Gabrielle Samuels served as the fundraising co-chair at LFCSA from 2007-2010. Her education started in Redding, CT, where she was a student in an experimental section of her public school called “The Non-Graded.” There, she experienced first hand the benefits that come with open classrooms.
Gabrielle’s higher education is in theatre arts, having received a bachelor’s degree with honors from UC Irvine’s drama department. Her acting career prepared her (barely) for the challenging, yet rewarding, field of parenting.
After the birth of her second child, Gabrielle saw that there were a lot of classes for babies, but not many that focused on the mommies. With that in mind, she brought Stroller Strides to Los Angeles in 2004. Stroller Strides is an exercise class that parents can take with their babies in strollers. It allows new parents (mothers in particular) to get back in shape, be with their children and find the support of other new parents.
In 2006, before the birth of their third child, she and her husband, Howard, opened an individualized drug and alcohol treatment center in the Hollywood Hills, now known as The Hills Treatment Center, where she runs the composting and organic gardening program.
With a team of dedicated LFCSA parents, Gabrielle spearheaded the construction and implementation of the school’s fundraising calendar, further continuing an amazing journey for Gabrielle. The team has consistently met their financial goals every year since. Being witness to the LFCSA community’s passion for creative education and the lengths it is willing to go for the betterment of education has been nothing less than inspiring for Gabrielle.
