hired experienced and innovative strategist Mary Lou Fulton as its new director of communications. Fulton began in the role on July 23 following her work as a consultant supporting nonprofits and philanthropies in and beyond California.
Fulton spent 11 years at The California Endowment, where she served as director of narrative strategies and co-created the first statewide campaign to end use of racist school discipline policies, the #DotheMath campaign to elevate investing in education over incarceration, and the #SchoolsNotPrisons campaign to fight mass incarceration through arts and culture. Fulton’s work as a narrative strategist continued over the past four years, when she served as principal and founder of Optimista Consulting and worked with partners including PolicyLink, the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, Alliance for a Better Community and Sobrato Philanthropies.
“Mary Lou Fulton is an experienced communications leader and storyteller with trusted relationships and a desire to be bold, creative and innovative,” Alex M. Johnson, Cal Wellness’ vice president of Public Affairs, said. “In hiring her, we were impressed with not only her leadership in the field, but her deep alignment with Cal Wellness’ mission and values. We are looking forward to her leadership, partnership with grantee partners, and deep strategic expertise.”
Fulton will be based in the Los Angeles office and collaborate with grantee and investee partners across the state.
“I’m excited to bring my experience in social justice communications, philanthropy and journalism to my role with Cal Wellness,” Fulton said. “I welcome opportunities to join my new colleagues as we become a bold, disruptive force in philanthropy and collaborate with foundation partners in charting a path toward a more just world.”
About the California Wellness Foundation
The California Wellness Foundation’s mission is to protect and improve the health and wellness of the people of California by increasing access to health care, quality education, good jobs, healthy environments and safe neighborhoods. Since its founding in 1992, Cal Wellness has awarded more than $1 billion in charitable contributions and more than 10,000 grants.