Friends In Deed Announces Board Leadership Transition and Welcomes Two New Members

Friends In Deed is pleased to announce a leadership transition on its Board of Directors. Bret Schaefer has concluded his term as Board President, and Leslie White has stepped into the role. The organization also welcomes two new board members, Joan Laidig, PhD, and Jessie Mosqueda, who bring backgrounds in clinical psychology, community development, and corporate philanthropy, along with a shared commitment to the Pasadena community.

“It has been an honor to serve as Board President during such an important chapter for Friends In Deed,” said outgoing Board President Bret Schaefer. “I am deeply grateful to our staff, volunteers, donors, and fellow board members for their dedication to our neighbors. I leave this role with confidence that Leslie’s leadership, along with the experience Joan and Jessie bring, will help Friends In Deed continue to grow in compassion, dignity, and connection.”

Friends In Deed, founded in Pasadena in 1894, is a social services agency focused on reducing and preventing homelessness and alleviating the effects of poverty for the community’s most vulnerable residents. Its core programs include the Food Pantry, The Women’s Room, Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance, Bad Weather Shelter, and Street Outreach and Housing. For more than 130 years, the organization has remained committed to serving neighbors in need with kindness and respect.

“On behalf of everyone at Friends In Deed, I want to thank Bret for his steady, thoughtful leadership and his unwavering commitment to our mission,” said Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater. “I am delighted that Leslie, who already gives her time in our Food Pantry, is stepping into this role, and I am thrilled to welcome Joan and Jessie. Each brings real-world experience and a heart for service that will strengthen our ability to serve the community.”

The nonprofit provided the following biographies for each board member.

Leslie White
Principal Consultant, Lelo & Associates / Board President

Leslie White serves as President of the Board of Directors of Friends In Deed. She brings experience in board development, strategic planning, and social advocacy, along with a longstanding commitment to nonprofit leadership and community service.

Leslie’s connection to Friends In Deed extends beyond her board service. She currently volunteers in the Friends In Deed Food Pantry and has also been involved with The Women’s Room and the Bad Weather Shelter. She believes deeply that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion, a belief that aligns with the organization’s mission and informs her approach to service and leadership.

In addition to her work with Friends In Deed, Leslie serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Advocates and as a volunteer consultant for Jericho Road Pasadena. She previously served as Board Chair of Young & Healthy. Across these roles, she has focused on strengthening nonprofit organizations through effective governance, thoughtful strategic planning, and engaged board leadership.

Joan Laidig, PhD
Licensed Psychologist, Psychology Resource Consultants / Food Pantry Volunteer

Joan Laidig, PhD, is a retired clinical psychologist who was an associate professor and maintained a private practice in the community. She is now a ceramic artist at Umu Studios in East Pasadena. Joan has volunteered at the Friends In Deed Food Pantry for several years and is passionate about addressing food insecurity.

Jessie Mosqueda
Director, Wescom Credit Union

Jessie Mosqueda is an accomplished community development and corporate philanthropy leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing social impact through strategic grantmaking, community investments, and public–private partnerships. His work spans the corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.

At Wescom Credit Union, Jessie oversees philanthropic strategy, charitable investments, and community partnerships across California. His career includes senior leadership roles at Citibank, Bank of the West, the Miguel Contreras Foundation, and McCormack Baron Salazar. Jessie has managed multi-million-dollar social impact portfolios, led cross-sector collaborations, and delivered initiatives that strengthen economic mobility, financial inclusion, and neighborhood resilience.

Jessie brings expertise in grantmaking, CSR strategy, community affairs, nonprofit management, workforce development, mixed-income housing development, and program evaluation.

About Friends In Deed

Friends In Deed, a human and social services agency which celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2024, provides supportive services with compassion and dignity to neighbors experiencing homelessness and vulnerability. This nonprofit operates five core programs, including a Food Pantry, The Women’s Room (a daytime shelter for homeless and at-risk women), Street Outreach and Housing, Bad Weather Shelter, and Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance. Friends In Deed is committed to providing services for all clients experiencing times when they need assistance most, through the nonprofit’s core values: caring, community-based, human-centered, inclusive, interfaith, and resourceful.