September 26, 2024 Meet Karrie Schaaf Executive Director, Friends of the Children - Coachella Valley Karrie Schaaf comes to Friends of the Children with over 25 years of experience in youth and family advocacy, grant writing and nonprofit management. She moved to California’s Coachella Valley in 2018, coming from the Minneapolis area where she was a fierce advocate for youth experiencing homelessness. She is committed to driving positive change through intentional collaborations, community empowerment, and advancing systemic change. Karrie’s son is her biggest pride and joy; second to him is co-founding HOPE 4 Youth, a thriving nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness throughout Anoka County, Minnesota. She assisted the Emma B. Howe YMCA in creating youth outreach and housing services in her community, while also working with area school districts in the development of their McKinney-Vento programs, which identified and served students and families experiencing homelessness. Most recently Karrie was the Executive Director of a Tribal TANF program which serves Native American families by promoting self-sufficiency and family strengthening activities. Karrie received her Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies and Community Violence Prevention from Metropolitan State University. Karrie has received the Above and Beyond, Woman of Who Impact, and Community Hero Awards. In her free time, Karrie enjoys creating new plant-based recipes, hiking with her grand-dog, and advocating for others, including animals.