At our February 2018 meeting of our board of directors, we proudly installed John E. Kobara as our new board chair for the MLK Community Health Foundation. A member of our board since 2016, John is executive vice president and chief operating officer for the California Community Foundation (CCF), one of the largest and most effective community foundations in the nation. CCF is focused on long-term, community-driven social change in immigration, education, housing, and health throughout Los Angeles County.
Welcome Our New Board Chair, John E. Kobara
I’ve known and admired John’s work in Los Angeles for many years. He has dedicated his entire professional life to making California a place of more opportunity, with improved wellbeing—and more hope—for all. I couldn't be more excited to have John leading our board of directors into the foundation’s next stage of growth.
Dyan SublettPresident, MLK Community Health Foundation
A self-described social entrepreneur, John has been leading and managing innovative nonprofit organizations, companies, and technology startups for almost four decades. He is passionate about the power of community-building to improve people's lives, and he speaks on this subject frequently to nonprofit and Fortune 500 audiences.
In 2007, John received the City of Angels Award for his service on behalf of children and families. His leadership includes service on the boards of directors for the Japanese American National Museum, SCGA Junior Foundation, Coro Southern California, Southern California Grantmakers, and Walden University.
John succeeds Manuel (Manny) Abascal in his role as chair. Manny continues to serve on our board, and remains board chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Los Angeles Healthcare Corporation (MLK-LA), the governing entity of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital.
We're grateful to both leaders for their past and continued service with us at both the foundation and hospital.