News Release

​2020 continues to keep us on our toes. Health, economics, families, and institutions have been shaken, and our paradigms forced to shift. Although this has been challenging, The Lauren Project remains steadfast in our mission and commitment to bettering the world. Helping to make this happen and furthering our efforts behind the scenes, we are excited to introduce this year’s Board Executive Officers:

Don Johnson has served as the President and heartbeat of The Lauren Project for the past 11 years. He now has requested to serve as the organization’s newly created position of Chief Creative Officer. In light of our present realities and as we plan for the future, Don will lead the organization’s charge of developing exciting and innovative ways to further our two-fold mission, allowing us to continue our advocacy of carbon monoxide safety issues and funding of international service opportunities aimed at achieving global social justice.

Carrying on Lauren’s legacy as our President is her former classmate and life-long friend, Matt Purdy. Matt was unanimously elected by the board due to his heart for service, commitment to carbon monoxide safety, and 10+ years of experience working in the international travel industry. Fun fact about Matt: he has traveled to over 45 different countries! A local real estate professional, Matt has served in an official capacity on the Board of Directors for the past 3 years.

Cathy Kernen has been on the Board for 11 years and served as Vice-President for much of that time. Ready for a change, Cathy is passing the torch on to Scott Pringle, a fellow long-time board member of 7 years. We are excited Cathy will remain as a Board member at large, continuing to provide her wisdom, love for Lauren, and institutional knowledge of the Board’s history. Scott’s professional history as a retired Deputy Fire Marshal and current role as a Fire and Life Safety Officer at UC Health makes him extraordinarily qualified to propel our mission forward.

Dennis Bruns, a retired Kodak Manager, who has served on the Board for the past 5 years and who has been an active champion of The Lauren Project since the very beginning, will maintain his role as Treasurer. With her passion and dedication to community service Patty Taliaferro, who joined our Board 3 years ago, is expanding her leadership and will now serve in the role of Secretary.

The remaining at-large board members are: 

• Jess Mora, Executive Director of Arms of Love International, who has served on the Board for the past 7 years*;
• Sophia Velez, Master’s Candidate in Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago who has served on the Board for the past 2 years*; and
• Edna Munoz, Detective with Longmont Police, who just celebrated her first year* of serving on the board.

The Board has done a remarkable job over the years carrying out Lauren’s dream of “Making the world a safer place, a better place”. Yet, our work is not done and as evidenced by our current world conditions there is much good still to be done. If we have learned any lessons from the global pandemic it is that we must remember to prioritize human connection and choose to foster love and positivity. In closing, we would like YOU to know we are thinking of you during this time and we thank you, our loyal Lauren Project supporters, for walking alongside us in our mission. In addition, we would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to acknowledge both Don and Cathy for their superb leadership of the organization for the past 11 years. The success of The Lauren Project is owed in large, to the exceptional visioning provided by Don and Cathy and we are beyond grateful both will continue to serve on the Board as we go forward.

– The Lauren Project Board of Directors

*An asterisk behind a board member’s years of service also indicates that they are a former grant recipient of the Lauren Moilien Johnson International Human Rights Award.